Home Run Derby

I’ve always been fascinated by tattoos. 

The artwork, the colors, the personalized meanings, the fact that someone would sit through an hour or more of someone sticking ink under their skin by driving a needle in and out of their skin. 

Yes, I’m a big sissy - the only tattoos I’ve ever had have all washed off with soap and water.

Either way, let’s check out some of the best tattoos in the world of baseball.

Let’s start with an old standby …

Jason Giambi

Everybody knows that picture right there. 

The one from Sports Illustrated with Giambi’s Flaming Skull tattoo on his left arm.  

You probably haven’t seen as much of the art on this right arm. 

Because it seems to be covered up a lot more since he joined the Yankees.

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Justin Morneau is thinking long-term. 
Both on and off the field.

Minnesota Twins’ 1B Justin Morneau signed a $80 Million, six-year deal with the Minnesota Twins over the weekend.  

I think that makes the 2006 American League MVP the highest paid Canadian in the history of Major League Baseball.  He’s certainly the highest paid Twin.

But $80 Million is no fun unless you’ve got someone to share it with, right? 

Say hello to the future Mrs. Justin Morneau … Ms. Krista Martin.

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It was Alyssa Milano’s 35th Birthday yesterday!

And Home Run Derby’s present to Alysa was a First Round Win in Busted Coverage’s Best Sports Blog Tournament !!

Alyssa’s going to celebrate Home Run Derby’s first round victory (408-287) by getting a little bit closer to wearing her birthday suit …

… just as we promised …

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Well, the fine upstanding blog Busted Coverage has gone out and put together a 2007 Best Sports Blog Tournament with what they consider to be the top 64 Sports Blogs.

It’s no surprise that FanHouse, Deadspin, Awful Announcing, and The Big Lead are your top seeds. These guys bring it every day. They deserve the honors.

Now, for some reason (namely a decent BallHype rating) Home Run Derby has been included in this tournament. HRD is the #8 seed in the West Region, versus the blog known as You Been Blinded.

We are humbled.
We are honored.
We want to win.

So in a shameless beg for your vote … we’re gonna give this a go …
“Major League” style.

Remember in the movie “Major League” when the Cleveland Indians’ manager (Lou Brown) brought out the cardboard cutout of the owner (Rachel Phelps) and said “every time we win, we pull off a section” ?

Well, for every win Home Run Derby gets in the 2007 Best Sports Blog Tournament …

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Outside the home office of Home Run Derby, it’s gotten really freaking cold.  So let’s warm it up a bit …

Home Run Derby is proud to present the return of Porristas Mexicana de Beisbol !  Mexican Baseball Cheerleaders !

We held a vote back in May to ask our readers which Mexican League baseball team (in the Liga Mexicana) had the best Porristas or Edecanes.   The Potros (Broncos) de Tijuana won that vote - so let’s check out more of their Porristas and Edecanes. 

We’ve mentioned before that the Potros outsource their cheerleading to whatever company wants to pay for the exposure.  By my count there’s at least six different cheerleading uniforms dancing around Estadio Calimax in Tijuana.

Talk about your logo creep.

Here’s pics of one of the Potros’ porrista sponsors … and some video. (more…)

Kali Speta my friends. It is the day after Independence Day, better known as “Oh, Shit!” Day. It is the day the founding fathers woke up with a very large hang-over and said “We did what? Oh Shit!”, followed by “We have to fight the most powerful army and navy in the world with what…Oh, Shit!”Anyway, thank goodness our forefathers had the balls to follow through with the Declaration of Independence. Could you imagine baseball as British Colonial’s pastime, instead of America’s pasttime. But I digress into history, which could lead to politics, and if you want to engage in a political discussion, check out Courage Makes A Majority, my political blog (sorry for the shameless plug Richie - Actually I am not, but it sounds better that I do!). Anyway, let’s get dinging.

Ding: His ‘Roidness hit 751, so we should be seeing Hammerin’ Hanks record fall in the next week or two. Here’s to hoping Drill-Rod…I mean A-Rod hurries up to hit another 275 homers (probably another 6 or 7 seasons).

Ding: Hey Richie, in case you missed it, Brad Wilkerson hit 3 dingers on Tuesday. Get cracking on that post highlighting his exploits with a Louisville Slugger.

Ding: Congrats to the Komodos on their explosion out of the DFL position. Things are looking up for you guys. Remember, the Second Half title starts with everyone at zero again, so you have something to shoot for. Bad News, you can’t drop Mike Piazza from your team.

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So the word from the NY Daily News is that Kimberly Bell - Barry Bonds’ mistress from 1994 to 2003 - is writing a tell-all book about her experience with Bonds … ranging from steroids, details of their relationship, and her testimony in the BALCO grand jury case two years ago …

And in an effort to promote that book, it will come out right around the time Bonds will be vying to break the all-time Home Run record. 

Plus she’s apparently willing to do a nude pictorial for the highest bidder.

Now, as Bonds moves closer to breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record, the 37-year-old Bell is ready to spill more.  The brunette stunner is also ready to give sports fans a look at the body that distracted Bonds from two of his wives. 

Besides her hot physique, Bell is offering love notes from Bonds, phone messages and testimony she gave to the FBI in the BALCO steroids trafficking case.

Looking at the glamour shot above, I’d guess most male sports fans might be lining up for that pictorial.  Until they see what she’s hiding behind her back …

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 Kali Speta my friends.  Nick the Greek is back from his much needed rest and is ready to serve up some more Sammiches for the friendly diners.  Gyros Thursday is back and the time has come to start the dings.  You like da juice, huh?  Athanasios!!! Get my friends da juice.  Since Richie has decided to talk about beards, I thought I should provide a couple of thoughts on the subject myself.  No soul patches allowed!

 Ding: I don’t think he ever played baseball, unless he was a minor leaguer with the Baghdad IEDs, the Falluja Jihadists or the Basra Bombers.  But this beard ranks up at the top of all time great beards.  I guess six months in a spider hole can do that too you.  Hey Sadam, how does hell feel?  Does Satan’s beard tickle?  Save a seat for Gary Sheffield and Barry Bonds…they will be joining you some day.

Ding:  Joe Crede…Dead.  Hard to compete for the title when you have one of your 15 players on the shelf for 65% of the season.  4 HR is 47 games…C’mon Joe you could have had the surgery back in November and feeling great right now.

Ding: Give me a K…Give me an O…M…O…D….nah still too easy.  I will let them wallow in peace.

Ding: Once upon a time, the El Gaupos stood atop the leaderboard, now they are 38 dingers off the pace.  The fall happened shortly after the arrival of the Three Amigos post. To Do List for Nick the Greek: Write funny posts about Triple Crown, the Master Batters, Hackers and The Great Hambino to establish the Nick the Greek Jinx.

Ding: Richie’s Soriano post on his 3 dong day leads me to one conclusion.  Anytime we have a player hit 3 homers in a day, Richie must chronicle the feat with a front page post.  It happens about 10 times a year (11 times in 2006, 6 in 2005, 13 in 2004, and 12 in 2003; 2001 had it happen a record 22 times.).  Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard did it on the same day last year (Sept 3rd).  That should keep you busy Richie.

Ding:  We all know that Prince Fielder is on fire with 12 Homeruns over the last 30 days.  I would venture to guess that most people don’t realize that he is only third in slugging percentage over that same time frame.  Third.  Guess who is ahead of him…Pujols? Nope, he was 5th. Magglio? Nope, he was 7th. The dead man (you know the Mets 3rd baseman)? He was actually 8th (but still dead to me).  Your winners would be Casey Kotchman (.827 in 75 ABs) and Carlos Pena…you remember him right? (.797 in 69 ABs).  Prince slugged .732 in 97ABs.

Ding: Although there are a couple of Derek Jeter ex-girlfriends left to feature, I figured we could work in a future girlfriend that fits with our theme and timely publication news.  I think this month’s playboy covergirl, Amanda Beard would make a great match with the Captain.  She is certainly hot enough for the best shortstop in baseball. Although, she might be a better athlete them him.  And she is definitely the best looking Beard pictured on Homerderby to date (Komodo’s hero Mike Piazza’s coverup wife nonwithstanding).

Get more Amanda after the jump.  Yasso and hit a homer today.

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Kali Speta, my Homer Derby brothers (and a couple sisters)!! 

Time for the weekly dinging on all subjects baseball, derby, and anything else on my mind.  I’m doing a little late night blogging.  Too bad I still don’t live downtown, because a 2 AM run to Lincoln Park Gyros would be a fitting way to end this evening.  Oh well, I guess the picture will have to suffice.

Ding: As a White Sox fan, I have to say, I am really tired of Ozzie putting Rob Mackowiak and his .297 slugging percentage in the line up everyday.  Yes, he hit his 2nd dinger of the season on Wednesday.  Doesn’t matter, he still sucks.

Ding: Now to sound like a whiny White Sox Fan, Minnesota has to lead the league in crappy hits.  Broken bat single here, seeing eye grounder there, and they always seem to happen at home.  I will not miss the old roller dome when it is finally retired from the baseball rotation in a couple years.  My only fond memory of that place is Ditka on Rollerskates.

Ding: Speaking of Da Coach.  Seems like a good time to share my favorite picture of him.

Ding: Barry Bonds hit a homerun.  Whoopie-Doo.

Ding:  National Bingo night has now taken the title of World’s stupidest game show.  I find it amazing that no one has mentioned the show tacit racism (or xenophobia may be the better term) with the pakistani guy that shouts “No Bingo”!

Ding: Many thanks to Fred Couples for skipping this weeks Memorial Tournament.  Jackass.

Ding:  I have a good idea for Derek Jeter’s next girl friend. How about Miss Tampa Bay Devil Ray, Jenn Sterger.  Richie, couldn’t you find us a link that might be a little NSFW.  But that brings me to today’s featured Jeter girlfriend, the dream lover herself, Mariah Carey.  I was tempted to use picures of porn-star Mary Carey because it would be better content, but alas, she hasn’t dated Derek Jeter…At least not yet.

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