Home Run Derby

Uh Oh.

We could have some bad blood between the two biggest sluggers in the NL Central.  And it’s all about how you wear your uniform.

Here’s a quote from St. Louis Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols in an interview with USA Today …

“I see teams take their jerseys out when the game is over,” he says. “To me, that’s not professional. I don’t care what you do when you get off the field, but don’t do it on the field.”

“You don’t want kids to see negative things.”

Intriguingly, Pujols didn’t name any of those teams who “take their jerseys out” … or even one team … so we’ll do it for you. 

It’s the Milwaukee Brewers, a team once again vying with the Cardinals for the NL Central crown.  And there was bad blood from the Cardinals last year about the untucking practice, too.  Last fall, Cardinals TV Announcer Rick Horton said it was the most disrespectful thing he’s ever seen (that’s from memory – I don’t have a quote). 

Keeping that in mind, let’s go back to last Monday’s Home Run Derby.  In Busch Stadium, home of Albert Pujols and his St. Louis Cardinals.

Who won that contest?  Oh yeah … Prince Fielder of the aforementioned Brewers … and known shirt untucker after game-winning Home Runs.

OH-NO-HE-DIDN’T just untuck his jersey … (more…)

Tonight, President Barack Obama will throw out the first pitch at the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis.  He’ll be the first sitting president to throw out a pitch at an ASG since Gerald Ford in the 1970’s.

There will be much pomp and circumstance and many Cardinals fans will cheer very loudly for our Commander-in-Chief as he throws out the first pitch … even though it will kill any chance the Cardinals have for winning the World Series in 2009. 

Why?  

Well, no MLB team that’s had a sitting President throw out the first pitch at a game in their Home Stadium has won that year’s World Series in over 77 years.

(more…)

Tonight’s All-Star Game is sure to be packed with great moments. 

With a bunch of tributes to Stan Musial and a bevy of other St. Louis Cardinals greats.

That’s great and all … but how ’bout some classic Home Runs?  That would be nice.

Here’s a look back at some of the best Home Runs in All-Star Game History.

The First – Babe Ruth

July 6, 1933 – Comiskey Park, Chicago IL

The First All-Star Game was held as part of the 1933 world’s Fair in Chicago.  In a game chock full of future Hall of Famers, there was only one player who should have (and did) hit the first ever All-Star Home Run.  The Bambino, Babe Ruth. 

In the 3rd inning, Cardinals SP Bill Hallahan likely grooved a pitch that ended up as a two-run shot for the Babe.  Why’d I say he grooved it?  Here’s Hallahan about the game …

“We wanted to see the Babe. Sure, he was old and had a big waistline, but that didn’t make any difference. We were on the same field as Babe Ruth.” – Wild Bill Hallahan

And Why Not?  It was an exhibition.  It’s not like Home-Field in the World Series depended on the Game. 

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So help me God, I LOVE THE HOME RUN DERBY.

• Even though it might be glorified batting practice. 
• Even though it might get boring after oh, 10 Home Runs. 
• Even though it might be “all that’s wrong with the game”
• Even though ESPN keeps trying to overhype and destroy it with its predictable coverage of the event. 

Wait … predictable coverage of a television event? 

You know what that means … DRINKING GAME!!

To celebrate this blog’s namesake, Home Run Derby brings you our Third Annual HOME RUN DERBY DRINKING GAME !! 

I’m going for three straight years that I don’t show up for work the day after the Derby.  (2007, 2008)

Get on your drinking jerseys and let’s get started.

(more…)

Sweet Merciful Crap.

The Home Run Derby is going to be a lot of fun this year.  No matter who the American League throws out there.

Here are your National League 2009 Home Run Derby Contestants …

ALBERT PUJOLS – St Louis Cardinals, 1B
31 HR, 9.03 AB/HR, .336 AVG, 1.200 OPS, 82 RBI

After a first half of hemming and hawing about whther he’d participate in the Derby … St. Louis fans get their wish.  Pujols will play in his 3rd Home Run Derby.

Hometown jinx?  Don’t mention it to Pujols. 

In the 23 previous Home Run Derbies, only one hometown favorite has hoisted a trophy at the end of the night.  That was Ryne Sandberg back in 1990 (I was at that one – you can be happy for me).  Mind you, there’s only been 14 players to participate in a Home Run Derby in their home ballpark.

ADRIAN GONZALEZ - San Diego Padres, 1B
24 HR, 11.8 AB/HR, .261 AVG, .963 OPS, 51 RBI

Quietly having an awesome season for the floundering Padres. 

Don’t let those 24 Home Runs fool you – Gonzalez plays in the spacious Petco Park, where he’s only cranked out 8 Home Runs at clip of 18.1 AB/HR.  On the road, he’s a Pujolsesque 8.5 AB/HR with 16 Homers. 

Gonzalez is my pick from the NL to win the 2009 Home Run Derby.

PRINCE FIELDER - Milwaukee Brewers, 1B
22 HR, 13.2 AB/HR, .313 AVG, 1.056 OPS, 76 RBI

Fielder is the first second generation Home Run Derby contestant.  his father, Cecil Fielder competed back in the early 90’s.  He never won … which gives estranged son Prince some motivation to show up his dad. 

No word if Prince will show off his Brewers underwear if he wins the Derby.

Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies, 1B
20 HR, 15.7 AB/HR, .252 AVG, .841 OPS, 61 RBI

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is getting some flack for putting Howard on the All-Star roster, but we’re glad he did.  Because Howard can now partake in the Derby.

Howard is the most accomplished NL player in the Derby, having won the Derby in 2006.

BE SURE TOCHECK OUT THE WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS OF THE HOME RUN DERBY CONTESTANTS!!

We’re having a Home Run Derby Contest just for the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby!!  Details right here

Okay, I really shouldn’t have even titled this a Jersey of the Week post.  I was looking for a good All-Star related jersey and simply couldn’t find one.

But it needed to be shared.  And since JotW is Home Run Derby’s showcase for baseball fans’ creativity in Jersey and T-Shirt art … I thought it belonged.

Check out the hair on this Beer Vendor at the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Awesome. 

That’s the famous Yankee Stadium frieze (in a modified 2008 All-Star Game Logo) and two stars with a 13 and a 2 inside of them for Yankee All-Stars Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, respectively.  I’d guess there’s another star somewhere on that cranium with a 42 in it for Mariano Rivera.

All-Star Yankee Hair Rating

• Cleverness: 10
• Originality: 10
• Understandability: 8

I wonder how much time that took.  Does SuperCuts do that kind of work? 

So during the opening pomp and circumstance before last night’s All-Star Game, the Living Hall of Famers at each position were in Yankee Stadium to greet the starting 2008 All-Stars as they were introduced to the crowd.

It was a great moment to see living legends from the Hall of Fame out there on the same field with the 2008 All-Stars. 

But there was one glaring omission. 
And it was at second base. 

As Chase Utley and Dustin Pedroia came out during the introductions, they got to meet Hall of Fame Second Basemen Rod Carew, Bill Mazeroski, and Ryne Sandberg. 

But not Joe Morgan. 

Did Morgan develop another flareup of the dreaded disese Ryne-itis (also known as Sandberg Syndrome) wherein those afflicted can’t be anywhere near the man who broke Morgan’s HR record for Second Basemen?  As you’ll recall, Joe Morgan was conspiculously absent at Sandberg’s Hall of Fame induction in 2005. 

It’s not like Joe didn’t know how to get to Yankee Stadium … he was in the building the night before when he announced the 2008 Home Run Derby. 

No, I think this is just another case of Joe Morgan not wanting to share ANY stage with Ryne Sandberg. 

It’s a shame when the Vice-Chairman of the Baseball Hall of Fame doesn’t show up for events like this if Sandberg is there. 

It perpetuates the belief that Morgan’s putting himself before the game for personal reasons … even if that’s not the reason.

Update:  We have learned Joe Morgan was a participant in the All-Star Parade before the Game, so it’s not as if he left New York after the Home Run Derby. 

Parade Hat Tip – the not awful Awful Announcing, who agrees with HRD that Joe Morgan is ducking Sandberg.