Home Run Derby

It’s Over.  Fire Joe Morgan wins.

Fire Joe Morgan posted the Pink Bat post to end all Pink Bat posts for 2007 …

From their Worst Headline contest … and supposedly the MLB homepage …

Fabulous.  And keep up the good fight in getting Joe Morgan off ESPN.

As we approach the season’s Quarter Pole, we find another new team atop the Home Run Derby Standings.  This week, it’s The Master-Batters.  I’m not sure there’s a more fitting team name in the wake of yesterday’s MLB proceedings - which was basically a bunch of guys wielding their pink lumber for some breasts. 

Behind Master-Batters (113 HR), Empire of Dirt (111 HR) and Triple Crown (106 HR) round out the leaderboard in front of 17 teams in a scrum.  Half of the Derby broke the 100-Home Run barrier this past week.  Master-Batters and Dialing 8 led week six with 20 HR.

Who says HGH doesn’t make a difference?  Human Growth Hitters and Hitting Genuine Homers are both in the Top Ten. 

The Komodos are still in last place - but by Thursday, Nick the Greek might have someone new to pick on … as Shingo Takatsu is in complete and total free fall with a mere 16 Home Runs the past two weeks combined.  Art imitates baseball. 

Stud of the Week – Ken Griffey Jr. (3 HR) – The reports of Junior’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.  In the two weeks back from his stomach woes he has been playing dominating baseball - Batting .438, Slugging .833, On-Base .525, OPS of 1.359 with 6 Home Runs and a AB/HR Ratio of Eight (8).  Baseball is better when Ken Griffey Junior is playing well, don’t you think?

Hot Sluggers

• Lance Berkman (3 HR) - went crazy this week.  It’s about time, fatty.

• Adam Dunn (3 HR) - On pace for another 40+ HR season

• Justin Morneau (3 HR) - Hey Bob - About that MVP …

• Matt Holliday (3 HR) - Turned it on after a brief slump

• Torii Hunter (2 HR) – 2 HR and 7 RBI last night alone.  Contract Year Torii?

Cold Sluggers

• Adam LaRoche – Bleah.  I should have left him in Group E

• Raul Ibanez – I told you last year had fluke written all over it

• Grady Sizemore – The power’s been mostly off since the opening trip to US Cellular.  Heck his last HR didn’t even leave the yard.

Let’s see, thanks to Carlos Pena, Matt Stairs, Bill Hall, Damion Easley, Carlos Beltran, Mark Teahen, Gary Matthews Jr. (twice), Shea Hillenbrand, Michael Napoli, Brad Wilkerson, Hank Blalock, Ian Kinsler, N Cruz, Eric Chavez, Milton Bradley, Jack Cust, Bobby Crosby, Orlando Hudson, Scott Hairston, Freddy Lewis, Jeff Kent, Ken Griffey Jr., Magglio Ordonez, Michael Redmond, Michael Cuddyer, and Torii Hunter (twice) …

Home Run Derby has donated $280 to the Susan G Komen For The Cure Foundation.

Dear Homerderby.com,

I would like to thank you for your contribution of $280.00 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Your support helps Komen the Cure fulfill our promise to save lives and end breast cancer by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

Since its inception in 1982, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has made great strides in the fight against breast cancer, funding groundbreaking breast cancer research, much of which has led to landmark discoveries in the quest to find a cure for and eventually prevent breast cancer. In addition to funding research, Komen works to increase breast cancer awareness and promote early detection through events like the Komen Race for the Cure Series. Proceeds from such events help fund community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects for the medically underserved.

Again, thank you for your assistance and your confidence in our efforts. The success of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is made possible through the very generous contributions of corporations, organizations and individuals like yourself. Because of you, we are one step closer to finding a cure.

Once again, thank you for your support.

For all you other ballplayers who couldn’t leave the yard and the pitchers who didn’t groove them something to hit, I’m very disappointed in you in not making this donation larger. Go auction your bats or something.

As many of you know, Baseball Musings joined Home Run Derby in this $10 per Home Run pledge, and lo and behold, David beat me to posting about it this morning. Thanks to Baseball Musings for the matching grant.