Home Run Derby

So last night, I got to watch some baseball for the first time in nearly a week … and it happened to be the White Sox vs the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Awesome. 

Oh wait … ESPN is broadcasting it.  Joe Morgan.  Crap.
My first thought was “how long does it take for Joe Morgan’s first blunder of the night?”

Two batters.  Seven pitches.  That’s all.

Here’s White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski at the plate in the top of the first inning.  AJP’s a bit of a polarizing figure in Chicago, thanks to the scuffle he had with then-Cubs cather Michael Barrett in 2007 during a game at US Cellular Field …

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Wait … he updated the standings?  Made an update post?  What the hell?  Quarterly Financial Outlooks and Family Vacations come first, people.

Anyway … There are a mere three weeks to go until the All-Star Break and that means there’s only a mere three weeks to go until three fortunate players in our little Home Run Derby secure some payouts …

Belichoke is your Home Run Derby pacesetter with 236 Home Runs.  That’s six straight weeks Belichoke has led the Derby … which means it’s been six straight weeks that The Joba Rules has been in second place.  Joba keeps hanging around with 227 HR.  Third place is currently held by Suck It (225 HR).

I wouldn’t call Belichoke’s 1st Half lead insurmountable … but he’s averaged a seven-HR lead the past six weeks and no one seems to be able to post a sufficent charge to threaten the lead.  Second and third place are another story as there are eight teams within 9 HR of second place.

One of those is the hottest team in the Derby (literally and figuratively) - Annimals.  She led all teams this week with 26 HR and becomes the first team to win two weeks this season.  She’s also led all teams the past three weeks (59 HR), averaging just under 20 HR a week.