Home Run Derby

For the past 10 years …
… you simply couldn’t spell Home Run Derby without a D and an R. 

As in Dominican Republic.

At least one player from the Dominican has participated in the Derby every season since 1998.  And a player from the Dominican has been in the Home Run Derby Final for six of the last eight seasons, winning three Derby titles … including last season. 

Vlad Guerrero - 2000, 2007.  
David Ortiz - 2004, 2005, 2006.  
Miguel Tejada - 2004, 2006.  
Albert Pujols - 2003, 2007.  
Sammy Sosa - 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004.  
Alex Rodriguez (dual DR/US citizenship) - 1998, 2001-2. 

And either Manny Ramirez or Pedro Martinez have been there every year, waving little (or big) Dominican flags when their countrymen are up to bat.

But with the 2008 Home Run Derby roster consisting of seven Americans (Evan Longoria, Josh Hamilton, Grady Sizemore , Lance Berkman, Ryan Braun, Dan Uggla, and Chase Utley) and one Canadian (Justin Morneau) … there will be NO representation from the Dominican Republic in the Home Run Derby for the first time since 1997. 

Heck … there’s no one from South of the Border this year.

So that means we won’t see anyone waving the Dominican flag during Derby at-bats this year.  At least not anyone who has any reason to wave it. 

There are nine Dominican All-Star position players in 2008.  David Ortiz, Alfonso Soriano, Manny Ramirez, Aramis Ramirez, Hanley Ramirez, Cristian Guzman, Albert Pujols, Miguel Tejada, and Alex Rodriguez.  Ortiz and Soriano are injured and will not play in the ASG.

And on an unrelated note … the Derby is almost entirely lily-white and bereft of African-Americans as well.  Grady Sizemore is half African American.