Watching Bonds hit some home runs into the bay would have been a sight to see.
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Why is it that only a few of the players in the game that everyone would want to see in the All-Star Home Run Derby actually participate? This event used to be something that players wanted to be in. Now, this year with many of the top players declining or pulling out because of injury, the Home Run Derby is simply for the young players and the stars that still seem to find some fun in the exhibition contest.
The Home Run Derby has gone the way of the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities. No longer do we see players with the caliber of Michael Jordan or Dominique Wilkins in the slam-dunk contest. Since Vince Carter's amazing performance a few years ago there have been no real stars involved in that spectacle either. Nowadays with the slam-dunk contest only the young players who are looking to make a name for themselves participate. The last four winners were Gerald Green, Nate Robinson, Josh Smith and Fred Jones, hardly household names. Now the same thing is happening with the Home Run Derby.
There are only a few players in this years derby that actually should be participating. Those players are Albert Pujols, Vladimir Guerrero, Ryan Howard, Justin Morneau and Prince Fielder. The other players do not deserve to be there. Ordonez is not really a home run hitter and Holliday and Rios are not big names that would appeal to the casual fan.
Last year with a similar lineup laced with players who should not have been participating, the Derby was not really a contest. One player, Troy Glaus, only hit one home run. One. With the pitcher throwing balls that are meant for the seats over the plate he could only put one over the fence. If the game continues getting B-list or less stars to participate we may see more performances like Glaus's.
It is a shame that Barry Bonds could not participate in his home ballpark. It is also a shame that Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey, Jr., a soon to be 500 home run hitter and a soon to be 600 home run hitter, could not take part. Miguel Cabrera backed out with an injury, David Ortiz will not take part and Manny Ramirez doesn't do the derby anymore because it probably just isn't cool enough for him.
The Home Run Derby has gone the way of the NBA All-Star Weekend festivities. No longer do we see players with the caliber of Michael Jordan or Dominique Wilkins in the slam-dunk contest. Since Vince Carter's amazing performance a few years ago there have been no real stars involved in that spectacle either. Nowadays with the slam-dunk contest only the young players who are looking to make a name for themselves participate. The last four winners were Gerald Green, Nate Robinson, Josh Smith and Fred Jones, hardly household names. Now the same thing is happening with the Home Run Derby.
There are only a few players in this years derby that actually should be participating. Those players are Albert Pujols, Vladimir Guerrero, Ryan Howard, Justin Morneau and Prince Fielder. The other players do not deserve to be there. Ordonez is not really a home run hitter and Holliday and Rios are not big names that would appeal to the casual fan.
Last year with a similar lineup laced with players who should not have been participating, the Derby was not really a contest. One player, Troy Glaus, only hit one home run. One. With the pitcher throwing balls that are meant for the seats over the plate he could only put one over the fence. If the game continues getting B-list or less stars to participate we may see more performances like Glaus's.
It is a shame that Barry Bonds could not participate in his home ballpark. It is also a shame that Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey, Jr., a soon to be 500 home run hitter and a soon to be 600 home run hitter, could not take part. Miguel Cabrera backed out with an injury, David Ortiz will not take part and Manny Ramirez doesn't do the derby anymore because it probably just isn't cool enough for him.
Comments
Pujols still going strong.
In my opinion, the Derby should require the top home run hitters of the first half of the season to take part. I don't like the excuse of the derby messing up peoples swing. It is just like batting practice, only they have a packed stadium and cameras around.
Home run derby without the top home run hitters is absolutley like the slam dunk without the Jordans and Wilkins of the game. Everybody that was at that game and in the 450 plus homer club should have been it. They owe that much to the fans that pay their salaries. Your article was right on target.
I also only suggested three players even close to retirement. Cabrera, Ortiz, Howard, Guerrero, Ramirez, Morneau and the other players are not even close to retirement.
Mike Piazza shouldn't have been in it, you proved my point. I never said any star player. The home run derby wasn't boring when the home run hitters used to launch 40 in the night. This year's high of 19 was a far cry from that. When Bonds, Griffey and the rest retire their will have been years of others surpassing them in regular season home runs and home all-star appearances. Howard will be one of them, Fielder might. A-Rod will be around for awhile. I don't think you understood my article.
You become a star by hitting home runs in the regular season and making the all-star game. My logic is not backwards at all. Matt Holliday has had one good half of a season, he is not a star. Same with Rios. The home run derby has never been about making stars and should never be. It used to be about the best home run hitters, McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, Ramirez, etc. and now it is about whoever will show up. The logic is not backwards, just apparently not yours.
Your logic is backwards. Matt Holliday shouldn't be in the homerun derby contest because he isn't a star? Then how does he become a star? He is having as good a year as anybody but can't get any attention. The homerun derby contest and All-Star game is how they should become stars. You never get new stars if you don't make them. What are you going to do when Bonds, A-Rod, Griffey, etc have retired? Second, so what if Troy Glaus only hit one homerun, Mike Piazza hit 0 when he was there and he is a "star". It's all moot anyway, the homerun derby contest is boring no matter who is in it.
I like seeing new players in the national spotlight, but the Home Run Derby definitely isn't the same without the best power hitters.
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