Capping the Home Run Derby
By DAVID JONES
There is a subplot that is emerging for this year’s Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
It would only be fitting if the final round matchup came down to a meeting of a native son of St. Louis and a current fan favorite of the Redbirds faithful.
Can any of the American League’s longshots pull an upset or will the National League smashers square off in a final showdown for the title?
Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals):
It’s hard to believe in this era of home runs that Pujols has never reached the 50-homer plateau in a season. That should change in 2009. Through Saturday, Pujols is on track to club 59 homers this year.
In his career at the current incarnation of Busch Stadium, Pujols has hit 71 of his 150 four-baggers at home. This will be his third appearance in Home Run Derby. He was the runner-up in 2003 and reached the semi-finals in 2007.
Ryan Howard (Philadelphia Phillies):
The 2006 Derby champ will be eager to put on a power show in his hometown. With 153 homers and a pair of MLB home run leading campaigns from 2006-08, Howard is capable of giving the fans a huge performance on Monday. He is on pace to hit only 42 homers in 2009 after hitting 47 or more over each of the last three seasons.
Howard has clubbed seven home runs in 63 career at-bats at Busch Stadium.
Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers):
At 25, Fielder is still evolving as a hitter after blasting onto the scene with a 50-homer season in 2007. He slipped to 34 homers a year ago but is on track to blast 40+ bombs in 2009. Fielder was knocked out of the first round in his previous Derby appearance in 2007.
The Cardinals pitching staff has been able to contain Fielder in his visits to Busch. Fielder has just five home runs at St. Louis in 101 career at-bats.
Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego Padres):
Gonzalez will welcome the neutral dimensions of Busch in contrast to the home run graveyard of Petco Park in San Diego. It’s amazing that Gonzalez has swatted 24 homers in 2009. He gets no help from his spacious home park or any protection in a weak Padres lineup.
Gonzalez has just one homer in 37 career at-bats at Busch. He is slumping heading into the Derby with just a pair of homers since early June.
Carlos Pena (Tampa Bay Rays):
Pena appears to be the biggest AL threat to steal the thunder away from the more accomplished NL sluggers. After bouncing around with four clubs early in his career, he has found a home in Tampa.
Pena has smashed 101 homers in his two and a half seasons with the Rays. He leads the junior circuit in homers this year with 24.
Joe Mauer (Minnesota Twins):
Mauer already has a career high 15 homers heading into the All-Star break. He will try to match last year’s champion and current teammate, Justin Morneau.
Since beginning his first complete year in the majors in 2005, Mauer has averaged less than 10 homers per season. The .324 career hitter is only 26, so he could continue to evolve his power stroke in the years to come.
Brandon Inge (Detroit Tigers):
Inge has grinded his way to the Derby after getting to the All-Star classic on the final day of voting. The 32-year-old has gained little fanfare in his nine-year major league career.
He is on track for his second 20+ homer season in 2009. With 19 homers heading into the break, he should be able to zoom past his career-high of 27 bombs in 2006.
Nelson Cruz (Texas Rangers):
Like Inge, Cruz is a relative unknown compared to some of the other mashers. He entered the 2009 season with a total of just 22 career homers since breaking into the majors with the Brewers in 2005.
In a deep Texas lineup, Cruz has pounded out 21 home runs as the break approaches.
Pujols leads Derby odds
By Brobury Sports
St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols will try to wow his hometown fans tonight in the Home Run Derby. Here’s a quick preview.
Albert Pujols (+200) – 32 Home Runs
Pujols has never won this event but he did finish as the runner-up in 2003. It’s a little surprising he’s not a heavier favorite.
Ryan Howard (+350) – 22 Home Runs
The Phillies Howard won this event in 2006 and a left-handed hitter has won 10 out of the last 13 years. Will that trend continue?
Prince Fielder (+500) – 22 Home Runs
The son of slugger Cecil Fielder has all the power in the world. This Brewer is looking for redemption after losing in the first round in his only other Derby appearance.
Adrian Gonzalez (+500) – 24 Home Runs
Gonzalez has little support around him in the San Diego lineup, but he’s seen a big power surge this year as his season-high is just 36 homers from a year ago.
Carlos Pena (+600) – 24 Home Runs
The American Leaguer with the best chance to win, this Tampa Bay product looks to be undervalued at these odds given his prodigious power.
Nelson Cruz (+600) – 22 Home Runs
Cruz is tied for second in the American League in home runs and this Texas Ranger is an interesting selection given the pop in his bat.
Joe Mauer (+800) – 15 Home Runs
Minnesota’s catcher has 15 homers in 64 games after hitting nine all of last year. Still, his stroke doesn’t seem conducive for this kind of contest.
Brandon Inge (+1200) – 21 Home Runs
Inge is another guy whose power numbers seem to have come out of nowhere. He is the well deserved underdog in this event.
Home Run Derby Preview
By SBGGlobal.com
The 2009 Home Run Derby on Monday will feature a number of top home run hitters including local favorite Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols leads the league in home runs while San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez is second. Gonzalez is also in the contest along with Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder, Texas’ Nelson Cruz, Minnesota’s Joe Mauer, Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena and Detroit’s Brandon Inge. While the list may not seem imposing other than Pujols it is very representative of the league leaders. Pujols leads the National League and is the favorite in Home Run Derby odds while Gonzalez is second and Howard and Fielder are tied for fifth. Pena leads the American League with Cruz second and Inge tied for fourth. Howard won the Home Run Derby in 2006 while Pujols was the runner-up to Garret Anderson in the 2003 event.
Many of the players around baseball didn’t want to compete in the Home Run Derby because they fear it will mess up their swing but not Minnesota’s Joe Mauer. "I just think it's a great event," Mauer said. "Home Run Derby -- I always told my buddies when we were younger -- we always played it in the back yard and stuff like that. I always told them, if I ever had the opportunity to do it, I would jump at it, and it happened this year." Mauer is one of the few people not worried that his swing will be affected. "I don't think one night will affect your swing for the rest of the season," Mauer said. "It might be a little tiring, but as far as mechanically, I don't think so."
Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz is not worried about messing up his swing either. "I hear people say that," Cruz said. "It's just like taking BP for me. I always do better the second half [of the season]. I don't know why. I work a lot harder, trying to keep myself strong until the end of the season. I don't worry about it." Cruz’s teammate Josh Hamilton finished second last year and Cruz thinks he has a shot this year. "I think I have a chance," Cruz said, “I don't expect to hit 20 homers like Josh."
Pena was added to the All-Star roster as a late replacement for Dustin Pedroia and was the final person added to the MLB Betting Home Run Derby. He is excited to be a part of it. "It's just a cool thing," Pena aid. "That's the best way to describe it. It would be so