Jose Bautista
Prince Fielder
David Ortiz
Matt Holliday
Adrian Gonzalez
Matt Kemp
Robinson Cano
Rickie Weeks

A have a feeling of impending dread about this evening...I've been reading KLaw's twitter yesterday where he was defending Bautista from - in my opinion - way too many who were suggesting that AG was the superior first half MVP. KLaw - like me - would have none of that saying it wasn't even close.

However, Jose has NOTHING to gain tonight IF he slaughters them they'll say, "Well of course what did you expect." IF - he flames they'll say, "See we told you he's a mirage." I'd be more content tonight if Jose and I were sharing a beer (or a scotch in my case) in the stands watching the Clydesdales go at it for the home run title. Jose is a finely tuned piece of high tech machinery - however - he must have a sizable reservoir of testosterone as he has more hair on his chest - not to mention his face - than the rest of the contestants put together.

I know, Mylegacy, chill. Jose tonight will morph into his alter ego - DaBeast and rip their hearts out. I think during the contest I'll have a bottle of my favorite sweet amber ready by my seat. I might be having a wee dram or two - or - why not - three.

I think during the contest I'll have a bottle of my favorite sweet amber ready by my seat.

You don't normally?

Chuck, of course I don't.

Do you take me for an immoveable drunken lout! I'll have you know I get up and go to the liquor cabinet - for each and every refill. Unless of course, she who must be obeyed is in a kindly mood, in which case she may grace me by serving me the occasional refill. Not of course, that I am in the habit of having more than one - on most occasions at least.

Jose Bautista
Matt Kemp
David Ortiz Prince Fielder
Matt Holliday Robinson Cano
Adrian Gonzalez
Rickie Weeks

IMO they should be taking the home run leaders of each league and telling them 'you are participating in this contest unless injured'. Make it an automatic so on Sunday some broadcasters can have fun talking about how a certain player just made it to the ASG even though he is hitting 220 but has 20 HR's. After all, what is the point if we don't have the biggest sluggers there?

If that was done then the 4 per league would've been...
AL...
1) Bautista
2) Granderson (NYY)
3) Teixeira (NYY)
4) Konerko (CWS)

NL...
1) Berkman (StL)
2) Kemp (LAD)
3) Fielder (Mil)
4) Bruce (Cin)

All with 20+ HR's so far. Instead Cano with 15 [peak of 29], Holliday with 14 [36 in Colorado] will both be there along with other sub-20's in Ortiz [OK, legit], Gonzalez [40, so legit], and Weeks [29]. If you've never hit 30 HR in a season and aren't among the leaders (ie: top 5) you have no business at a HR derby.

That said, having Fielder and Bautista there does the trick for me and I hope they are 1/2 with Bautista winning.

I looked into this a bit and tweeted it, but I like something like:

Bautista
Fielder
Kemp
Holliday
Cano
Papi.
A-Gon
Weeks

Bautista is the biggest pull hitter and Cano second, which I think usually helps. Gonzalez and Ortiz use all fields which is going to slow them down, it's very far to the alleys and CF. Kemp and Fielder just murder the ball.

For what it's worth, the odds are something like this: Bautista 7/2, Ortiz, Holliday, Fielder 5/1, A-Gon 7/1, Kemp 9/1, Cano 11/1, Weeks 13/1

I think Weeks will do okay. The BP pitchers don't throw breaking balls.

So the format this year is that last year's winners invites 3 guys.

Thankfully, Ortiz picked Bautista. It's still pretty weird. I never thought of the derby as a team event.

Why not just take the homerun leaders?

I lose. Weeks ends up with 3. To be fair, that's 3 more than I thought he'd hit after seeing him swing through the first one.

So does this mean Bautista is out after the first round? If so that is cool, I don't want his swing timing messed up. At least he wasn't the low man.

The pitcher didn't do JB any favors...

Yeah no kidding.  The pitcher was tossing almost like he was trying to get Bautista out.

Yeah no kidding.  The pitcher was tossing almost like he was trying to get Bautista out.
  Jose shoulda brought Francisco.     I did try to, but I just couldn't resist.

After such a heart warming story, I hope R Canno does not go into a big slump. It has happened before.

It has happened before.

Beware the post hoc ergo propter hoc trap. This is probably worth a read.

R Canno

I was sure that it was Canneau.  Morreau struck out Canneau, but offered him a Brador after the game to make up for it. 

Settle down there Grien.

... wrote Jounny ... ummm ... Austrian?

Juan Rivera now on his way to Los Angeles in return for cash or a PTBNL. Best of luck to him.