Home Run Derby Participants (2009)

Tonight, eight players will do their best to provide an encore to Hamilton’s marvelous performance from last year.  Here are the 2009 Home Run Derby participants :

American League Home Run Derby Participants

• Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
• Brandon Inge, Detroit Tigers
• Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers
• Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay Rays

National League Home Run Derby Participants

• The Greatest Player Alive Today and Maybe Ever, St. Louis Cardinals
• Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres
• Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
• Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers

At first glance, one thing is pretty clear: this has to be the biggest disparity ever between the stature of the players competing for the AL and NL, respectively.  I have never been so underwhelmed at a Home Run Derby roster as I am looking at the AL.  In fact, there is not one guy in the AL that I’m looking forward to seeing.  All I hope is that Joe Mauer does incredibly well and then suffers a post-HR Derby dropoff like so many others have.  The same goes for Brandon Inge.  The best thing that could happen this weekend for the White Sox (who were screwed out of a couple additional All Star spots, damnit) would be Mauer and Inge screwing up their swings.  Come on guys…you can do it!

courtesy : MidWestSportsFans