The State Farm Home Run Derby is tonight, and hometown favorite Albert Pujols looks to be the front runner for longball glory. But don't forget about dark horse candidates like Detroit Tigers slugger Brandon Inge, who has hit 21 dingers already this season and has played every position including "coach." Personally, I think Inge could sneak in and ... wait, the Home Run Derby happened last night? What happened, who won? Did... oh.
This afternoon's Dugout is after the jump. Ughhh, look at that guy.
ST. LOUIS -- Why are we not surprised that President Obama, wearing a black glove with "Obama #44" scrawled into the leather, will throw/bounce/airmail Tuesday night's ceremonial first pitch to a designated catcher named Albert Pujols? The All-Star Game isn't simply a showcase for baseball's greatest treasure, whose ascent as a legitimate Triple Crown candidate conveniently converges with a Pujols-palooza setting in his home ballpark.
No, this is a presidential reminder that El Hombre, assuming he isn't living a lie like many in the Steroids Era, might be the only man alive who can save a too-toxic, too-slow, too-bureaucratic sport from itself.
ST. LOUIS -- After Brandon Inge had taken five or six swings in Monday's Home Run Derby, his son Tyler turned to Curtis Granderson on the sideline and said, "Daddy's not hitting any home runs."
Getting shut out -- that's right, 10 outs and no home runs, did not at all dampen Inge's night.
Inge hit 13 fewer homers than Albert Pujols. And smiled about 100 times more often.
"My number was actually 15," he said, meaning what he expected would be needed in the first round to advance.
ST. LOUIS -- Prince Fielder had plenty of good memories of the Home Run Derby.
Just not the one that he actually participated in.
Fielder had watched his father, Cecil, slug monster homers in the Derby in 1990, '91 and '93, including a memorable one off the glass at Toronto's SkyDome in 1991. When the younger Fielder grew up and got his first shot at the Derby, in 2007, he hit only three homers.
Now, he's got his own story. He hit a total of 23 homers, out-homering Nelson Cruz, 6-5, in the finals, to win the Home Run Derby championship on Monday night at Busch Stadium, with local favorite Albert Pujols failing to even reach the finals.
The Midsummer Classic is just a day away, which meant only one thing. It was time time for baseball's annual all-or-nothing display of power -- the 2009 Home Run Derby -- an event that can often provide the most memorable moment of the All-Star Game festivities.
ST. LOUIS -- When the Home Run Derby begins on Monday night, there is certain to be a lot of talk about the guy who isn't in it, a guy who, by the way, has never even won it.
A year after Josh Hamilton put on a display that has become the defining moment of his career, whalloping 35 homers in the Derby at Yankee Stadium, he'll be back as a spectator. Although Major League Baseball would certainly have loved to have Hamilton return, he decided that, after two trips to the DL this year, it wouldn't be a good idea.
"It really is [going to be hard to watch]," Hamilton said. "I really wish I could be there and participate in it, but it's not the best thing for the Rangers and for me to get up there and hurt myself. These guys haven't been injured and they could very easily get up there and hurt themselves. To get up there and take that many hacks, especially that hard, wouldn't be a smart idea."
If one theme has emerged during the first half of the 2009 season in the National League, it's that it's Albert Pujols' world and we're all just living in it. After nine superb seasons in which he's only finished out of the top four in MVP voting once, he's somehow on pace for his best season yet.
With this year's Home Run Derby in St. Louis and Pujols making a point to perform in front of the home crowd, it's essentially him against the field Monday night. Do Adrian Gonzalez, Carlos Pena, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, Nelson Cruz, or Brandon Inge stand any sort of chance of spoiling Pujols' parade?
ESPN unveiled a new real-time ball-flight tracking technology Wednesday to be used during this year's Home Run Derby. They're calling it "Ball Track" ("This is a family Web site, this is a family Web site, this is a family Web site," the blogger repeated to himself), and it's apparently based on Doppler Radar technology, which will allow the anchors to actually predict whether the ball will land over the fence while its still in mid-flight.
Oh, well that sounds wonderful. I just can't wait for Chris Berman to scream, "THIS ONE'S HEADED FOR CHESTERFIELD!!!" while a ball is somewhere over second base. There isn't much suspense in the home run derby, but what little that does exist is entirely gone if the broadcast crew and TV audience actually knows whether a ball will clear the fence before that actually happens.
It's a baseball podcast. The math is easy, right? BaseCast. Let's rock.
The Midsummer Classic is less than a week away. That means the baseball world is consumed by two things -- the good, the bad and the ugly of the All-Star Game (snubs, rules, Home Run Derby, etc.) and the growing buzz on the trade market heading toward the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
In the third edition of BaseCast, hosts Will Brinson and yours truly, Andrew Johnson, talk everything All-Star Game with Jeff Fletcher, then size up the trade market with Ed Price and discuss whether the Blue Jays would really consider trading ace Roy Halladay.
In between, catch Jeff's exclusive interview with Marlins team president Larry Beinfest. It's all after the jump.
The All-Star Game will be played in St. Louis next week, but for a lot of baseball fans the game itself is secondary to some of the other events that take place during the break. The main attraction for many fans is the Home Run Derby, which will take place the Monday night before the game.
Today it was announced who the four sluggers representing the senior circuit will be and there's definitely a theme to the National League's "roster." All four participants are power-hitting first baseman from around the league. Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Howard will all put on what should be a rather entertaining show.
Update: The American League contestants, which were announced on Friday, are:
The State Farm Home Run Derby is tonight, and hometown favorite Albert Pujols looks to be the front runner for longball glory. But don't forget about dark horse candidates like Detroit Tigers slugger Brandon Inge, who has hit 21 dingers already this season and has played every position including "coach." Personally, I think Inge could sneak in and ... wait, the Home Run Derby happened last night? What happened, who won? Did... oh.
ST. LOUIS -- Why are we not surprised that President Obama, wearing a black glove with "Obama #44" scrawled into the leather, will throw/bounce/airmail Tuesday night's ceremonial first pitch to a designated catcher named 
ST. LOUIS -- After 
ST. LOUIS -- 
The Midsummer Classic is just a day away, which meant only one thing. It was time time for baseball's annual all-or-nothing display of power -- the 2009 
ST. LOUIS -- When the 
If one theme has emerged during the first half of the 2009 season in the National League, it's that it's 
ESPN unveiled a new real-time ball-flight tracking technology Wednesday to be used during this year's 
