Get ready for an onslaught of Chris Berman's "Back, back, back, back, back" tonight on ESPN when the 2010 All-Star Game Home Run Derby is played out in Anaheim.
If it’s true that “Chicks dig the long ball,” that means it's “ladies night” in Anaheim.
Four hitters from each the American and National League are ready to slug it out in the Home Run Derby in tonight’s made-for-TV event beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN (also available on ESPN 3D).
The rules are simple. Each batter gets 10 "outs" per round, where an out is defined as any swing that is not a home run in this case. Should a tie exist between players at the end of any round, there will be a swing-off to determine who advances.
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Until 2006, the home run count was reset after each round. However, a rule change was made for the 2006 Home Run Derby with the count Round 1 carrying over to the second round. The home run count for the final round is still reset to zero.
Miguel Cabrera (22), Corey Hart (21) and Vernon Wells (19) are the only players in the field who currently rank in the Top 20 of baseball's home run list. This is arguably the most watered-down group of derby contestants in years. I’m not sure what goes into choosing a competitor, but if Jose Bautista (24) who leads the majors isn’t invited and Nick Swisher is...
Introducing your 2010 HRD participants
Chris Young, Arizona Diamondbacks (10/1)
Young is a free-swinger who has 15 home runs but aalso struck out 75 times in 317 at bats. This is his first appearance in the derby.
Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals (11/2)
As a member of the Rockies in '07, Holliday hit 13 home runs in the Derby. He’s got 15 first-half long balls and like Cabrera is strong enough to hit it out on sheer muscle.
Corey Hart, Milwaukee Brewers (5/1)
Hart will be appearing in his first derby, but with 20 big flies on the year he should be considered one of the favorites.
Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins (10/1)
Add me to the list of people who can’t understand why a guy with 13 homers was invited to attend. He’s currently tied for 49th in the majors in this department. Heck, Manny Ramirez would have been more fun.
Nick Swisher, NY Yankees (5/1)
Eleven of his 15 home runs in 2010 have come from the left-hand side of the plate, so it seems logical that he will approach the contest from that side. More than half of his home runs at Yankee Stadium this year have gone to right field. He hits in a band box in New York so to me his numbers are a bit eschewed. Swisher is tied with Young for 31st in the majors in round-trippers. What am I missing?
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (11/4)
Cabrera leads the field with 22 homers. He hit 15 home runs in the 2006 derby and is clearly the cream of the crop. He’s launched five balls out of Anaheim in just 69 at bats.
David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox (3/1)
Big Papi has the most Home Run Derby experience of all the 2010 competitors, ranking fifth on the list of most Home Run Derby dingers all-time with 54. His most notable performance came in 2005 when he finished third with 20. He’s hit seven homers in 123 at bats at the Big A.
Vernon Wells, Toronto Blue Jays (15/2)
Wells will be making his derby debut. He has 19 HR this season and is familiar with the Big A. Also, the dimensions at Rogers Center are similar to those at the Big A. However, Wells has just three home runs in 149 career AB’s in Anaheim.
History lesson
Ken Griffey Jr. is the all-time leader with 70 dingers. Josh Hamilton of Texas owns the single season home run derby record, hitting 35 during the 2008 event although he lost to Minnesota’s Justin Morneau in the final round. Hamilton’s feat is considered the greatest ever in the HRD history especially when compared to last year’s performance by Brandon Inge.
Angels Stadium of Anaheim
Dimensions include 330 feet to left and right field, 387 feet to left-center, 370 feet to right-center, and 400 feet to straightaway center field. The park has yielded 82 home runs this season.
A home run haven it isn’t. As a general rule the ball doesn’t carry well at the Big A and to make matters worse it’s been unseasonably cool and humid in Southern California. Temperatures will be in the low 70’s tonight and the air will be damp and sticky. The weather conditions favor a true power guy like Cabrera over more of a technique guy like Swisher.
"This is the weakest group of HR participants assembled since MLB officially sanctioned the competition and made it a regular part of the All-Star festivities in 1985," comments David Fry, contributor to ATHbaseball.com.
The bottom line: The guys with the big muscles tonight will have the best chance of hitting ‘em out in this jungle-like climate.