Search
The Home Run Derby
Sometimes it's difficult writing a blog. Every few days you have think of a topic to write about. Not only that, but you have to seem somewhat knowledgable when you write about the topic. That limits the subject matter somewhat, in my case. But not only that. You also have to be a little bit clever as you write to keep the readers' interest or else, into the trash you go, joining the Don Rickles Show and Right Said Fred as flash-in-the-pans.
So, this morning, knowing I'd be writing a blog today, I was tossing ideas around in my head while doing some grocery shopping. My ideas ran the gamut from green apples to the Mayor's Cup to favorite singers. Amidst my confusion, who do I run into as I'm leaving the store, but Tommy Adams. I tell Tom my predicament. I ended with, "Tom, what's on people's minds today?" He quickly retorted, "Write about the All-Star Game." I smiled and left the store feeling better.
Later in the day, I run into Jim Wells, back in the North Country from his warm haven in Florida. We talk about the blog. I tell him about Tommy Adams' suggestion. Jim agrees! So, there you have it! All-Star Baseball it will be! Let the record show that the Home Run Derby is about thirty minutes away. Baseball's power showcase, the Monday night Home Run Derby, is the media kickoff to the All-Star Game showcase tomorrow night. As an avid follower of baseball I'll tell you without a doubt who will win the 2006 Home Run Derby.
There are eight contenders for the power prize this year. Alphabetically, they are: Lance Berkman, Miguel Cabrera, Jermaine Dye, Troy Glaus, Ryan Howard, David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada and David Wright. The casual baseball fan most likely has only heard of one of them, David "Big Papi" Ortiz. He's on the Boston Red Sox. There are no New York Yankees participating. I wonder why.
All eight players are power-type hitters, and, among them, in regular season play, Ortiz, with 31 long balls, leads the way. However, Ortiz will not win the derby, even though, as a lefty hitter he'll have an advantage at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. I'm tossing out the righthanded batters right now.
The past two seasons the Home Run Derby champion has been a member of my Fantasy Baseball team, Foxy's Foxes. In 2004 Miguel Tejada won and last year Bobby Abreu slugged the most. I have Troy Glaus on my team, and if he hit from the left side he'd be a shoo-in this year. Instead, the winner will be perhaps the least known of all the competitors. Watch for Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies to bop his way to derby fame in thirty minutes! You can say you heard it here first! On Foxy's" On the Sly" blog.
Maybe ESPN or Fox Sports will hear of my skill at forecasting and offer me a job as an analyst. Yes, I can see it now: Foxy's Fearless Fox Sports Fantastic Forecasts! Yes, you can bet -- Ryan Howard will win it all tonight!
Comments
Carver,
Here's what I think
National League
Mets
Mike Jodoin
Don K
Posted by: Tom R | July 11, 2006 4:07 PM
good call foxman
now who'll win the game??
who'll win the world series?
who'll be the next phs girls soccer coach?
who'll be the next mayor?
(Foxy's note: Hopefully the Carver isn't going to bet his weekly paycheck on my prognostications, but I'll answer all his questions in the blogs ahead. Keep reading, Carver!)
Posted by: the carver | July 11, 2006 7:05 AM
Foxy- Now the pressure is on !!! Good call, brother!!! Who's the MVP tonight? Goose
Posted by: Goose | July 11, 2006 6:36 AM