Mark Trumbo, Stupid Power, And The Home Run Derby

The 2012 Home Run Derby will not include Giancarlo Stanton, which is too bad. It will include Mark Trumbo, which is too good.

Home Run Derby 2012: Andrew McCutchen Breaks Up The Monotony

Mike Stanton is the kind of player you'd expect in the 2012 Home Run Derby. Andrew McCutchen is not, which makes him the perfect replacement.

2012 Home Run Derby: Andrew McCutchen Replaces Giancarlo Stanton

Giancarlo Stanton isn't just out of the 2012 MLB All-Star Game because of a knee injury that will require surgery; he's out of the Home Run Derby, too. The Marlins slugger will have surgery on Sunday that will keep him out of action for four to six weeks, and his place on Matt Kemp's NL Home Run Derby squad will be filled by Pirates star Andrew McCutchen.

For fans, not having Stanton socking dingers at Kauffman Stadium is a big loss. Few hitters have his power in the majors today, and he could have put on a real show in the Home Run Derby.

But McCutchen's inclusion is a victory for the Pirates, who are having a rare good season in no small part due to his contributions. McCutchen has 18 homers and leads the Pirates in every major hitting category, and will be the first Pittsburgh player to participate in the event since Barry Bonds in 1992.

2012 Home Run Derby Odds: Jose Bautista Favored

You are a degenerate gambler. Yes, you. And baseball games aren't enough for you, so you're looking for a way to gamble on exhibitions. Well, I'm certainly not going to enable that sort of behavior.

...

Oh, okay. Just a little enabling. Because over at Bovada, they have odds on who will win the 2012 Home Run Derby:

Jose Bautista - 7/2
Giancarlo Stanton - 4/1
Prince Fielder - 5/1
Robinson Cano - 11/2
Carlos Beltran - 11/2
Matt Kemp - 6/1
Mark Trumbo - 6/1
Carlos Gonzalez - 13/2

The obvious surprise: There is a mortal man who can get better odds than Giancarlo Stanton in a home-run derby. Jose Bautista has been on a tear lately, and he's not a bad bat for the guy you'd expect to lead the league in real home runs. But in an exhibition where they throw slow pitches right down the middle? Surprising.

This is also your yearly reminder that three years ago, Brandon Inge was in the Home Run Derby.

Robinson Cano Names AL Home Run Derby Teammates

The Yankees’ Robinson Cano won the 2011 Home Run Derby; the pitcher was his father, former major league pitcher Jose Cano. There were many hugs!

We do not yet know if that lovely family scene will be repeated in Kansas City, but we now know who Cano, who was named AL HR Derby captain, will have as his teammates:

NEWS: Cano picks Bautista, Fielder & Trumbo for his @StateFarm #HRDerby team.

— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) July 2, 2012

All three of those men can hit baseballs a long way and should put on a good show for the fans at Kauffman Stadium.

Jose Bautista is on a home-run tear; he’s hit seven in his last 13 games and currently is the major-league leader with 26.

Prince Fielder has hit just 12 so far this season; if you think that’s because of Comerica Park, he’s got seven there, five on the road.

Mark Trumbo has also been hot lately; he has 10 home runs in his last 23 games and is leading the AL in OPS+.

Let the man who can hit the most batting-practice pitches out of the ballpark win!

Matt Kemp Will Be In Home Run Derby; Names Team

Last week, the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp, who had been named captain of the National League’s Home Run Derby team, named the Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton as his first teammate.

Sunday, he completed his squad. C. Trent Rosecrans:

Matt Kemp is on the disabled list, but for now it appears he’ll be partaking in the Home Run Derby, even if he’s not in the game. He’ll be joined on the National League squad by the Cardinals’ Carlos Beltran, the Rockies’ Carlos Gonzalez and the Marlins’ Giancarlo Stanton.

The American League team, headed by defending champion Robinson Cano, will be announced Monday night.

Kemp’s hamstring injury will prevent him from playing in the All-Star Game, but standing at the plate and smacking home runs is allowed, apparently. Beltran is currently second in the NL with 20 home runs, and Gonzalez tied for fourth with 17. Most likely, the man most fans want to see hit is Stanton, who knocked out some of the lights on a Marlins Park scoreboard with a prodigious home run earlier this year.

Matt Kemp Selects Giancarlo Stanton For Home Run Derby Team

Matt Kemp told USA Today on Wednesday that he would not select Bryce Harper for his National League Home Run Derby team, despite the fact that selecting Harper might have goosed TV ratings.

Kemp has now made his first selection, and it’s someone who can hit baseballs a long, long way. Maybe the TV ratings are saved! Clark Spencer:

Giancarlo Stanton landed a ball in the center-field, upper-deck seats at Marlins Park during batting practice Wednesday, leaving his disbelieving teammates shaking their heads. The Marlins’ 22-year-old slugger will be putting his power on display for an entire country to see on July 9 when he takes part in the Home Run Derby in Kansas City.

Stanton confirmed that he was chosen to participate.

It’s too bad that they can’t transport the Marlins’ home-run sculpture to Kansas City so Stanton and others could take aim on it during this year’s Derby. Now that would be must-see TV.

Matt Kemp Hates America, Will Not Select Bryce Harper For Home Run Derby

Matt Kemp gets to select the National League's team for the 2012 Home Run Derby. I can't find out why Kemp was specifically picked for the honor, but he's taking it seriously, even though he might miss the Derby and All-Star Game entirely with a hamstring injury. And he's not listening to the singular voice of the masses, as he's ruling out Bryce Harper as one of the participants in the Derby.

From the USA Today:

"It's not because (Bryce Harper is) a rookie. It's just that there are other guys out there that are capable,'' Kemp told USA TODAY Sports. "I'm not saying he wouldn't do a good job in the Home Run Derby. He's going to have plenty of time to participate in many Home Run Derbies. Just not this year. Nothing against him. I love watching him play."

Kemp didn't reveal the NSA-developed algorithm that will eventually be used to select the participants, but Harper is going to miss the Derby because he's too young. Or something.

This makes me root for a Mike Trout homer to win the Derby for the AL, which would mean the American League would get to use the DH in all potential seven games of the World Series. At least, that's how it should be, as long as you're screwing around with that kind of stuff.

Josh Hamilton Won't Participate In 2012 Home Run Derby

I guess we're getting started with Home Run Derby news now. Tuesday, Robinson Cano was named the captain of the American League team, and Matt Kemp was named the captain of the National League team. It's up to the captains to find three other participants apiece, and one assumed Cano would think about Josh Hamilton, who currently leads the majors in dingers. But according to Hamilton, Hamilton's going to pass:

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton said he will not compete in Home Run Derby. More to come.

— Anthony Andro (@aandro) June 5, 2012

Hamilton put on a legendary Derby performance in 2008. He then declined to participate in 2009 and 2010. He thought about participating in 2011, but here we are now in 2012, and the Derby will be Josh Hamilton-less barring a change of mind.

Back in 2008, before the Derby, Hamilton posted a .919 OPS, and homered once per 20 trips to the plate. After the Derby, he posted an .874 OPS, and homered once per 25 trips to the plate. He homered in his third, sixth, and seventh games coming out of the All-Star Break, so it's not like the Derby messed up his swing. But now we've gone past another 200 words dedicated to the 2012 Home Run Derby -- in June -- so I'm going to stop writing now. Sorry about Josh Hamilton, you Home Run Derby enthusiasts.

Robinson Cano, Matt Kemp In Charge Of Home Run Derby

We have our captains for the 2012 Home Run Derby. They are Robinson Cano and Matt Kemp. You might not feel like reading about the Home Run Derby, but, look, you're doing it anyway.