I'm excited for tonight. The last two summers I have worked in the wilderness where my access to technology was extremely limited. For the most part this was alright, but there was always one night I wanted to be able to watch TV and that would be the Home Run Derby. The only word that describes the Derby (especially when there are 0 New York Mets in it) is fun*: It's one of those nights where you see baseball stars just having fun, you get to see the ball hit far, and just a lot of gimmicks (like all of the hit it here signs).
Anyway on Saturday the field was set this year will feature some old favorites and will feature some newcomers to the mix:
David Ortiz
Nick Swisher
Vernon Wells
Corey Hart
Matt Holiday
Hanley Ramirez
Chris Young
Out of the above group I'm really divided between rooting for two players. The first would be Ortiz. I just have memories when I was younger of Ortiz sending shots into the night and sending the Yankees packing. However I probably won't root for him. I will be rooting for Chris Young. He's been one of my favorite players to watch on the Diamondbacks and I really do not want a Yankee/Marlin/Cardinal to win it.
*When there is a Met in it, like in 2006, it still is fun but then there is a degree of worry that enters the competition. I wouldn't want a Met to get injured in the game or mess up their swing (which some suggested happened to Wright after the Derby where he had over 20 jacks going into it and only 2 afterward).
