Posts Tagged ‘allstar’
Home Run Derby Preview The 2009 Home Run Derby on Monday will feature a number of top home run hitters including local favorite Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols leads the league in home runs while San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez is second. Gonzalez is also in the contest along with Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder, Texas’ Nelson Cruz, Minnesota’s Joe Mauer, Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena and Detroit’s Brandon Inge. While the list may not seem imposing other than Pujols it is very representative of the league leaders. Pujols leads the National League and is the favorite in Home Run Derby odds while Gonzalez is second and Howard and Fielder are tied for fifth. Pena leads the American League with Cruz second and Inge tied for fourth. Howard won the Home Run Derby in 2006 while Pujols was the runner-up to Garret Anderson in the 2003 event. Current HR Derby Homerun Odds from Bookmaker Sportsbook ALBERT PUJOLS +180 Many of the players around baseball didn’t want to compete in the Home Run Derby because they fear it will mess up their swing but not Minnesota’s Joe Mauer. “I just think it’s a great event,” Mauer said. “Home Run Derby — I always told my buddies when we were younger — we always played it in the back yard and stuff like that. I always told them, if I ever had the opportunity to do it, I would jump at it, and it happened this year.” Mauer is one of the few people not worried that his swing will be affected. “I don’t think one night will affect your swing for the rest of the season,” Mauer said. “It might be a little tiring, but as far as mechanically, I don’t think so.” Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz is not worried about messing up his swing either. “I hear people say that,” Cruz said. “It’s just like taking BP for me. I always do better the second half [of the season]. I don’t know why. I work a lot harder, trying to keep myself strong until the end of the season. I don’t worry about it.” Cruz’s teammate Josh Hamilton finished second last year and Cruz thinks he has a shot this year. “I think I have a chance,” Cruz said, “I don’t expect to hit 20 homers like Josh.” Pena was added to the All-Star roster as a late replacement for Dustin Pedroia and was the final person added to the MLB Betting Home Run Derby. He is excited to be a part of it. “It’s just a cool thing,” Pena aid. “That’s the best way to describe it. It would be so cool.” Our Pick to win the HR derby is: Adrian Gonzalez!
Monday, 8:00 pm Eastern – ESPN
RYAN HOWARDÂ +275
ADRIAN GONZALEZÂ +500
JOE MAUERÂ +850
PRINCE FIELDERÂ +350
NELSON CRUZÂ +800
BRANDON INGEÂ +1000Â
CARLOS PENAÂ +600 .
Tags: adrian gonzalez, albert pujols, All-Star game, allstar, baseball, betting, mlb, ryan howard
Home Run Derby Betting Preview  If you like home runs then tune in on Monday for the Major League Baseball All-Star Home Run Derby on ESPN. It will take place at Yankee Stadium and should be exciting. Most of the time when betting the Home Run Derby you can look at the previous year’s champ as one of the favorites but that will not be the case in 2008. Last year’s champ Valdimir Guerrero has pulled out of the competition. The leading home run hitter this season is the Phillies Ryan Howard and he is not even in the Derby. Home town favorite and superstar Alex Rodriguez is also not in the field.  The current odds for the Home Run Derby at SBG Global: STATE FARM HOMERUN DERBY  It is likely that one of the favorites for this year’s Home Run Derby will be Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton who is having an MVP year. He is among the league leaders in home runs, leads in RBI’s, and is hitting over .300. Looking at the field of contenders it is easy to see why Hamilton will be a popular choice. The National League contenders don’t look that strong. No one really thinks of Chase Utley, Dan Uggla or Lance Berkman as home run hitters. True, they are all having excellent seasons, but none are really known as power hitters. That is not the case with Hamilton who is simply a stud. The player to watch in addition to Hamilton could be Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun. He is among the leaders in home runs this season and is thought of more as a power threat. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, something you dream about,” Braun said. “It’s too good an opportunity to pass up.”  One of the top home run hitters in the American League is also a surprise entrant into the Home Run Derby. Cleveland outfielder Grady Sizemore is making his third consecutive appearance on the AL All-Star team and his first ever appearance in the Home Run Derby. He has hit over 20 home runs this year. He is the first Cleveland player in the Home Run Derby since Jim Thome in 1998.  The Marlins Dan Uggla is one player that is very excited to be a part of the Home Run Derby. “I think it’s awesome,” said Uggla, “Every kid dreams about being in the Home Run Derby. I know I used to watch it every year. It’s just one of things, I’m very fortunate and very excited to be in. I’m very thankful.” Uggla has 81 career home runs in his first three seasons.  The winners of the MLB betting Home Run Derby since 2002 are Guerrero, Howard, Bobby Abreu, Miguel Tejada, Garret Anderson and Jason Giambi.  Our Pick: Josh Hamilton
Monday, 8:00 pm Eastern – ESPN
L BERKMANÂ Â Â Â +400Â
C UTLEYÂ Â Â Â +475
D UGGLAÂ Â Â Â +800
R BRAUNÂ Â Â Â +725
J HAMILTONÂ Â Â Â +250
G SIZEMOREÂ Â Â Â +550
E LONGORIAÂ Â Â Â +800
J MORNEAUÂ Â Â Â +500Â
FIELDÂ Â Â Â +550
