The Home Run Derby Is Back
(Photo courtesy of mlb.com)
THE HOME RUN DERBY IS BACK BABY!
2021 is making up for the terrible baseball season we saw last year. Sorry Dodgers fans, but the pandemic really took the fun out of your victory. Dare I call it a Mickey Mouse Ring?
Before we dive into all-star festivities, let’s look back at some of the high points of the season so far:
Pitchers were throwing no-hitters like Steph Curry hitting a three pointer.
The Rangers opened with 100 percent capacity for the first time in like 15 months.
Vladdy Jr. exploded and demonstrated he’s the real deal.
Some mega contracts are looking good, cough cough Machado, while others, Lindor, look like a cluster.
The Diamondbacks and the O’s have cemented themselves to the bottom of the league.
I can’t forget about Shohei Ohtani playing out of his mind, becoming the first two-way player to become an All-Star since Babe freaking Ruth.
Now let’s look forward to All-Star weekend, especially the 2021 Home Run Derby considering the “two-way Japanese import” Ohtani is headlining the event.
The eight players participating are:
Joey Gallo (Texas), Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), Trevor Story (Colorado), Matt Olson (Oakland), Juan Soto (Washington), Pete Alonso (NY Mets), Salvador Perez (Kansas City) and finally cancer survivor Trey Mancini (Baltimore).
The whole world, in my opinion, wants to see Ohtani win it all because it seems like he is one of those universally loved players, except by Adam Ottavino apparently. Considering a pitcher willingly entering the Home Run Derby is one of the more rare feats in baseball, what’s not to root for? Usually pitchers give up dingers, not hit them. It won’t be a cake walk either because Ohtani, apparently, hasn't taken any batting practice at all this year; though that doesn’t seem to have phased him.
I find that hard to believe, but then again I don’t get paid millions of dollars to swing a stick of wood, so I’ll trust Ohtani’s habits. Despite all the semantics pointing towards an Ohtani win, you can’t count out the defending champ Pete Alonso. This should be a good one.
Do I believe this Home Run Derby will be the best of all time? Absolutely, however, the bar is set incredibly high as I would be shocked if anyone could top Josh Hamilton’s sensational outing in 2008. That man was hitting bombs after bombs after bombs and couldn’t be stopped. He crushed a then-record of 28 first round dingers in the old Yankee Stadium. Yes, that’s right, 28. Hambino also hit a 518 foot shot, something Ohtani or Guerrero Jr. are yet to do.
Enough about the past, here is my prediction for the 2021 Home Run Derby:
The Polar Bear, Pete Alonso, will edge out Ohtani in the semi-finals 12-10 eventually winning it all in the finals against Mr. swing-or-go-home himself, Joey Gallo.