July 14, 200322 yr American League: ? Jason Giambi, Yankees: The defending champion -- and with that powerful lefty swing with the one-handed finish, as potent a stroke as there is around. ? Garret Anderson, Angels: There might not be a better doubles hitter in the contest, but homers? His advantage: He'll have a familiar Angels coach throwing to him. ? Bret Boone, Mariners: In terms of height, he's the Spud Webb of this contest. But everyone in baseball knows Boone can tag baseballs while swinging from his heels with the best of them. ? Carlos Delgado, Blue Jays: Probably the most likely to hit a homer that makes everybody say, "Oooh!" And quite possibly the hottest hitter in the contest. National League: ? Jim Edmonds, Cardinals: OK, so he's not loaded with confidence -- "I'd be surprised if I hit any," he said, perhaps half-seriously -- but those 28 homers at the break have to count for something. ? Albert Pujols, Cardinals: Simply put, the most exciting young hitter in the game, and maybe just flat-out the best now. ? Gary Sheffield, Braves: Perhaps the hardest-swinging participant, Sheffield's bat speed can generate power to all fields. He's scary powerful. ? Mystery Man, Mystery Team: If it's not Barry Bonds, then Milwaukee's Richie Sexson, who reached the semifinals last year at his home Miller Park, remains a top candidate. Florida's Mike Lowell, Atlanta's Javy Lopez and Andruw Jones, Arizona's Luis Gonzalez and Colorado's Todd Helton are among the other candidates.
July 14, 200322 yr I know Dunn has a low average but the boy can hit some homeruns that leaves no doubt to spectators ...wonder why he is poison ivy to MLB? :banghead
July 14, 200322 yr Lowell should be in it over Sexson... Sexson has done it before, Mikey hasn't. Give him a chance.
July 14, 200322 yr Yea Lowell has to go, he isnt as popular as Richie but had more homers than him. I think Lowell will go. BTW: Why in the All star game slogan it says "This time it counts"???
July 14, 200322 yr BTW: Why in the All star game slogan it says "This time it counts"??? cuz, the whole...World Series home field advantage thing, for whichever team wins. stupid bud selig
July 14, 200322 yr Well, seeing that the Braves already have a rep, and Helton and Sexson don't come close to Lowell in HR's, it's only right to have Lowell there...
July 14, 200322 yr Well, seeing that the Braves already have a rep, and Helton and Sexson don't come close to Lowell in HR's, it's only right to have Lowell there... Did Lowell decide not to compete?
July 14, 200322 yr Did Lowell decide not to compete? I don't think there is word yet, but a while back he said he would rather not.
July 14, 200322 yr :lol Its gonna be a surprise :lol How about Robert Stratton of the Albuquerque Isotopes?!?! He can hit 'em a ton. :w00t
July 14, 200322 yr I think it is going to be Bonds just like Griffey was not going to compete a few years back and all of a sudden he was in and won it. Bonds may not care for the fans but MLB will push him to be in it.
July 14, 200322 yr cuz, the whole...World Series home field advantage thing, for whichever team wins. stupid bud selig
July 14, 200322 yr cuz, the whole...World Series home field advantage thing, for whichever team? wins. stupid bud selig
July 14, 200322 yr cuz, the whole...World Series home field advantage thing, for whichever team wins. stupid bud selig
July 14, 200322 yr cuz, the whole...World Series home field advantage thing, for whichever team wins. stupid bud selig
July 14, 200322 yr Barry said he won't do it. Mike is the best candidate right now. I don't care, Griffey said he wasn't going to do it back at Coors(I think that was The Stadium), fans booed, he ended up doing it. Don't take Barry Bond's word on anything.
July 14, 200322 yr Barry is DHing, so he said he won't do it. The fans will get to see a homer from him.
July 14, 200322 yr Richie Sexson is the Mystery HR Derby Participant They said he is in the Derby at MLB.com
July 14, 200322 yr Mikey's modesty got the best of him. Oh Well! There is always the all star game for him to homer in.
July 14, 200322 yr Here's the MLB.com article for those of you who haven't aleady read it: CHICAGO -- The field for the CENTURY 21 Home Run Derby is set. Let the slugging begin. The lineup was finalized Monday morning with the announcement that Milwaukee's Richie Sexson will represent the National League in the event, which will be held at 8 p.m. ET at U.S. Cellular Field as the capper to Monday's Gatorade All-Star Workout Day. The 18th annual contest will be broadcast live on ESPN and MLB.com Radio. Sexson, tied for fifth in the NL with 25 homers, joins Atlanta's Gary Sheffield and St. Louis' Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols on the National League squad. The Yankees' Jason Giambi, the 2002 Home Run Derby champion, leads an American League contingent that also includes Garret Anderson of Anaheim, Bret Boone of Seattle and Carlos Delgado of Toronto. There were rumblings that Giants slugger Barry Bonds might have a last-minute change of heart and become the eighth and final competitor, but the 39-year-old Bonds will stick with just participating in his 12th All-Star Game. Other NL possibilities included Florida's Mike Lowell, Milwaukee's Geoff Jenkins, Atlanta's Javy Lopez and Andruw Jones and Arizona's Luis Gonzalez, the 2001 champion. But Sexson is the National League's man, and he's certainly proven worthy of being in the contest. Sexson reached the semifinals of the Home Run Derby last year, when the event was held on his home field, Milwaukee's Miller Park. He lost to eventual runner-up Sammy Sosa in the semifinals, 6-5. With 25 homers, he almost has surpassed his 2002 total of 29 and is on pace to extend his career high beyond the 45 he hit in 2001. I didn't post all of it, because it just went on about Giambi and the others.
July 14, 200322 yr I don't care, Griffey said he wasn't going to do it back at Coors(I think that was The Stadium), fans booed, he ended up doing it. Don't take Barry Bond's word on anything. Don't count on it. Bonds is the most stubborn, arrogant athlete around, and he won't do what he doesn't want to. Lowell should be there over anyone but Bonds, and because he isn't going to do it, Mikey will be asked to and will say yes, because he knows Sheffy didn't knock one out his first time, and he knows it's a once in a life time chance. I don't think there is word yet, but a while back he said he would rather not. Mike NEVER said he wouldn't do it. Newspapers implied that due to his groin he might not, but HE never said a word about it.
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