Upon Further Review: Home run contest loses its luster
Major League Baseball has hit the midway point of its season with the All-Star break this week.
Over the years, I have lost interest in the All-Star game. And, to be quite honest, I only watch an inning or two while flipping through the channels.
For me, the highlight of the All-Star break is the All-Star Home Run Derby.
This year the game is being played in Chicago at the U.S. Cellular Field, which used to be known as Comiskey Park.
Monday night, eight players showcased their home run hitting power with the Anaheim Angel’s Garret Anderson and the Cardinal’s Albert Pujols squaring off in the finals.
Anderson and Pujols had to take a lot of swings to reach the finals.
Anderson beat Jim Edmonds in the semifinals 6-4 and Pujols defeated Jason Giambi 14-11.
Pujols had the longest shot of the night with a 478-foot blast to left-center.
Pujols had a chance to tie the contest at 9-9 but with one swing left, he came up just a little short.
It was as much fun watching the two people Pujols and Anderson were playing for as it was to watch them hitting one over the fence.
Johnny Hasick was rewarded for Anderson’s effort with a check for $250,000 from Century 21 to go toward the purchase of a new home.
Now granted, the home run contest is fun to watch. But it just wasn’t the same this year without Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa.
Speaking of Sosa, I just have to wonder if any of the eight competitors had a little cork in their bats Monday night.
In years past the names of Bonds, Griffey, Sosa and McGwire captivated the fans with their towering shots over the walls.
It was more than a little contest between players, it was bragging rights to see who could hit it the farthest.
Maybe it’s just me because I’m getting older or I’ve lost some interest in the game. But I really didn’t care if Anderson, Pujols or Johnny on the spot won. It just didn’t have that same intensity it had in years past.
I know all of you are saying it’s because I’m getting older, but it just didn’t get me fired up like seeing McGwire and Sosa going at it.
I’m sure the younger fans who know more about Anderson and Pujols enjoyed the show.
A new generation of players is making its mark in major league baseball and in a few years when Pujols is back in the home run contest, I’m sure I’ll be as excited as I was when McGwire was bashing them.
As for Pujols he will have to sit out for a couple of games when the season starts back up. Last Friday he slugged Padres catcher Gary Bennett in the head after being hit by a pitch.
See? I’m already starting to learn a little more about this young man.
(Dale Stubblefield is a sports writer for the Southern Standard. Contact him via e-mail at [email protected].)