Home Run Derby 2010 Preview

The Home Run Derby 2010 kicks off All Star week tonight. The Home Run Derby 2010 will have plenty of long balls, although the Derby is the first real place for that this year. The first half of baseball this season has been a pitcher's affair, as hitters have been largely stymied thus far. This past weekend alone had several no-hitters carried into late innings, and a rookie pitching a perfect game into the ninth. Yet, the Home Run Derby 2010 has no real pitchers on board, to the relief of tonight's eight sluggers.

In Anaheim, four bashers each from the National and American league will swing for the fences. In the past, the more prolific big names in baseball slugged it out in this event. However, star power has decreased a bit in the last few years, since it can take a while for participants to recover for the stretch drive.

As such, the Home Run Derby 2010 is missing past champion Ryan Howard, Albert Pujois and others. Instead, five out of the eight players are in the field for the first time ever. Yet, Josh Hamilton was a Derby rookie when he crushed 28 balls in 2008.

This year, the Home Run Derby 2010 group has a Triple Crown contender, a few veterans and more. The Tigers' Miguel Cabrera heads the field, after a first half with 22 homers and a league-leading 77 RBIs. Meanwhile, David Ortiz is back, after a very slow start to the season. Other AL East sluggers include the Yankees' Nick Swisher, and the Blue Jays' Vernon Wells.

For the National League, Matt Holliday represents the Cardinals this year instead of Pujois. Hanley Ramirez appears, although he has the least home runs of any in the group. The Home Run Derby 2010 is missing defending champ Prince Fielder, so teammate Corey Hart is stepping in. Finally, Chris Young rounds things out from Arizona.

Although All Star ceremonies in other sports are often mocked, the Derby may be the most famous pre-All Star event in all of sports. But, these days, even this event has slid a bit, as have the stature of home runs in general, thanks to the steroid era. With many big names resting up for the actual All Star game, and for the pennant race, star power is not what it used to be.

Still, the Home Run Derby 2010 remains a big event to start ceremonies in Anaheim. Fans in the stands will have plenty of chances to catch balls - even those in the upper decks. The sluggers will start teeing off at 8 p.m. est on ESPN.

Sources

USA TODAY- "Derby field full of first-timers in event"

Pinstripe Ally- "Does the Home Run Derby adversely affect hitters?"