It's Show Time Folks!

The 2008 Home Run Derby is just around the corner and we finally have our 8 confirmed participants. After a couple weeks of rumors and speculation, the list has been narrowed down to an exciting group of this year’s biggest sluggers.Chase UtleyHeight: 6-1Weight: 200Age: 29HR Total to date: 25Position: Second BaseBats: LeftDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: The Phillies 2nd baseman is a line drive hitter who has show his HR power in streaks this year. He’s had 5 streaks of 9 or more games with no homeruns and he’s currently in a downswing right now. Does that mean he could get shut out or is he about to break out?Dan UgglaHeight: 5-11Weight: 200Age: 28HR Total to date: 23Position: Second BaseBats: RightDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Uggla has been a surprise this year, as he’s actually gotten better with the absence of Miguel Cabrera. He’s only played 3 games since injury his ankle and he hasn’t homered since June 20th, so we’ll see if he’s rusty.Lance BerkmanHeight: 6-1Weight: 220Age: 32HR Total to date: 22Position: First BaseBats: SwitchDerby Experience: 8th in 2002(1 HR), 2nd in 2004(21 HR), 6th in 2006(3 HR)Outlook: Berkman is by far the most experienced slugger in the group. This will be his 4th Home Run Derby and that will prove to be invaluable Monday when it comes time to swing for the fences.Grady SizemoreHeight: 6-2Weight: 200Age: 25HR Total to date: 23Position: Center FieldBats: LeftDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Sizemore was sitting at just 1 HR after his first 20 games and no one thought that he’d wind up in the Derby. He’s now hit 22 HR in his last 70 games and hopes to ride that hot streak to a Home Run Derby Title.Josh HamiltonHeight: 6-4Weight: 235 Age: 27HR Total to date: 21Position: Center FieldBats: LeftDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Hamilton is trying to recover from an 18-game homer less streak. He recently hit homeruns in back to back games and appears ready to make a serious run at the title. The right center gap being 14 feet shorter than left center gives him a very good chance to do so. Ryan BraunHeight: 6-1Weight: 201 Age: 24HR Total to date: 23Position: Left FieldBats: RightDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Braun burst onto the scene last year with 34 HR in a shortened season. He’s trying to make a run at 50 HR this year and that’s exactly the type of power that could help him win this event.Evan LongoriaHeight: 6-2Weight: 210Age: 22HR Total to date: 16Position: Third BaseBats: RightDerby Experience: NoneOutlook: Longoria is the youngest of the Home Run Derby participants. We’re about to see if youth will be on his side or if the nerves of being in the spotlight at Yankee Stadium will prove to be too much to handle.Justin MorneauHeight: 6-4Weight: 230 Age: 27HR Total to date: 14Position: First BaseBats: LeftDerby Experience: 5th in 2007(4 HR)Outlook: Morneau is the only player other than Berkman to have Home Run Derby experience. He also has the big body needed to withstand the beating that a contest like this puts on your body.

No Love in the Big Apple?

New York for the All-Star Game when they found themselves suddenly off course and stranded.Unlike the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815, the players that were snubbed for the All-Star team won’t be stranded on a remote island, but instead stranded at home when a few of them have very legit complaints about being left out of the fun in New York.Prince Fielder has recovered from a slow start to post some nice numbers, average aside, but it’s not hard to believe that he’ll be a spectator when you consider that he was up against Lance Berkman, Adrian Gonzalez and Albert Pujols.Mark DeRosa is in a similar situation. He’s batting .292 with 51 Runs, 11 HR and 49 RBI. He probably deserves to make the trip, but Chase Utley and Dan Uggla have made that impossible.Vladimir Guerrero, Jason Giambi, Jose Guillen and Brian Roberts have also had fine seasons, but just not quite good enough to play the final All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium.There are, however, a few players that have plenty of reasons to be upset with the results of the voting.J.J. Hardy (.295, 37R, 12HR, 38RBI) will be watching the game, while Cristian Guzman (.313, 50R, 5HR, 29RBI) plays in it. Mike Lowell (.297, 39R, 13HR, 54RBI) was even snubbed by his own manager, when Carlos Guillen (.286, 43R, 8HR, 44RBI) and Joe Crede (.261, 36R, 15HR, 47RBI) were both selected as backups to Alex Rodriguez. There are also some very deserving players who have one last chance to make the team in the final vote. Two more players will be invited to New York, but that will also send more deserving players home to watch the game from the couch.David Wright may still make the squad yet, but with his .286 batting average, 55 Runs, 16 HR, 66 RBI and 9 SB; he should already have his spot guaranteed. Chipper Jones has the unreal .388 average with nearly identical runs scored and homeruns, but 16 less RBI and only 2 stolen bases. Along with Jones, Aramis Ramirez is already on the team. Ramirez has is batting .283 with one more run, 1 less HR, 6 less runs batted in and 8 less stolen bases. Pat Burrell (.279, 47R, 21HR, 53RBI), Corey Hart (.296, 46R, 14HR, 55RBI, 13SB) and Carlos Lee (.292, 43R, 19HR, 67RBI) are facing David Wright for the final roster spot, but they also have the right to feel that they belong more than Kosuke Fukudome (.287, 58R, 7HR, 35RBI, 8SB) and Alfonso Soriano (.283, 36R, 15HR, 40RBI, 7SB). In addition to the chance at being voted into the final slot, one of these players could be an injury replacement for Soriano, who may not be healthy enough to play.Evan Longoria is in the running for the final spot in the American League, but his .281 average, 44 Runs, 16 HR and 52 RBI makes him much more deserving that Carlos Guillen and Joe Crede, who were already voted in.Jermaine Dye is battling Longoria for that last spot, but it could certainly be argued that his .308 average, 51 Runs, 19 HR and 52 RBI should be on that team more than Manny Ramirez (.278, 52R, 16HR, 53RBI), J.D. Drew (.299, 61R, 16HR, 51RBI) and Grady Sizemore (.269, 56R, 22HR, 50RBI).There was also a major mistake made regarding the starters, but this can be blamed on Red Sox Nation fan voting. There is no way that Dustin Pedroia (.312, 60R, 9HR, 41RBI, 9SB) deserves to start over reserve 2nd baseman Ian Kinsler (.332, 79R, 14HR, 53RBI, 23SB).