MLB

FOX Sports Exclusive

Power goes out at Home Run Derby

Share This Story

foxsports admin

 
Updated Jul 14, 2009 4:37 PM ET
     
 

ST. LOUIS

Did the Home Run Derby go flat on Monday night? You be the judge. The happiest of the eight contestants was the guy who kept his early afternoon vow not to homer: Detroit's Brandon Inge. "The experience was the most fun I've had," Inge said. "I'd love to do it again, but they probably wouldn't want me." The hometown favorites cratered. Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, from the nearby suburb of Wildwood, did not get into the finals. Neither did Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, who left without comment. Pujols may have been left speechless by not being intentionally walked, as is the case during the regular season. The runnerup was benched a week ago by his club. Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz, who went through outright waivers without being claimed after spring training 2008, was second to Milwaukee's Prince Fielder. "If you had told me two years ago that anything like this was going to happen, I'd have said you were crazy," Cruz said. Fielder won with 23 homers in three rounds. That's five homers fewer than Texas' Josh Hamilton hit in the opening round last year, when he finished second to Minnesota's Justin Morneau. For Fielder, this made up for his failure to get out of the first round in the 2007 derby at San Francisco. "This is Albert's stadium, and Ryan is from here," Fielder said. "I'm just happy that I was able to put on a show and win." Fielder's father, Cecil, hit only eight homers combined in three derbies. That would have added a nice touch to the story, if the son were not estranged from the father in a long-standing financial dispute. It all made for a lackluster, made-for-television event that grows more bloated every year. Inge's humor and graciousness were the lone redeeming qualities. The unpretentious Inge was the last player on the American League team, chosen through Internet voting. He vowed to have as much fun as possible with the selection. That meant volunteering for the home-run contest. Inge enjoyed the absurdity of a 5-for-11, 185-pounder stepping into the ring with the heavyweights.
downlevel description
This video requires the Adobe Flash Player. Download a free version of the player.
"Some guys say they couldn't have fun with it because it's too stressful," Inge said. "It was the most fun I've had being around those guys." Inge went third, after Cruz and Fielder each had 11 homers in the opening round. That told Inge he was in over his head. "My number was 15," Inge said. "I almost got there." As Inge flared what would have been singles into the outfield, all he could hear was the public-address announcer saying "two outs, three outs, five outs." Inge's oldest son, Tyler, looked to Detroit outfielder Curtis Granderson and said "Daddy's not hitting any homers." At least the Inge kids did not boo their father as Bret Boone claimed his children did when he failed to homer in the 2003 competition. "My kids will wait a couple of years for that,'' Inge said. As Inge's plight became obvious, the sellout crowd offered its support. It did not help. Down to his final out, Inge said to himself "you've got to be kidding me.'' Said Inge: "But did you see all those base hits out there?'' Detroit bullpen catcher Scott Pickens kept Inge in the park. Inge kiddingly accused Pickens, whom he invited to the event, of violating baseball etiquette by throwing everything but convenient and straight fastballs.
"For a guy my size, he better throw it right down the middle,'' Inge said. "He's probably over there saying 'I cut him up.' The only thing that would have been better would have been if he had sawed off my bat.'' His brief work finished, Inge chose to stay on the field with his children and watch the remainder of the three-hour quasi-competition. Inge did that out of respect for his fellow All-Stars and a genuine sense of enjoyment. "It was a good moment for all of us,'' Inge said "But it would have been better if I had hit a homer.'' Inge gathered up as many mementos of the derby as possible, save one. The bat. "I'm going to retire that sucker,'' he said. It leaves with a lot of homers still in it.

More Stories From foxsports admin

FOX Fantasy Baseball Game 2012


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

MLB Videos

Morosi: NL spring training headlines Posted: Feb 09, 2012
FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi discusses all the NL headlines going into spring...

Braves honor local heroes Posted: Feb 09, 2012
The Braves visit an Atlanta fire station to show their appreciation to some of t...

Morosi: AL spring training headlines Posted: Feb 09, 2012
FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi discusses all the AL headlines heading into spri...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »
SimLeague Baseball - Simulation Baseball Game

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Chicago_Cubs/browse/featuredproduct/250780/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_250000/FF_250780_xl.jpg&w=100 49.95 Nike Chicago Cubs Tackle Twill Hoodie Sweatshirt - Royal Blue
    Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Boston_Red_Sox/browse/featuredproduct/605356/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605356_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 Nike Boston Red Sox Ladies Red Local T-shirt
    New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_New_York_Yankees/browse/featuredproduct/605557/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_605000/ff_605557_xl.jpg&w=100 16.95 New Era New York Yankees Youth Navy Blue Tie Breaker 39THIRTY Stretch Fit Hat
    Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Oakland_Athletics/browse/featuredproduct/606322/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_606000/ff_606322_xl.jpg&w=100 27.95 Nike Oakland Athletics Green MLB Practice T-shirt
    Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Philadelphia_Phillies/browse/featuredproduct/626447/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_626000/ff_626447_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Philadelphia Phillies Mascot Pillow Pet
    New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Colorado_Rockies/browse/featuredproduct/644117/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_644000/ff_644117_xl.jpg&w=100 28.95 New Era Colorado Rockies Black-Purple Stoked Snapback Hat
    Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Texas_Rangers/browse/featuredproduct/722692/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_722000/ff_722692_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 Texas Rangers Manager Stainless Steel Watch
    Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Detroit_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/723016/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_723000/ff_723016_xl.jpg&w=100 39.95 Majestic Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers #35 Youth Navy Blue Player Pullover Hoo..
    Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim/browse/featuredproduct/777026/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_777000/ff_777026_xl.jpg&w=100 99.95 Majestic Albert Pujols Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Replica Jersey - White
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft