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No Thome... interesting.
After missing most of June with a strained muscle in his side, Albert Pujols decided he wouldn't miss the Home Run Derby if he didn't participate.
MLB.com reported Thursday that the St. Louis Cardinals slugger has withdrawn from the contest slated to take place Monday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. He made the decision following Thursday night's loss to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
"I'm not going," Pujols told the site. "I think my [health] is more important than trying to hit some balls out of the park."
Pujols was edged in the final round of the 2003 Derby by Garret Anderson at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. That was his only appearance in the event.
Pujols, who is hitting .315 with 28 home runs and 73 RBI, said he didn't want to risk reinjuring himself just as he's hitting his stride.
"I've been feeling good since I came off the DL or I wouldn't be playing," Pujols said. "That's for sure."
Pujols' opponent last night, Astros outfielder Lance Berkman, confirmed that he will take part in the Derby.
"It certainly adds some stress to the week because it's just another opportunity to mess up in front of a whole lot of people," Berkman told MLB.com. "But it's fun, too. The only All-Star Game that I've been to where I wasn't in the Derby was my first one, and that was kind of cool because I was a young guy. But now, I think it would be hard to watch a Home Run Derby. I'd want to get in there and take my hacks anyway."
In his home park, Berkman lost in the finals of the 2004 event, to Baltimore's Miguel Tejada. Berkman came in last in 2002 with just one home run. The switch-hitter will reportedly bat right-handed in this year's event so he doesn't disturb his timing from the left side. Last year's winner, Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu, struggled to homer in the second half of the season after hitting a record 41 homers in last year's contest.
David Wright of the New York Mets, Ryan Howard of Philadelphia, David Ortiz of Boston, Troy Glaus of Toronto and Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox have also confirmed their participation. Milwaukee's Carlos Lee withdrew because of a sore hand.
Tejada of Baltimore and and Miguel Cabrera of Florida are the final two Home Run Derby participants.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allsta...ory?id=2511829
No Thome... interesting.
thats true..ortiz will win it this year..hes been playing great going into the all star break
Ryan Howard
Go Berkman.
Id rather Pujols stay at home and not even play at all.
Rolen and Carp too.
Send someone else, and let everyone else with this BS .
looked like pujols may have pulled something last night rounding second, hope he's ok.
Hes fine.
His side prob just yanked a bit.
Pujols is like Duncan and plays with that would make others cry.
He manned up and played with plantar fascitis like Duncan, but had an MVP year.
THATS, how good Pujols is.
Pujos is a badass but he will never win a world series with those chokers. He ought to come to the Yanks.
Damn I'm good, that is my boy tooRyan Howard
He ought to come to the Yanks
He doesn't like being surrounded by overpaid stiffs
he will never win a world series with those chokers.
What chokers prey tell are those genius?
I'm a Cards fan through and through, but in their last two playoffs, they disappeared when it mattered. Against the Sox in 04 and the Astros in 05, outside of Pujols, the team BA hovered around .200. Not chokers, because they just ran into white-hot pitching, but he could use more protection in the lineup. Edmonds looks like he aged twenty years since last season.
he's still getting it done in the field though, that catch he had on the hill vs the stros was outstanding.
You love yourself alot. Do you carry a mirror for just this sort of moment?
Don't be a hater
your boy is a monster and smashed the 1 into the sign.
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