Home Run Derby: Players representing their home nations (Puerto Rico?!)

[The Emperor Fabulous]

The Home Run Derby for the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game has changed format. Instead of 8 individual players making the cut for hitting homeruns, the players are now picked to represent their home country.

Now, this is all well and good (although, of course, that takes a great deal of really good home-run hitters out of contention).

But, does MLB know what is a nation and what isn't?

Here are the representatives:

Mark Teixeira - United States
David Ortiz - Dominican Republic
Bobby Abreu - Venezuela
Jason Bay - Canada
Carlos Lee - Panama
Hee-Soep Choi - South Korea
Andruw Jones - Netherlands
Ivan Rodriguez - Puerto Rico

Now...first off, Jason Bay (16HR, 46 in 3 years) and Hee-Soep Choi (13HR, 38 in 3 years) should not ever be in a respectable Home Run Derby. Of course, if they're looking to internationalize All-Star break, especially in the wake of baseball being dropped from the Olympics, I can understand it.

Of course...I didn't realize Puerto Rico was a seperate country. They're touting 8 nations all over MLB.com. I guess they couldn't find a Cuban or a Columbian in Baseball.

Just thought I'd share.

[Az]

As long as Puerto Rico doesn't vote in the US election, I don't see why it shouldn't be treated as a nation.

[Guynemer]

Plus, they field their own Olympic teams (such as the basketball team that whooped our butts in Athens).

[MikeH]

Why all the focus on Peurto Rico? For some reason they've included Canada as a seperate country.

[Az]

[reds4ever]

Why is PR not a country?

[Ninot]

I guess they didnt wanna double up on Dominican Republic, cuz Manny Ramirez should be in it.

Home Run Derby that focuses on International Players instead of the best sluggers

[rah]

This doesn't make any sense to me. I don't see it improving the appeal of it.

[DarkCloud]

Neither do I...

Bad Bud Selig... Bad...

[Asher]

Originally posted by MikeH
Why all the focus on Peurto Rico? For some reason they've included Canada as a seperate country.

Welcome to the new millennium, the UK is the US' new bedbuddy.

[Ninot]

Players I can think of that should be in it:

A-Rod
Manny Ramirez
Vlad Guerrero
Hideki Matsui

not all the top HR hitters in the game, but all better than some of them on the list.

[DeathByTheSword]

Andruw Jones - Netherlands

[DarkCloud]

true- how could they not represent Japan in the derby? that's a grave insult to the #2 baseball-mad nation in the world!

[Imran Siddiqui]

You guys ACTUALLY think the biggest HR hitters want to participate in the HR derby? Please!

And Matsui may not have wanted to participate... which leaves you with who for Japan?

[Ninot]

Well sure, not all of them want to do it. But considering what they are presenting, I think this might not be the best year for the HR Derby.

Here's hoping Ortiz crushes the ball 50 times

Selig

[Imran Siddiqui]

I like the set up. I never really watch the HR Derby anyway. A total waste of time really. But this may be interesting to watch.

[DerSchwarzfalke]

A-Rod was asked to represent the United States, but he turned it down. The Home Run Derby really messes up a player's swing, which is why you don't see a lot of sluggers -- especially the smarter ones -- in there.

Ichiro initially was going to represent Japan in the Home Run Derby. It sounds silly at first glance, but he has some hidden power that would have made him a dark horse. I think he wisely chose to drop out, since during the regular season -- far more important -- he makes his living as a singles hitter.

I enjoy the Home Run Derby. I do not like the current format by country, but I have a feeling that it will revert to sluggers next year when they realize that David Ortiz and Carlos Lee just ran away with this one. It is a one time gimmick to advertise the upcoming Baseball World Cup.

[asleepathewheel]

I'm glad Pujols isn't in it. It sometimes messes up their swings for a bit afterwards, occassionally leading to injuries.

[GePap]

Puerto Rico is not a country- it is a spolied little island with little worthwhile history an little accomplishement.

[Imran Siddiqui]

ABREU!!!

Wow!

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui


You guys ACTUALLY think the biggest HR hitters want to participate in the HR derby? Please!

And Matsui may not have wanted to participate... which leaves you with who for Japan?

ICHIRO!!

But yes, most of the listed above chose not to participate (like Pujols).

Anywho, it's an amusing idea. Not sure why Choi or Bay are in it ... sadly, though, HR Derby and other all-star activities are never going to get many of the big names, because there's no real reason for them to participate ...

[snoopy369]

Oh - and Puerto Rico may technically be another nation. It's not a state, and I forget the exact details, but it may be considered another nation technically (but one with a specific, legal relationship with the United States).

I do know that you ship FedEx-International (Ground) to Puerto Rico, which is very amusing.

[KrazyHorse]

There's no technical definition of "nation"

Puerto Rico is a protectorate of the US

[Imran Siddiqui]

Not sure why Choi or Bay are in it

Because they are from different countries, and wanted to play .

There's no technical definition of "nation"

In International Relations there sure is. And snoopy is right that PR may qualify as a seperate nation from the American nation. Though they are both under the same state.

[Winston]

Maybe it's just like baseball in general - completely random and totally unpredictable.

Plus I agree, Puerto Rico is widely regarded as a separate country in sports. They have their own Olympic Committee & team, for instance.

[KrazyHorse]

If there's a technical definition then you should be able to come out and tell me whether or not it's a different nation.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'm sure there is a technical defintion of concepts in chemistry, but I can't tell you whether one thing is a certain element or not (for example).

I'd need to have knowledge of sociology and history of the peoples of the island in order to tell you if it is a different nation or not. I think it is highly likely that Puerto Rico is a seperate nation and most IR scholars would say so, but I don't have the specialized expertise to be sure. It's most definetly seperate nation from the US, but whether it is a nation of its own, or part of another nation within the Caribbean... well, that I don't know. I'd have to know the origins and customs of the people of Puerto Rico compared to other islands around it.

[GePap]

Not "nation", STATE.

Puerto Ricans are surely a nation.

Its is not clear they are a STATE in any terms outside of the sporting world.

There are no such things as Puerto Rican embassies anywhere in the world.

[KrazyHorse]

No, the problem is that even two "experts" are going to disagree about all that ****.

Because the definition is vague.

[KrazyHorse]

The one for "state" is much clearer and has a number of tests.

Puerto Rico fails most of those.