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.
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.
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