Monday, 8:00 pm Eastern – ESPN
If you like home runs then tune in on Monday for the Major League Baseball All-Star Home Run Derby on ESPN. It will take place at Yankee Stadium and should be exciting. Most of the time when betting the Home Run Derby you can look at the previous year’s champ as one of the favorites but that will not be the case in 2008. Last year’s champ Valdimir Guerrero has pulled out of the competition. The leading home run hitter this season is the Phillies Ryan Howard and he is not even in the Derby. Home town favorite and superstar Alex Rodriguez is also not in the field.
Check out the current odds for the Home Run Derby at SBG Global.
It is likely that one of the favorites for this year’s Home Run Derby will be Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton who is having an MVP year. He is among the league leaders in home runs, leads in RBI’s, and is hitting over .300. Looking at the field of contenders it is easy to see why Hamilton will be a popular choice. The National League contenders don’t look that strong. No one really thinks of Chase Utley, Dan Uggla or Lance Berkman as home run hitters. True, they are all having excellent seasons, but none are really known as power hitters. That is not the case with Hamilton who is simply a stud. The player to watch in addition to Hamilton could be Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun. He is among the leaders in home runs this season and is thought of more as a power threat. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, something you dream about," Braun said. "It's too good an opportunity to pass up."
One of the top home run hitters in the American League is also a surprise entrant into the Home Run Derby. Cleveland outfielder Grady Sizemore is making his third consecutive appearance on the AL All-Star team and his first ever appearance in the Home Run Derby. He has hit over 20 home runs this year. He is the first Cleveland player in the Home Run Derby since Jim Thome in 1998.
The Marlins Dan Uggla is one player that is very excited to be a part of the Home Run Derby. "I think it's awesome," said Uggla, "Every kid dreams about being in the Home Run Derby. I know I used to watch it every year. It's just one of things, I'm very fortunate and very excited to be in. I'm very thankful." Uggla has 81 career home runs in his first three seasons.
The winners of the MLB betting Home Run Derby since 2002 are Guerrero, Howard, Bobby Abreu, Miguel Tejada, Garret Anderson and Jason Giambi.
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