Home Run Derby will be fun, but Weeks and Cano?

Every year I look forward to the MLB Home Run Derby.  I won't soon forget the memory of Mark McGwire in 1999 hitting bomb after bomb out of Fenway Park.  That year the contestants were announced by none other than Michael Buffer; how awesome is that?  Watching the game's most feared power hitters tee off in an attempt to hit as many impressive home runs as possible is something that really entertains me, even if the snooty observer labels fans such as myself "unsophisticated idiots".

The 2011 Home Run Derby in Arizona will feature a somewhat impressive cast, but with some disappointments as always seems to be the case.  Seemingly every year, there are two or three guys there who don't belong; guys who just don't have the natural power to compete in a contest like this.  In 1999 it was Nomar Garciaparra - at least he was there to satisfy the home town fans.

The contestants are:

Captain "Big Papi" David Ortiz - The Alex Ovechkin of the derby; he will always be a pleasure to watch, as you know he will be ready with some comical antics that will surely include pretending to be amazed by his opponents homers as he does year after year, and if he makes it to the finals he will surely come out and interrupt his opponent to offer him a drink and towel him off.  Funny stuff.  As far as home run hitting goes, word on the street is that Ortiz is having lunch with Brian McNamee on Monday; hopefully we will see some results of that with some mammoth dingers.  He did win the contest last year.

Adrian Gonzalez - This guy is a really good hitter, who can hit for power, and drive in a ton of runs.  Almost like a Rafael Palmeiro type, he's got a great swing but is not really a guy who hits tape measure home runs.  Hopefully he can share another thing in common with Rafael Palmeiro and Big Papi can bring him some "left overs" to give him a little more pop come Monday evening.

Jose Bautista - This is what I can't wait to see.  Arizona is a great home run hitting park, and "Joey Bats" can crush a pitch like nobody else.  If he doesn't make it to the finals I will be seriously disappointed.  Oh and I'm not even going to make a joke about steroids in this paragraph.

Robinson Cano - Come on.  This guy is a great hitter.  An amazing hitter.  But not a home run hitter.  Sure he can hit homers in Yankee Stadium, but so can I.  I could hit a ball into the upper deck of Yankee Stadium from here and I live in Toronto.  Seriously the guy is on pace for less than 30 home runs playing in the easiest stadium in the league to hit bombs.  The guy is a hitting machine, but doesn't belong in the home run derby.

Captain "The artist formerly known as" Prince Fielder - Any guy this "big" will be fun to watch.  Heck, any guy named Prince will be fun to watch, regardless of what he's doing.  The only substances this guy needs to help him crush baseballs are cheeseburgers and milkshakes.

Rickie Weeks - What the hell?  The guy is having a fantastic year the one year I didn't draft him in my fantasy league, but again, he's not a guy who's going to succeed in a home run derby.  There's a difference in a guy like this who can jump on a first pitch fastball where the pitcher supplies all the power, and a real power hitter.  I will just be happy if he manages to make it through this experience without hurting himself.

Matt Holliday - Another guy who is a great hitter, but seems to disappoint in these competitions.  Still, I'd rather watch him than Cano or Weeks.  He'll struggle to make it to the 2nd round.

Matt Kemp - I have no problem with him being here.  If for no other reason than he is one of the top 5-tool players in the league.  He may not get more than 4 home runs tops, but he deserves the shot.

So that's the field for the 2011 Home Run Derby.  Obviously, my hope is for all the big guns (Bautista, Ortiz, Fielder, Gonzalez) to fare well, because I really don't expect much from the other four.  Regardless, for us "unsophisticated idiot" fans who love to watch dingers, it promises to be a fun night no matter what happens.  Unless McNamee doesn't show up for lunch.