How Do You Feel About Joe Mauer Participating in the Home Run Derby?

by Jesse on Jul 11, 2009 9:00 AM EDT in News

The eternal question: Is it worth it?

There's always a debate through fandom when one of your guys accepts The Invitation. One one side there's the possibility of a frivilous injury, or the belief that swinging for the fences will somehow put a hitch in someone's giddyup. On the other side there's...well, not those things. Just the Home Run Derby. Also some respect, a spectacle and maybe a trophy.

The biggest debate is over ruining a guy's swing. For Twins fans, the two sides of the coin can be represented by Tom Brunansky and Justin Morneau.

In 1985, Brunansky was an All-Star, participating in the Home Run Derby after hitting .265/.359/.508 in the first half, with 20 home runs. Brunansky belted four homers, in the Dome, but lost the contest to Dave Parker who managed six. Over the last half of the season Brunansky would flounder, finishing with a disappointing line of .242/.320/.448. Was his second half the result of a swing that'd been ruined by the Derby, or was it simply Bruno returning to his career averages?

On the other side of the argument is Morneau, who won last year's Derby. His .903 pre-break OPS was great, and he still finished the season with a strong line of .301/.375/.501.

How do you feel about Joe Mauer's participating in this year's spectacle?

Poll

How do you feel about Joe Mauer in the HR Derby?

Great! He's one of the game's best hitters.

256 votes

I don't mind one of our guys doing it, I just wish it wasn't Joe.

52 votes

I don't really care one way or the other.

68 votes

I'm against it, for one reason or another.

62 votes

438 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I am not really concerned about his swing...

just would prefer he get more days off.

by guinness junky on Jul 11, 2009 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

As I commented to my friend last night

It doesn’t matter if Joe gets a hitch in his home run swing after the break since he’s already topped a career number in that department. Hopefully he’ll keep up the hitting though.

by aflamingstar on Jul 11, 2009 2:01 PM EDT reply actions

I think

I wouldn’t mind him getting the time off, but at least he won’t catch in the derby. The derby really probably isn’t that big a physical deal anyway.

And if he wins it, wouldn’t that be awesome.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on Jul 12, 2009 4:29 AM EDT reply actions