It's 2010 Home Run Derby Time!

Update: Good job, Big Papi.

Here is the lineup for the Midsummer Classic 2010 State Farm Home Run Derby contest, in order of appearance. Who ya got?

Hanley Ramirez, Fish Close to Deal

The Florida Marlins have agreed in principle to a $70 million, six-year contract to keep Hanley Ramirez around to play in their new stadium in 2011.

This is huge news for the 24-year-old shortstop, who has played for the team with the lowest payroll in baseball ($22 million) for the past three seasons. If this deal goes through, it would be the most valuable in franchise history, topping the $61 million, six-year contract inked by Gary Sheffield in 1997.

With their new ballpark in sight, there are a few players who will seek large raises in arbitration in this coming offseason, including first baseman Mike Jacobs, second baseman Dan Uggla, left fielder Josh Willingham, and lefty Scott Olsen.

[Fish Stripes]

Fun With Polls: NL Batting Title

Last week, we wondered who you thought would become the American League Batting Champion.

45% of you voted in Ichiro Suzuki's favor while 34% claim Magglio Ordonez has what it takes to remain the best hitter in the league.

Jorge Posada stole 14% of your hearts and Chone Figgins tallied 5% while Placido Polanco and his strange head got 0 votes. That's a big fat Zero for Polanco.

So, we'll see in a few days who was right, who was wrong and who scores the AL Batting Title.

Onto the National League, where my favorite sweet swingin' switch-hitter, Chipper Jones leads the way with a .341 batting average. There are six whole games left in the Atlanta Braves' season for Chipper to dominate, which I hope he does. I don't see how he won't win this, considering how badass he is and everything.

But Mr. Jones has some competition, and his name is Mr. Holliday. Matt is hitting .337 on the year with six games left in the Colorado Rockies' season. After smoking 11 homers in 12 games leading into the weekend, he went 0-for-5 Friday night and was sidelined with a left oblique strain -- something that could kill his chances for the title if he can't bounce back in time.

Sadly, this isn't a beauty pageant. Chase Utley, who is a few degrees hotter than Death Valley, is batting .335 with six games remaining in the Philadelphia Phillies' season. Utley had a short hiatus due to a pesky broken right hand in late July -- a break that didn't stop the lefty from going 2-for-4 in the game which it occurred. Tough. As. Nails.

With six games left in both of their seasons, Hanley Ramirez (.333) and Edgar Renteria (.332) round out the poll much like Polanco and Figgins did the AL inquiry. They're both awesome, but may or may not be awesome enough to figure in the race.

• 
  Chipper Jones ATL
• 
  Matt Holliday COL
• 
  Chase Utley PHI
• 
  Hanley Ramirez FLA
• 
  Edgar Renteria ATL

view results

Hanley Ramirez Takes One for the Team

Mrs. Hanley Ramirez is one devoted wife.

A day after nearly hitting for the first cycle in club history (just a triple shy- he notched two homeruns instead), Hanley Ramirez was out of the starting lineup for tonight's matchup against the Nationals.

The Florida Marlins shortstop skipped the game to be at the hospital with his wife, who is pregnant with the couple's second child. The Mr. and Mrs. induced labor today, with an off-day ahead on the schedule tomorrow, so that Hanley will only miss one start for the Fish.

I'm assuming that inducing labor for the sake of a ballclub's game schedule means the Mrs. at least gets to pick out the kid's name, right?

[ Florida Marlins ]

Hanley Ramirez Out for Marlins

Short stop Hanley Ramirez exited Sunday's Florida Marlins game against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning after injuring his right hamstring.

The reigning NL Rookie of the Year led off the bottom of the inning with a groundout to short, hurting himself while running down the first base line before limping off the field.

Ramirez is batting .320 with one home run, two RBIs and three stolen bags this season. He is listed as day-to-day and has been temporarily replaced by Alfredo Amezaga.

[MLB]