Ladies And Gentlemen, J.P. Arencibia

Holy crap. Babes Love Baseball may have just found themselves a new boyfriend. The Blue Jays pounded the Rays on Saturday night in a 17 - 11 homerun derby, and Tampa's right handed knuckleballer James Shields gave up 6 of the 8 Toronto homeruns before being pulled from the game.

More astounding than Joe Maddon leaving his starter in long enough to give up that many runs was the amazing performance by a fresh off the farm 24-year-old rookie catcher named J.P. Arencibia.

Arencibia swung at his very first major league pitch and drilled it over the left field wall for a two run shot. As if that wasn't impressive enough, he decided to follow up with a double, a single, and ANOTHER homerun. All on the first four pitches of his major league career. Show off.

Going to Bat for Charity with State Farm

We're in the giving mood lately.

State Farm has teamed up once again with Major League Baseball to give people a chance to attend the 2010 World Series, while also making a difference for their favorite charity by "going to bat" for them!

It's super easy to do. Just visit www.statefarm.com/gotobat, play the online Home Run Derby game for the charity you'd like to "go to bat" for and once a week, for ten weeks. State Farm will then select a winner and their charity. The winner’s charity will receive a weekly donation ($100 for every home run hit that week in MLB) and the winner themselves will receive a trip for two the 2010 World Series.

Everybody wins!

[MLB.com] | [SF Go To Bat]

Become a fan on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!

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?

Derby Contest Winner!

This post is by Andrew: die-hard Brewers fan and one of my favorite commenters of all time. He won our Home Run Derby Challenge contest, and since he's a writer, we gave him a post.

Batting Practice

It can be fun when you get in a groove. It can be awesome when you get a ball in the parking lot that can clear everything. It can also start fights if you see so many Happy Youngsters going after what's rightfully yours.

But only one night a year, Batting Practice takes it to the next level. ESPN takes control, and the mellifluous tones of Chris Berman and the general savvy of Joe Morgan take us to another place. State Farm gives us the Home Run Derby, and it allowed my giant Irish head to look as smart as it's been in a while!

For you see, I called it. Before the names were announced. Yeah, me. Give me a second.

Hear that sound? That's me patting myself on the back.

You Suck, Brandon Inge

Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge just hit zero bombs in the Home Run Derby.

Good job, buddy.

First round action: Nelson Cruz and Prince Fielder are tied with 11 longballs a piece. Ryan Howard has seven, Carlos Peña, Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer are all knotted up at five a piece, and Adrian Gonazalez managed two tater tots.

Tater Tot Hot Dish: American League

The American League has chosen its participants for tonight's Home Run Derby. Finally.

With Dustin Pedroia opting out of this year's All-Star game to hang out with his pregnant wife, he will be replaced by Carlos Peña. The Tampa Bay Rays first baseman will join Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge, Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz and Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer.

Joe Mauer for President

Well, no shock here at BLB HQ. Man Muscles accepted an invitation to the Homerun Derby. Also joining the action is last minute vote-in Brandon Inge. While we're still waiting to find out who the other two American League Derby-ers are, let's take a moment to enjoy the Joegasm.

Joe's high school coach Jim O'Neill will be pitching to him. Awww, cute.

I'm not the betting type, but if I had to put money on who else will be in the Derby, it will probably be Evan Longoria (again, not to be confused with my girl-crush EVA Longoria. Man she's hot!) and Mark Teixeira. At least, that would be the least boring scenario. Good luck, Joe! And remember, if you need a good rubdown for your Man Muscles before the All Star break, you know how to find us.

No Morneau in This Year's Homer Derby

My Canadian Crusher has declined his invitation to the 24th Annual Home Run Derby, to be held next Monday night on ESPN.

"They asked me yesterday," Justin Morneau said. "I said I wasn't going to do it."

And that's that.

Tater Tot Hot Dish: National League

The National League contestants for this year's Home Run Derby have been announced! Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols and Adrian Gonzalez -- all four monster first basemen from the senior circuit -- will vy for the All-Star Longball Crown next Monday night on ESPN.

Now! Head over to our Home Run Derby Challenge post (where we're giving away a BLB ballcap, possibly some other goodies, and entering the winner of our choice in a chance to win two World Series tickets) and comment on which of these four sluggers you think will hit the most bombs.

Another Change in All-Star Rosters

This news doesn't affect you as an All-Star voter... I'll get to the part that concerns you in just a minute. The big dogs at the Commissioner's Office have decided to add one more pitcher from each league, by manager's choice, bringing the total of each All-Star roster to 33 players -- 13 hurlers -- for the July 14th game in St. Louis.

Here's where you guys come in.

We're holding a Home Run Derby Challenge, in which our readers guess who will hit the most bombs and why (the why is the most important part) at this year's contest, even though we have no idea who will participate yet. The beauty of this, is that you can show off your psychic powers now, or guess later on once the players are announced.

Josh Hamilton to Return After All-Star Break

Josh Hamilton thanks you for drafting him so early.

The Texas Rangers outfielder will sit out for the next 5-7 weeks after undergoing surgery today to repair a partial tear in an abdominal muscle. Hamilton, injured May 17th after making a leaping catch and crashing into an outfield wall against the Los Angeles Angels, landed on the disabled list last week.

Tell Us How You Really Feel

Chase Utley, who I was rather disappointed in Monday night but still love unconditionally, reacts in the video below after being booed at Yankee Stadium (by Mets fans?) during the Home Run Derby, in which he hit only 5 longballs and did not advance to the second round.

Holy Smokes, Eh?

Josh Hamilton's awesomeness knows no bounds.

The Texas Rangers center fielder's impressive, 28-bomb first-round performance in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium Monday night shattered the previous record of 24 set by Bobby Abreu in 2005. He nailed a few more going into the final round against Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau, who hit 8 in the first and 9 in the Semis.

Pink Bats are Tough

According to komen.org, an estimated 182,460 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women in 2008 alone. Chances are, you or someone you know has been, or will be affected by the disease. Major League Baseball is trying to make a difference for the third year in a row.

What began two years ago as an expression of charity has become a solid tradition, as baseball will once again celebrate Mother's Day by wielding pink bats.

Partnering with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, the signed bats will eventually be auctioned off on MLB.com with all proceeds going to fight breast cancer.

Players will again wear pink wristbands and necklaces, along with pink ribbons on their unis. Pink ribbon logos will adorn the bases and home plates (also to be auctioned) and even the dugout lineup cards will be pink.


Furthermore, our buddies over at Home Run Derby will generously pledge $10 to the cure for each home run hit today. Awesome.

Moms are pretty great. You know, without them, we wouldn't even be around.

Here are a few lovely photos of some of our favorite baseball players' wives and mothers, whom without they'd be totally lost.

This heart-warming story is sure to have you calling your mother to say thanks and I love ya, and this one is always worth another chuckle.

Also, if you're wondering what it's like to be a female sports blogger, check out an interview I was honored to be a part of, alongside a woman with actual journalistic credentials, at Baseball Digest Daily.

Fun With Polls: Home Run Derby

In our most recent poll, we asked your opinion on MLB's method of using the All-Star game winner to choose home field advantage for the World series...

59% of you said that the method sucks.

26% say it's fair.

The other 15% have no opinion on the matter.

Personally, I find it completely misrepresenting of MLB's standard objectivity. If they cared, they'd give it to whoever has the best record. In the case of a tie, the advantage could go to the head-to-head winner during Interleague play or simply the team with the best Interleague record, if the two hadn't faced each other that season. But for some strange reason, I don't make those decisions.

In light of All-Star festivities beginning this week, our next poll is on the Home Run Derby, which will take place Monday night. Which one of these monsters is your favorite to win it all?

Feel free to go on the record in the comments!

• 
  Vladimir Guerrero
• 
  Justin Morneau
• 
  Alex Rios
• 
  Matt Holliday
• 
  Miguel Cabrera
• 
  Ryan Howard
• 
  Prince Fielder
• 
  Albert Pujols

view results

It's All About the Pink

The fellas over at Home Run Derby have put together an informative post about the special happenings around Major League Baseball on Mother's Day.

For every homer hit on May 13th (that's Mother's Day, people) the boys at Home Run Derby will donate $10 to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation, right along with MLB's donations.

Many players will again swing pink bats that day, which will in turn be auctioned off for profit of the nation’s leading breast cancer awareness and research organization.

Pay the Derby boys a visit to see how you could help or just spread the word!

[Return of the Pink Bats]