Fielder puts on display
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Detroit’s Prince Fielder became only the second player to win multiple titles in the All-Star Home Run Derby, thrilling the crowd at Kauffman Stadium with eight splash shots into the right-field fountain and beating Toronto’s Jose Bautista 12-7 in the final Monday night.
On a night when the Yankees’ Robinson Cano was repeatedly booed and went homerless, Fielder put on the most powerful display among baseball’s big boppers. The winner at St. Louis’ Busch Stadium three years ago, Fielder hit a total of 28 home runs over three rounds to cap the main event on the eve of the All-Star Game, hitting the long drive of the night at 476 feet into the water.
Ken Griffey Jr. won three titles, in 1994, 1998 and 1999.
There was plenty of aquatic activity in Kansas City, second only to Rome for most fountains in cities around the world.
After three splash shots among his five homers in the first round, Fielder started off the second round as the setting sun lit up clouds in a pretty pink behind the left-field wall. His mop of dreadlocks visible as he hit without a helmet, Fielder deposited four more balls into the 322-foot-wide water spectacular, which by then was illuminated in the twilight.
He added another water drive in the final round, then leaned against one of his sons while he watched Bautista swing.
Cano was the object of loud booing throughout by fans upset he didn’t select the Royals’ Billy Butler after promising to take a hometown player for his derby team.
Fans chanted “Bil-ly Butler!” in between their boos. When it was over, Cano got hugs from Boston’s David Ortiz and Yankees teammates Curtis Granderson and CC Sabathia.
“Everywhere the Yankees go play, they get booed all the time. I’m used to it,” Cano said.
Carlos Gonzalez and Andrew McCutchen (four each) and Matt Kemp (one) also were dropped after the first round.
Carlos Beltran (12) was dropped after the second round, when Mark Trumbo and Bautista were tied with 13 apiece, leading to a swingoff won by Bautista 2-1.
La Russa picks Cain over Dickey
Owner of the best record in baseball, R.A. Dickey was hoping to become the first knuckleballer to start an All-Star Game since Dutch Leonard in 1943.
A 12-1 record wasn’t good enough. Tony La Russa picked San Francisco’s Matt Cain to start for the National League tonight.
“I’m not going to break down in tears over it, but at the same time I’m a competitor. I want to pitch. I want to start,” Dickey said Monday.
Detroit’s Justin Verlander will start for the American League.
Cain will be pitching to his regular catcher, Buster Posey. Dickey hopes he wasn’t denied the start just because he throws knuckleballs.
“You’re talking about the best players in the world, and you’re asking about a pitch that’s too nasty to handle?” Dickey said. “If that’s the reason, that’s a poor reason.”
For La Russa, the game marks a full circle. He made his major league debut as a player with the Kansas City A’s in 1963.
“To think the last time I’m going to put on a uniform is going to be in Kansas City is just an unbelievable coincidence to believe,” he said.
Bradley back in Mo.
Phil Bradley was back in Missouri for the All-Star Home Run Derby.
Now an official with the players’ union, Bradley was an all-Big Eight quarterback for Missouri before becoming an All-Star outfielder for the Seattle Mariners in 1985.
He still remembers walking into the Metrodome for the big event, and being struck by the superstars walking in with him: Eddie Murray, George Brett, Tony Gwynn and others.
“I was in my second year in the majors,” Bradley recalled. “I was in awe.”