Do You Want to See Me Sock a Few Dingers?!

Tonight marks one of the most exciting nights in all of sports. It's the 27th Home Run Derby. Can David Ortiz retain his crown against a field of four Derby newbies and one former champion? We've got the answers. by Mike Izzo

The second best All-Star event in any sport (I’m still a sucker for the dunk competition. I’ve been waiting for Dwight Howard to slam Nate Robinson through a hoop for years), the Home Run Derby is arguably better than the All-Star Game itself. I fell in love with the Derby during the 1990's when Ken Griffey Jr. pretty much owned the competition. His swing was so fluid and theatrical, it made for a perfect Derby moment. And speaking of perfect Derby moments, who can forget John Hamilton’s ’08 performance? Easily the best baseball memory of that 2008 - sorry Philly. 

So allow me to break down this year's Derby field. 

American League

David Ortiz (captain)

Jose Bautista

Robinson Cano

Adrian Gonzalez

Wow, way to reach out of your comfort zone, Papi. Not a single player outside the AL East. Robbie and Adrian are two of the best hitters in the majors, but when you’re looking for raw power, Ortiz and Bautista are your guys. While first-time nerves could get to Bautista, I’m giving him the edge over the defending champion Ortiz because he’s yet to win and we haven’t had a back-to-back Derby champion since Griffey in 98-99.

National League

Prince Fielder (captain)

Matt Holiday

Matt Kemp

Rickie Weeks

If Big Papi’s picks were bad, this is even worse. First off, choosing a teammate shouldn’t even be an option, but at least David Ortiz picked Adrian Gonzalez. We have to waste a spot on Rickie Weeks? Poor Justin Upton was offering up ZJ’s for a place on the squad! Kemp and Holiday are solid, but I think Fielder may have stacked the deck in his favor here. Not that it will help him in the finals.

Finals: Bautista vs. Fielder

Fielder won the Derby in 2009, but Bautista has been a man on a mission since joining the Toronto Blue Jays. Nobody can stop him, including Fielder. 

Winner: Bautista

Tonight's All-Star Game festivities start from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona at 8pm with the 2011 Home Run Derby followed by the Celebrity & Legends Softball Game.