Solid Showing For Braun

By: Big Rygg

It was a fine showing for Ryan Braun in the Home Run Derby tonight at Yankee Stadium but it wasn't good enough to win.

Braun officially finished third in the competition, totalling 14 long balls in the first two rounds (which became cumulative recently). That was three less than Justin Morneau hit in the first two rounds, so he just barely missed out on the finals.

Morneau, competing in his second Derby, was joined in the final round by Texas Ranger (and amazing story) Josh Hamilton who hit an flat out unbelievable (and record) 28 home runs in the first round before tacking on four more in an abbreviated second round. Hamilton didn't need any second round knocks to advance but gave the crowd a little extra effort.

But, since we really don't blog much about non-Brewer issues here, I'll turn my focus back to Braun.

In a field of four lefties, three righties and a switch-hitter (that swung lefty tonight), Braun was the only right-handed hitter to reach the semi-finals.

Braun had his agent, Nez Balelo, throwing to him. Unfortunately, it's possible that Braun's manners got the best of him as Balelo (a former minor-leaguer by the way) wasn't Braun's first choice. Braun said that he wanted Dale Sveum to throw to him but decided not to since Sveum had made vacation plans with his family for the break. Knowing full-well what kind of a man Sveum is, Braun realized that had he asked Sveum, Dale would've done it.

Hindsight being what it is, I'm sure Braun will still be content with his decision tomorrow. The bottom line, after all, is that this is highly unlikely to be Braun's only opportunity in the Home Run Derby.

All in all, though, it was a solid effort in Braun's first attempt. He needed a good showing to make up for the paltry effort supplied by Prince Fielder last year in San Francisco. Fielder only mustered three total home runs in 2007's Derby while probably attempting to have every shot splash down in McCovey Cove.

But, as of 2008, no Milwaukee Brewer has won the Home Run Derby still, but after Braun's showing tonight, at least they're more likely to ask one of them again.