Another day, another Chris Davis home run. Davis hit his league leading 20th home run of the year yesterday, June 2nd, against the Detroit Tigers, extending his home run lead to three over the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera. With every mammoth home run he hits, it seems more and more likely that Davis will be asked to participate in the 2013 Home Run Derby. The home run leader at the All Star Break has represented their league in the Home Run Derby in four of the last six years. And with the way Davis is hitting his home runs, it should be a no brainer that he is asked to participate.
But should he?
Baseball fans all remember Bobby Abreu’s historic Home Run Derby in 2005. Coming into the derby, Abreu, who had hit 18 home runs before the All Star Break, went on to demolish former Oriole great Miguel Tejada’s derby record of 27 homeruns, by hitting 41. It was a great hitting performance.
His performance in the regular season after the All-Star break was forgettable though. Abreu went through what may have been the worst slump of his career, only hitting six home runs and dropping his average by 47 points after the break. Many believed that Abreu trying to hit home runs in the derby caused fatigue and changed his swing. This is not what Oriole fans want to happen to Chris Davis.
Would it be great for Davis? Sure.
Showcase him as arguably the best offensive first baseman in the game right now? Absolutely.
But this team cannot afford to lose production from their best hitter in the home stretch of the season. Losing a pennant race because Crush wins the home run derby would not go over so well in Charm City. After all, who but the most die-hard fans (and Chris Berman) actually remember past winners of the Home Run Derby?
On the other hand, everyone remembers past World Series victors.
I’m all for Davis making a name for himself, and I’m sure Oriole fans will agree with me when I say that I would rather see him make a name for himself by hitting his moon shots when they actually count in September and October, rather than one night in July.
4 Responses
Now I agree with your point, win games not contests. That was a really well written article, do you write anywhere else? I would love to read more of your stuff
We need more data. Bobby Abreu is one person, and does not define a trend. If a trend exists, absolutely. But if it happened to no one but Abreu, I would not worry so much.
I also agree with Mike; it is very well written.
tracing back to 2001, the HR Derby champ has gone on to have about the same second half as they did the first half with the exception of Abreu. A handful actually having a better second half. I think the point trying to be made is that, no one wants his swing to suffer because hes trying too hard to hit the long ball due to his presence in the HR Derby.
Well done Eric.