In front of a crowd that wanted Albert Pujols to win, Prince Fielder emerged victorious after defeating Nelson Cruz 6 to 5 in the finals of the 2009 Home Run Derby.

Fielder, who plays first base for the Milwaukee Brewers, had three outs to spare in the final round when he smacked his 6th long ball to center field.

Ryan Howard, who grew up in St. Louis, was also a crowd favorite at Busch Stadium.

After the derby, Fielder said, “It’s what I expected. This is Albert’s stadium and Ryan is from here. I was just happy I was able to put on a show and I’m glad I won.”

Albert Pujols made it to the second round after a three-player swing-off against Joe Mauer and Carlos Pena. However, he only hit six home runs in the second round, which was not enough for him to advance to the finals.

“I wish I would have put a better show for our fans,” said Pujols. “I was nervous a little bit.”

Adrian Gonzalez hit just two long balls while Brandon Inge failed to hit one out of the park.

Photo Source: www.espn.com

On Monday, Major League Baseball will embark into its 24th annual State Farm Home Run Derby in St. Louis.  With the contestants already announced, the fans will anxiously await to see if anybody can repeat Josh Hamilton’s incredible feat of 28 jacks in a single round.  Alongside, all will be on their seats as hometown favorite Albert Pujols, a man who has a legit shot at breaking Barry Bonds’ 762 career home runs, can set the standards.

However, winning the tournament itself is a lot more easier said than done.  It takes the correct formula of factors to become victorious, and we are about to investigate into these factors.  What exactly determines who wins the derby, and who has the best chance this year?

The contestants are:

American League

-Nelson Cruz (TEX)

-Carlos Peña (TB)

-Joe Mauer (MIN)

-Brandon Inge (DET)

National League

-Albert Pujols (STL)

-Adrian Gonzalez (SD)

-Ryan Howard (PHI)

-Prince Fielder (MIL)

With all that being said, now it is time to delve deeper into the competition.

1. The Ballpark

Fortunately for all of the participants in this year’s Home Run Derby, Busch Stadium in St. Louis is one of the most ideal hitter’s parks in all of Major League Baseball.  It features near symmetrical dimensions, presenting no clear advantage to either left-handed hitters or those who are right-handed.  It is a relatively short 400 feet to dead center field, and barely over 330 feet down the lines.  The power alleys come in at 375 feet each as well.  Albert Pujols clearly knows how to hit in this ballpark, which would likely leave him with a major advantage in this category.  However, as mentioned before, this stadium is friendly to all hitters, and should suit everybody in the competition.

Who Benefits-Everyone.

Who Suffers-Nobody.

Not one person in this year’s tournament will be harmed by the building, so expect some serious long shots.

2. More American League Players Have Won

Throughout the Home Run Derby’s history, the American League has showed dominance over the National League.  With a total of 14 winners compared to the National League’s 10 (there was a tie in 1986), it would appear that the American League hitters are better suited for this competition.  One possibility for this could be due to the general opinion that the AL has been much tougher over the past twelve years or so, leading the players to become more prepared to play against tougher pitching.  Many feel that it is for this reason that American Leaguer’s know how to drive the ball at just the right moment.  Advantage AL.

Who Benefits-Peña, Inge, Mauer, Cruz.

Who Suffers-Pujols, Fielder, Howard, Gonzalez.

Now of course, this only stands true if you are superstitious (or in the words of Michael Scott, only a “little stitious”).  Perhaps this mental statistic could affect the players.

3. Hometown Players Rarely Win

Yes, this is clearly going to only hurt one player.  In the Home Run Derby’s history, only once has a player who’s team’s stadium is hosting the tournament actually won.  This was Ryne Sandberg in 1990 at Wrigley.  He had a whopping three home runs for the night.

For whatever reason, be it pressure from the fans or just a natural “choke”, these certain players cannot find the right groove to win at home.  Players such as Mark McGwire, Gary Sheffield, Lance Berkman, and even Fred McGriff have all failed in an attempt to satisfy their fans, despite having home-field advantage.

Who Benefits-Peña, Mauer, Cruz, Inge, Fielder, Gonzalez, Howard.

Who Suffers-Pujols.

Once again, this could just be some of the baseball gods placing a curse.  It is interesting to note, however, that Ryan Howard did win in his home state of Pennsylvania in 2006, but in Pittsburgh instead of Philadelphia.

4. It Helps To Be A Household Name

Of the 21 different winners of the Derby, 14 of them are in the top 100 home run hitters of all-time.  Unlike the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest in which upsets occur often, the Home Run Derby is not shy to the household names.  For example, Howard, Fielder, and Pujols have been amongst the leagues home run leaders over the past few seasons, with some reaching near 60 in a single year.  Joe Mauer though had never hit more than 13 in one season prior to this year.

To win this competition, the home run killer instinct must be present.  Some players in here are familiar with the long ball.  Others, not so much.

Who Benefits-Pujols, Howard, Fielder, Gonzalez, Peña.

Who Suffers-Inge, Mauer, Cruz.

Everybody remembers Bobby Abreu’s unexpected run in Detroit, or even Tino Martinez’s surprise performance in Cleveland.  However, the odds are against one of these occurring in this year’s tourny.

5. The Perfect Swing

When thinking about the Home Run Derby, one thing appears in most people’s minds: The Upper Cut.  However, it is not the golf swing that helps win this event, but more so about the “Home Run Swing”.

The swing is a combination of quick bat speed, with just enough energy transferred from the back leg to the front of the body at the end.  The hands surge forward with a force like no other, causing the ball to rocket off the sweet spot of the bat.  In 2006, David Wright changed his concept of the ideal swing, opting for a large swing upwards.  Though initially working, the cut proved to become difficult to replicate, leading to his eventual loss to Ryan Howard.  The Phillies first baseman however was able to avoid the upper cut, and his ride to victory became near effortless.

The players who have the best chance at winning this have the perfect swing, as they generate excellent averages and solid power numbers.  Those with a weak average and good power numbers may find this more difficult, as they will resort to the “All or Nothing” type of hack.

Who Benefits-Fielder, Pujols, Mauer, Howard.

Who Suffers-Inge, Cruz, Peña, Gonzalez.

Players always get lucky.  From a fundamental stand point though, this should prove very valuable in helping to determine a winner.

The Solution:

It is now time to select the favorite for this year’s tournament, based off of the formula provided above.  Of the five categories, Carlos Peña and Prince Fielder benefited the most.  Though Albert Pujols is always an enticing pick to win, especially with his experience in the Derby, he is eliminated based on the factors provided above.  Joining him is Brandon Inge.

Nelson Cruz proposes an interesting threat, yet he currently hits in what is widely considered to be the easiest hitter’s park in baseball.  Goodbye Cruz.  Adrian Gonzalez, who has been one of the best sluggers in baseball of late, brings a lack of experience to the competition this year, which could prove costly.  Despite him flourishing in a pitcher’s park, it could be difficult to match up to the other superstars.  Alongside, Joe Mauer provides tons of potential, but his small amount of power in years past may cost him here.

That leaves Peña, Fielder, and Howard with the highest chances of winning the title.  Carlos had three home runs during interleague play this season, and he does have an exceptional ability to take it to the opposite field.  In a ballpark with similar dimensions though, this is insignificant, and his batting average this year is simply too damaging.  He’s gone.

Despite the odds being against the National Leaguers, two will be left in the grand finale.  Both players have a home run at Busch Stadium this season.  Some may look at the family ties.  Prince Fielder learned from the best: Cecil.  His father had the ability to slug the ball a mile in any stadium, and this transferred over.  As a 12-year old, Prince hit a towering shot into the upper deck of Tiger Stadium.

Howard though knows his way in this tournament.  He knows how to attack all areas of the field.  He knows how to go for the long ball.  He knows how to maintain the perfect swing.  More importantly: He knows this will all beat Prince.

Planet Earth, Ryan Howard will be the 2009 Home Run Derby champion.  Could all of this be absolute garbage? Absolutely.  As the lottery ads say though, “Hey.  You never know…”

Photo Source: Getty Images

As the academic world enters the dog days of Summer, the case is the same for the sports world.  Every year, the months of June, July, and August bring much joy (as well as much vein) to sports fans around the world, with the events taking place perhaps changing a franchise forever.

With the weather quickly approaching “SCORCHING!” on the thermometer, here are some notable events one will not want to miss this Summer.

1. 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game: Every year the “Mid-Summer Classic” is one of the most enjoyable displays of talent for any fan to watch.

In 2002, both the managers of the American League and National League rosters used up all available players before the game was over, and it was called a 7-7 tie by Commissioner Bud Selig.  Since then, the games were given the tagline, “This Time it Counts!”, with the winner receiving a very useful home-field advantage in the World Series.

The American League has not lost since 1996.

Also, don’t miss the 2009 State Farm Home Run Derby as well as the Celebrity All-Star Game!

2. NFL Training Camp: The glories of training camp.  Months after teams have hired (and of course, fired) coaches, and drafted superstars, the season actually begins to progress.

Unlike baseball’s Spring Training where teams practice in only Florida or Arizona, Training Camp occurs around the United States.  For example, both the New York Giants and Jets have training camp in upstate New York (Albany and Cortland respectively).

The primary purpose of camp is to not only get players into playing shape, but also allow the coaching unit to determine which of the large group of players make the  53-man roster.

Training camp is usually a very positive (and relatively cheap) experience for fans, and is a great way to get back into football mode.

3. Golf’s Final Two Majors: With the U.S. Open having just been completed, the PGA will begin to enter the home-stretch of the lengthy golf season.

In July, the Westin Turnberry Resort in Scotland will host The Open Championship, one of the sports three majors.  The event is always one of the toughest due to the complexity of the courses overseas, and is incredible to watch if golf is a favorite sport.

In August, the final major, the PGA Championship will be hosted by Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.  This tournament is always a thrilling one to watch, as it usually becomes incredibly competitive towards the final stretch of holes.  Last year’s champion Pádraig Harrington will look to defend his title against a surging Tiger Woods and the rest of the field.

4. Everything!  The Summer is jam packed with tons of fun sports to watch, ensuring nobody is bored.  For those die-hard NBA or NHL fans, the offseason is very enjoyable to see unfold, as some of one’s favorite stars may no longer be where they were last season.

Additionally, the U.S. Open (for Tennis) makes its appearance in Flushing, NY, right near Shea Stadium’s grave!

Regardless of what sports you enjoy, there will be tons of events to enjoy this Summer.  For those going on vacation, make sure they get ESPN, as this Summer will not be one to miss!

“28 years!  The Philadelphia Phillies are the World Champions of baseball!”-Jon Alba

What, you honestly expected me to quote Joe Buck?  With all due respect Mr. Buck, a dying mule may have been able to make a better call than you did.  Enough of my rant though, I’m sure you’ve heard enough already.

July 10, 2008.  A young aspiring sportswriter named Jon Alba (myself) told the world that this baseball season was history in the making.  A former adviser to this site even told me I was crazy.  Yet ultimately was I crazy?  You decide.

I begin this article with the World Series champions, the Philadelphia Phillies.  Up until this year, fans around the world had the opportunity to say, “Remember 1983?”  Yet with the power of a renewed leader in Charlie Manuel, the Phillies were able to get the job done.  Most of the success of the Phillies can be related to now the former GM Pat Gillick.  Let us begin with his highest acquisition, that of closer Brad Lidge.  Lidge was a perfect 48 for 48 in save opportunities this season (including playoffs), displaying the composure necessary to deliver a World Series Championship to a mediocre team.  Gillick also managed to reel in Pedro Feliz, who despite an average season in Philly, delivered the World Series clinching single.  Add in the signing of OF Geoff Jenkins (who himself had a key hit in the resumption of Game 5 of the World Series) and trading midseason for Joe Blanton, and this team was set for a title.  Kudos to you Mr. Gillick, and enjoy retirement.

The Phillies displayed what little teams had this year: Faith and determination.  Yet perhaps the single team who held more of these traits than them could have been their World Series opponents, the Tampa Bay Rays.

I remember just prior to Spring Training, I was searching through a sports forum on Sports Freaks United.  On these forums, there was a question posted asking when the Rays would get to the World Series (of course, it was asked rather sarcastically).  While others were drastically downplaying the Rays, yours truly gave his honest answer.

“I don’t see it that far away, possibly within the next 5 years.  Maybe even this year.  They have the young talent, it will just be a question of ambition.”

May I say, these Rays proved everybody wrong.  The Rays began their playoff push with an offseason trade, delivering the highly-touted Delvin Young alongside others to the Twins for P Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Eduaro Morlan.  To say that Garza came through is an understatement.  In Game 7 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, Garza pitched flawlessly, wrapping up 2008 ALCS MVP honors in the process with a 1.38 ERA.  Bartlett, while not the greatest offensive presence, provided excellent defense at Shortstop.  CF B.J. Upton emerged as one of the league’s stars, hitting 7 home runs throughout the Rays playoff run.  His superb play in the field displayed his overall talent as a ballplayer in Major League Baseball.  Evan Longoria emerged as the Rookie of the Year shoe-in, hitting 27 home runs with 85 RBI’s.  He, like Upton, played stellar in the field, and he wrapped up his first All-Star Game appearance (in which he had a key RBI double to tie the game).  Throw in fellow All-Stars Scott Kazmir, Dioner Navarro, and star James Shields, and this team was complete.  Alongside them, manager Joe Maddon also proved his genius, as he wrapped up a sure Manager of the Year type season.  Have you grown your Rayhawk yet?

This past September, America saw the closing of two of the oldest ballparks in baseball.  Not only that, but they both homes to New York teams.  Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium.  Each piece of grass had its own story to tell, and that it did all season.  Both ballparks held events commemorating their final season, with dramatics following along every step of the way.

Shea saw the New York Mets attempting to redeem a season lost.  After collapsing during the previous season’s final days of September, the Mets set out to finish the job they started.  The team boasted an improved rotation with former AL Cy Young Johan Santana, and seemed to be clear National League East favorites.  Following a disappointing start however, manager Willie Randolph was fired in a highly controversial decision on a West Coast road trip.  Bench Coach Jerry Manuel took over, and the Mets flew towards the lead in the division.  Previously dormant 1B Carlos Delgado exploded in the second half, putting up MVP-like numbers.  Even the 102 year-old Fernando Tatis was a key contributor to the offensive success.  Unfortunately, the kiss of death came with the bullpen.  With closer Billy Wagner undergoing Tommy John surgery in the late weeks of the season, the Mets were left stranded, and they failed to make the playoffs on the last day of the season.  This too was the last game that Shea would ever see, yet it went out in style with future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza and Tom Seaver waving goodbye to the Shea faithful.  Shea goodbye Mets fans!

As classy as Shea went out however, it could not be outdone by the “Ballpark in the Bronx”.  Opened in 1923, Babe Ruth hit the first home run in the ballpark in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox.  When asked about what his thoughts were, Ruth responded, “I was glad to have hit the first home run in this park. God only knows who will hit the last.”  The answer: José Molina.

On Sunday, September 21, 2008, the Yankees closed the historic ballpark versus division rival, the Baltimore Orioles.  The evening began with the emotional return (via recording) of Yankees PA Announcer of over 50 years Bob Sheppard.  Sheppard had been unable to announce a single game all season, as he is over what is believed to be 97 years old.  Nevertheless, the stars still filed out, and Yankee greats came out onto the field to honor their beloved ballpark one last time.  Come the fourth inning, Molina fulfilled his unpredicted prophecy, smacking a two-run shot into left field, coincidentally right above Monument Park.  The last pitch was thrown by none-other than future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera, and the Yankees won the game 7-3.  Derek Jeter then made an unplanned speech to the fans, reminding them of the importance of the stadium.  After that, the field that witnessed 26 World Series titles would never be played on again.

The closing of Yankee Stadium was fitting in every way possible.  Yet perhaps it was the 2008 All-Star Game which fueled what some consider the greatest game held within the stadium’s gates.

The All-Star weekend began with the first Fanfest held in New York City history, in which I was lucky enough to attend.  There were numerous displays of baseball history, capped off with Roger Maris’ 60th Home Run ball being auctioned off alongside numerous historical items.  Later on, none other than Yankee great Tino Martinez managed the World Team ahead of the U.S. Team in the annual Future’s Game.  Celebrities took the field as always for the Celebrity All-Star Game, all in anticipation of everyone’s favorite contest, the Home Run Derby.  While the ultimate winner of the Derby ended up being Minnesota’s Justin Morneau, another name made his dent in the scoreboard (almost literally).  Josh Hamilton.

Let’s face the fact.  Everybody knew who Josh Hamilton was going into this season.  He was “that guy” who was in rehab for drug use and was trying to overcome his issues and play baseball.  Josh had a sweet little comeback with the Reds, until he was traded to the Texas Rangers for another superstar P Edinson Volquez (who will be mentioned more later).  To say that Josh Hamilton exploded is an understatement.  At midseason, Hamilton had 19 home runs and 89 RBI’s, leading the AL and the majors respectively.  He was elected to participate in the 2008 State Farm Home Run Derby, in which he was highly favored due to the short left field porch.  To make matters more interesting, rather than going with the usual custom and choosing a pitching coach, Hamilton chose one of his childhood coaches, 71 year old Clay Council.  The rest was a literal Cinderella story, as he hit 28 home runs in the first round, seemingly shattering the 24 hit by Bobby Abreu in 2005.  More interestingly, Josh hit 13 straight, including a 518 foot monster shot off the right field billboards.  Eventually, Josh Hamilton finished the season with a .304 AVG, 32 HR, and 130 RBI’s.

With all the dramatics from the Derby in place, how could it be topped by the actual All-Star Game itself?  Believe it or not, it was.

The 2008 annual game was a 4 hour and 51 minute shootout, lasting from 8:47 PM to 1:38 AM EST.  By far the longest All-Star Game (in terms of time) in the history of sports. The ceremonies began with every living member in the Baseball Hall of Fame being invited on field, something never done before.   Ben Sheets and Cliff Lee both kicked off the game for the National League and American League respectively.  As the game progressed, it was clear that it would go down to the wire.  When Matt Holliday sent the National League ahead 1-0 with a solo shot in the fifth, it appeared the American League was down and out.  The NL eventually stretched the lead to 2-0, yet the AL was still relentless.  J.D. Drew of the Red Sox came out in the seventh and hit a game-tying line drive home run to make the score 2-2.  When the NL took the lead at 3-2, Rays 3B Evan Longoria then knotted the game up once again with a rather dramatic ground-rule double in the eighth inning.  Since the contest could not be decided within regulation, the game carried on to extras.  Not ten innings.  Not eleven.  Not even twelve.  Fifteen.  The “Summer Showdown” ended with the Rangers Michael Young hitting a sacrifice fly to right field, narrowly scoring the hustling Justin Morneau.  The American League emerged victorious, and one of the most historic nights in baseball history had been written.

Despite the scheduled dramatics, Major League Baseball still experienced the part of the script that was more of what may call “Ad-lib.”  All of the baseball fans across the nation, whether a fan of him or not, will recall Jon Lester’s majestic no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals.  A man who had been cancer-stricken makes one of the remarkable returns in sports history, and manages to baffle any critics who said he had nothing left in him. That wasn’t enough for you?  Perhaps Big Z, Carlos Zambrano, out pitching the Houston Astros during a September 14th no-no did it in.  Or possibly it was the epic 20 win pitching performance by the now-retired Mike Mussina, the first and only of his 18-year career. Regardless of the situation, Major League Baseball provided us with nothing short of spectacular accomplishments.

Unfortunately however, not all was perfect in baseball this season.  In July, Yankees broadcaster and former major league player (who was nominated for the Hall of Fame’s Frick Award just this past year) passed away from a long fight with brain cancer.  Murcer left a gigantic legacy on baseball, displaying that a media/player relationship can still exist in today’s society of rather “maniacal” players.  The Atlanta Braves lost their franchise voice in Skip Caray, who had spent over 30 years in the broadcast booth.  In total, the sport lost 73 figures in 2008.

On the historical side however, many events occurred that delighted all fans with joy.  In May, future Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza retired, leaving behind the all-time home run record for a catcher.  In June, Mets 1B Carlos Delgado drove in a franchise record nine RBI’s against the New York Yankees in the first game of a cross-town doubleheader.  This game was considered the turning point in his season, bring some light into the Mets clubhouse.  Shortly before this however, then-Reds OF Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th career home run, joining an exclusive club of only 6.  Alongside this, Albert Pujols became one of the fastest players in Major League history to 300 home runs, hitting his 300th against the Cubs.  Oh, and of course don’t forget Angels closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez breaking the single season saves record,  that was pretty important too.   However above all may stand the beginning of Instant Replay, as baseball became the last major sport to institute it.  The first occurrence was on an Alex Rodriguez home run against the Rays, thus giving the Yankees a victory in that respective game.  Throw in the retirement of future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, and nothing could beat this season’s monumental occurrences.

What 2008 experienced however above all was perhaps the most important trade deadline to ever occur.  As mentioned at the deadline, baseball history had been made.  CC Sabathia was traded to a wild card contending Brewers team, and the guy proved relentless.  Week after week going on three day’s rest netted him an enormous deal in the offseason with the New York Yankees.  Alongside CC, Manny Ramirez’s end in Boston came to a tragic end, and he was shipped of to Los Angeles for practically nothing.  Manny stepped into crazytown and dominated, taking a Los Angeles team who was staggering around .500 the day they acquired him to an NLCS berth.  Also changing addresses this season included Jason Bay as part of that Manny deal, Rich Harden to Chicago, the aforementioned Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Teixeira, Casey Blake, and several others.  Notice how each of those players turned their new respective teams into contenders?

Yet now, the baseball season is long past us.  The signing period began with a splash, with a trade above all others.  The Rockies traded OF Matt Holliday, a potential MVP candidate, to the Oakland Athletics who seem to be making a push in the weak AL West.  Tons of free agents proved on the move, almost all to the same city one may say.  The first major signing of the offseason was that of Francisco Rodriguez, jumping from West Coast to East joining the New York Mets in an effort to cure the ailing bullpen.  The Mets would later add J.J. Putz from the Mariners, solidifying themselves as a powerhouse in the division that houses the defending World Champions.  CC Sabathia, arguably the most covetted free agent, went against his beliefs of pitching for strictly the love of the game, signing a record contract for a pitcher with the New York Yankees.  This sparked the interest of A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira, who would soon join him.

All in all off of those three players alone, the Yankees spent nearly half of $1 Billion dollars.  Outrage poured in from all around the Majors, thus setting up a potential league vote for a salary cap.  If the owner were to decide on a cap limit, this would certainly cause outrage in players, who would very likely strike in after the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in 2011.  With our nation in one of the worst economic situations it has been since the Great Depression, a strike would very likely be the needle that would ultimately euthanize Major League Baseball.

The bottom line of this article is that, well, you all saw history and this bad boy told you so!  The best part is, we are not even sure of what lies ahead of us!  The World Baseball Classic will be held this upcoming March, the second one overall.  The league will depend greatly on its revenue to spark some interest back into the game locally and globally.  Baseball has taken the step from the purest sport to maybe perhaps the most corrupt, and this can all be pointed back at this past season.  But at the same time, there is some hope and optimism in the fans eyes.  We have seen the end of some legacies, yet the beginning of some others.  2008 went into the record books in every way possible, and now 2009 must step up to the challenge and wow us even more.  Of course though, in what has now become a stable of all my articles and writings, only time will tell.