download:
http://rapidshare.com/files/130077340/HRD2008.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130079246/HRD2008.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130080397/HRD2008.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130081759/HRD2008.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130085302/HRD2008.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130085307/HRD2008.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130087883/HRD2008.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130087886/HRD2008.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130090406/HRD2008.part09.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130090408/HRD2008.part10.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130092837/HRD2008.part11.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130092839/HRD2008.part12.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130096006/HRD2008.part13.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130096008/HRD2008.part14.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130097997/HRD2008.part15.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/130097999/HRD2008.part16.rar
I suppose this post can't get to far along without bringing up steroids. Though McGwire has never publicly admitted it, we can safely say that his guilt is only as damning as OJ Simpson's homicidal tendencies and Michael Jackson's pedophile rumors.
I'm watching the 1999 Home Run Derby on ESPN. It was held in Boston. McGwire captivated the crowd in the first round hitting 13 towering bombs. Sammy Sosa was there rooting him on. The fans went crazy after each and every mammoth blast.
Knowing what we now know, or think we know, what can be said about McGwire's legacy? I know this, he was a great baseball player, he was fun.
Was it totally right what he did? No.
Is it disapointing that he never admitted to using perfformancing enhancing drugs? Absolutely.
I don't want to get into a long debate over steroids, baseball, cheating, Barry Bonds being a douche bag, I just don't want to go there.
I do want to address is this, whether McGwire gets into the Hall of Fame or not, (If I had a vote he would be in) he will go to his grave with the image of a user.
He was a nice man, he was a fan favorite, he brought baseball back when the 1994 strike all but pushed America away.
McGwire was good for baseball, steroids are wrong, but McGwire was good for baseball.
Participants:
And MLB is finally starting to announce the Junior Circuit’s contestants for the 2009 Home Run Derby in St. Louis. Took them long enough. The National League contestants were announced four days ago.
Here are your American League 2009 Home Run Derby Contestants … the AL is certainly lacking in star power compared to the quartet of 1st Basemen the NL is rolling out there.
JOE MAUER – Minnesota Twins, C
15 HR, 15.3 AB/HR, .389 AVG, 1.112 OPS, 47 RBI
Perhaps since Justin Morneau (the other half of the M&M boys from Minnesota) isn’t going to defend his 2008 Home Run Derby title … Mauer might try to do it.
Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire thinks Mauer will win the Derby …
“Joe, in the home run hitting contest? He’d probably win it,” Gardenhire said. “You know it and I know it — just to let people know he can hit home runs. Nothing would surprise me that Joe does.”
My guess is that Mauer has the highest batting average of a player to compete in the MLB Home Run Derby.
BRANDON INGE – Detroit Tigers , 3B
Brandon Inge barely made it to the All-Star Game (he was the winner of the AL’s Last Man Vote) … but less than 24 hours after finding out he was an All-Star, it was announced he’d participate in the Home Run Derby too.
NELSON CRUZ – Texas Rangers OF
Replacing the injured Torii Hunter on Friday morning, Cruz is the latest first time Home Run Derby participant for the AL.
More AL Players as MLB announces them. One to go.
My guess is that Evan Longoria will be the last name.
