Pujols, who leads the American League with 26 home runs this season and ranks 16th on the all-time list with 546, is seeded No. 1 in a streamlined derby that will be played under new rules implemented to draw renewed interest in the All-Star week contest, which has been criticized as stale in recent years. A time limit will force batters to be more aggressive and avoid fishing for their ideal pitch, allowing Frazier to come in the clutch. Hitters can receive 20 seconds of bonus time for any home run longer than 420 feet and 30 seconds of bonus time for homers of at least 475 feet. Trout has been wearing a small guard there after having been hit in the same spot three times in the past two weeks.
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Entering Wednesday night’s game, Rizzo tied for seventh in the NL with 15 home runs, and Bryant was tied for 19th with 12.
Beginning in the first and continuing through the third and final round, the loser of each head-to-head matchup will be eliminated, while the victor advances to the next round. Frazier, a finalist last year at Target Field in Minnesota, and Donaldson are taking part in the Derby for the second consecutive year.
“It sucks to waste a day like this because I felt really good”, Bettis said. “I missed four pitches up, and it did damage”.
Pujols has had an wonderful season so far, after being slowed down by injuries since his move to the Angels. “I’m just happy to be in it, happy to compete, and hopefully I can put on a decent show like I did in the past”.
Iannetta said fastball command to both sides of the plate is the biggest difference between Heaney now and in spring training. The next few cuts didn’t go much better, so out trotted Victor Martinez, who’d formed a relationship with Donaldson during the Detroit-Oakland post-season clashes, to lighten the mood. “I may just swing a little bit harder”. The higher seed hits last.
Pujols’ first-inning blast was the 54th interleague homer of his career, the most in baseball. Garrett Anderson set the record in 2000. In 3B Nolan Arenado and 2B DJ LeMahieu, the Rockies will have two All-Stars for the first time since 3B Jeff Cirillo and 1B Todd Helton were selected in 2000…. He wants to do it again so that his two sons, 14-year-old A.J. and 5-year-old Ezra, can watch him.
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Angels: RHP Jered Weaver (left hip inflammation) threw on flat ground Tuesday and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. He then will be evaluated to determine whether he needs a rehab start…. OF Collin Cowgill (sprained right wrist) is at the Angels’facility in Tempe, Ariz., receiving treatment but is shut down for about another week.
