For those interested, pay particular attention to the pitchers. Guys that go outside the norm (i.e., not their normal BP pitchers) often struggle. Doesn't sound like good decisions by Braun and Hamilton.
Grady Sizemore, Indians, left-handed hitter:
Batting-practice habits: In the first round, he likes to stay up the middle, then goes away, then pulls with elevation in his third round. Strengths and weaknesses: The advantage for him is that he likes the ball anywhere in the zone and can pull and hit the ball hard anywhere it is pitched, even when it's away from him. His batting-practice pitcher: Jeff Datz, Indians bench coach.
Ryan Braun, Brewers, right-handed hitter:
What makes him dangerous: His confidence. Though others may be a bit nervous on the stage of this event, Braun loves this kind of spotlight. He has extraordinary raw power. His batting-practice pitcher: Nez Balelo, his agent (considered to be a first).
Lance Berkman, Astros, switch-hitter:
How he is expected to hit: As a right-handed hitter, despite the short right-field porch in Yankee Stadium; he hit right-handed when he won the Derby in Houston. The Old Pro: He's been in the Derby three times before -- in Milwaukee, Houston and Pittsburgh. His experience: He will put absolutely no pressure on himself with regard to this event, so he'll be much more relaxed than some of his competitors. His batting-practice pitcher: To be determined.
Evan Longoria, Rays, right-handed hitter:
What makes him dangerous: Extraordinary raw power, and his adrenaline will be flowing. His potential weakness: He typically is not a batting-practice showman; he generally uses it for game preparation, and his power is to the alleys. He is just the sixth rookie to be in the contest, the first since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997; only Ken Griffey Jr. (1990 and 1992) and Jose Canseco were younger participants (1986). His batting-practice pitcher: To be determined.
Chase Utley, Phillies, left-handed hitter:
What makes him dangerous: Quick hands and wrists, as well as a short power stroke; his swing is very fast through the zone. How he fits Yankee Stadium: The place is tailor-made for his swing. His batting-practice pitcher: Mick Billmeyer, the Phillies' catching instructor. Billmeyer threw to Jim Thome in the Home Run Derby in 2004.
Josh Hamilton, Rangers, left-handed hitter:
Strengths: He has freakish power. When he's feeling good (he homered in the last two games of the Rangers' series against the Angels on Wednesday and Thursday), his batting-practice sessions are phenomenal. His first round of batting practice, when guys typically hit the ball the other way, might be: bunt, line drive to left, then long home runs to left-center (opposite field) and places other people just can't hit the ball. About a month ago in Arlington, during one of his last rounds of batting practice, he went roughly 8-for-8 in home runs, with six to the upper deck in right and one to left center that landed a few rows short of the concourse in center field. When the Rangers are on the road, people often point out to Texas officials where Hamilton hit a home run during batting practice at a particular park. Hamilton naturally swings with a slight uppercut, which seemingly would serve him well in a Derby. Weakness: He will be viewed as the favorite and will have to deal with that pressure. His batting-practice pitcher: Clay Council, a 71-year-old volunteer high school coach from the Raleigh, N.C., area who has tutored Hamilton in the past. "I'll probably be nervous," Council told MLB.com recently. "I never thought this would happen."
Dan Uggla, Marlins, right-handed hitter:
Strengths: He will not be cheated -- Uggla swings as hard anyone in the game. "He takes an absolute hack," Atlanta Braves pitcher Will Ohman says. "I'm not going to say he doesn't have an approach, but the approach of swing-hard-in-case-you-hit-it is working." His approach every at-bat is the same -- grip it and rip it, so he's dangerous because he won't need to change much for the Derby. Who's pitching to him: To be determined.
Matt Holliday, Rockies, right-handed hitter (unconfirmed):
Strengths, from a scout: "Holliday is the only guy I have ever seen hit balls out of Dodger Stadium [literally] during BP. Like A-Rod, Holliday puts great backspin on the ball, which complements his raw strength. He will show silly raw power to right-center as well." His batting-practice pitcher, in all likelihood, if he participates: Josh Holliday, his brother, who has coached at the college level.
Grady Sizemore, Indians, left-handed hitter:
Batting-practice habits: In the first round, he likes to stay up the middle, then goes away, then pulls with elevation in his third round. Strengths and weaknesses: The advantage for him is that he likes the ball anywhere in the zone and can pull and hit the ball hard anywhere it is pitched, even when it's away from him. His batting-practice pitcher: Jeff Datz, Indians bench coach.
Ryan Braun, Brewers, right-handed hitter:
What makes him dangerous: His confidence. Though others may be a bit nervous on the stage of this event, Braun loves this kind of spotlight. He has extraordinary raw power. His batting-practice pitcher: Nez Balelo, his agent (considered to be a first).
Lance Berkman, Astros, switch-hitter:
How he is expected to hit: As a right-handed hitter, despite the short right-field porch in Yankee Stadium; he hit right-handed when he won the Derby in Houston. The Old Pro: He's been in the Derby three times before -- in Milwaukee, Houston and Pittsburgh. His experience: He will put absolutely no pressure on himself with regard to this event, so he'll be much more relaxed than some of his competitors. His batting-practice pitcher: To be determined.
Evan Longoria, Rays, right-handed hitter:
What makes him dangerous: Extraordinary raw power, and his adrenaline will be flowing. His potential weakness: He typically is not a batting-practice showman; he generally uses it for game preparation, and his power is to the alleys. He is just the sixth rookie to be in the contest, the first since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997; only Ken Griffey Jr. (1990 and 1992) and Jose Canseco were younger participants (1986). His batting-practice pitcher: To be determined.
Chase Utley, Phillies, left-handed hitter:
What makes him dangerous: Quick hands and wrists, as well as a short power stroke; his swing is very fast through the zone. How he fits Yankee Stadium: The place is tailor-made for his swing. His batting-practice pitcher: Mick Billmeyer, the Phillies' catching instructor. Billmeyer threw to Jim Thome in the Home Run Derby in 2004.
Josh Hamilton, Rangers, left-handed hitter:
Strengths: He has freakish power. When he's feeling good (he homered in the last two games of the Rangers' series against the Angels on Wednesday and Thursday), his batting-practice sessions are phenomenal. His first round of batting practice, when guys typically hit the ball the other way, might be: bunt, line drive to left, then long home runs to left-center (opposite field) and places other people just can't hit the ball. About a month ago in Arlington, during one of his last rounds of batting practice, he went roughly 8-for-8 in home runs, with six to the upper deck in right and one to left center that landed a few rows short of the concourse in center field. When the Rangers are on the road, people often point out to Texas officials where Hamilton hit a home run during batting practice at a particular park. Hamilton naturally swings with a slight uppercut, which seemingly would serve him well in a Derby. Weakness: He will be viewed as the favorite and will have to deal with that pressure. His batting-practice pitcher: Clay Council, a 71-year-old volunteer high school coach from the Raleigh, N.C., area who has tutored Hamilton in the past. "I'll probably be nervous," Council told MLB.com recently. "I never thought this would happen."
Dan Uggla, Marlins, right-handed hitter:
Strengths: He will not be cheated -- Uggla swings as hard anyone in the game. "He takes an absolute hack," Atlanta Braves pitcher Will Ohman says. "I'm not going to say he doesn't have an approach, but the approach of swing-hard-in-case-you-hit-it is working." His approach every at-bat is the same -- grip it and rip it, so he's dangerous because he won't need to change much for the Derby. Who's pitching to him: To be determined.
Matt Holliday, Rockies, right-handed hitter (unconfirmed):
Strengths, from a scout: "Holliday is the only guy I have ever seen hit balls out of Dodger Stadium [literally] during BP. Like A-Rod, Holliday puts great backspin on the ball, which complements his raw strength. He will show silly raw power to right-center as well." His batting-practice pitcher, in all likelihood, if he participates: Josh Holliday, his brother, who has coached at the college level.
