If there was one thing this year’s Major League Baseball Home Run Derby taught us, it’s that even the biggest of sluggers is not a guarantee – even in today’s world of pro baseball.

    I’m certainly not telling any of you sports nuts anything new. Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, even Ken Griffey Jr. didn’t win every single Home Run Derby they competed at in year’s past. This year’s installment saw big-time player Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals) and even Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard gain the biggest attention and more than likely the biggest odds in Vegas to win it all.

    Instead, it was Prince Fielder going against Nelson Cruz from the Texas Rangers in the finals – with Fielder winning it all 6-5. In fact, Pujols – the league’s leader in homers through the first half of the regular season – had to win a swing off just to get to the second round. Both him and Howard bowed out in that round and throughout the tournament combined to hit just 26 homers compared to Fielder and Cruz, who heading into the finals had combined for 33. Both hit 11 homers in the first round alone.

    That’s certainly not a knock on Fielder or Cruz. Fielder is a true home run hitter and he didn’t need to adjust his swing much to showcase his power on Monday night. He’s also the son of legendary star Cecil Fielder … which goes without saying.

    For Cruz, he picked up right where teammate Josh Hamilton left off in last year’s home run derby – surprising everyone in the stadium. Cruz’s performance marked the second consecutive year a Ranger has made it to the finals – albeit they came in second each time. Hamilton was beaten by Justin Morneau last year in the finals.

    It was even pointed out today in the Dallas Morning News that Cruz sat out the final two games in the Los Angeles series last week as well as the opening game in Seattle. I guess the unanticipated rest time did him wonders on the grandest stage thus far in the regular season.

    I do have to say this though, both Pujols and Howard deserve tons of credit for doing the right thing and giving the fans a chance to see big time hitters in the home run derby. The game was in Pujols’ backyard, so to speak, and Howard is from St. Louis. So the fans wanted this more than anything, at least a chance to see them compete.

    It’s been something other ball players have decided to forgo in recent years.

    Just last year, I went on a rant about how I didn’t agree with many baseball analysts and big league sluggers who feel the annual contest is not good for the game. Every year we hear about players who want to back out of the Derby because they either don’t feel like taking part or they feel as if the Derby messes with their game. Most recently, Alex Rodriguez took his name out of the Derby to perfect his finely-tuned swing – stating that the event can have adverse effects on a batter’s mechanics.

    Last year’s Derby was right in A-Rod’s backyard. Why wouldn’t he want to play up to the home crowd? In 2007, fans felt Barry Bonds was being selfish for skipping out on the Derby – which was held in San Francisco.

    The thought of these guys not wanting to participate drives me absolutely crazy. And the fact that some of them were sitting in a crowd of players outside the dugouts last year as well as on Monday night as spectators made me even more confused. But once again, the ones that did compete made me quickly forget about the ones that didn’t. Even if the odds on favorite didn’t come close to winning it all.

    Until next time, I’ll see you on the sidelines.