Let's look at the rosters for the home run derby:
American League
Robinson Cano, Yankees (captain); Mark Trumbo, Angels; Prince Fielder, Tigers; Jose Bautista, Blue Jays.
National League
Matt Kemp, Dodgers (captain); Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies; Carlos Beltran, Cardinals; Andrew McCutchen, Pirates.
My lock is that Matt Kemp will not win. He's a great player but he's not coming off the DL to win this thing. He's gonna be totally out of rhythm compared to these other guys and that's too big of a disadvantage.
If you assume that's true and you're looking at the overall winner, with the current odds of American league player to win -155 I think it's an incredible value. You've got a 4 on 3 competition with the four American league guys all being better in my opinion than the three remaining national league guys (sans Kemp).
Add to the above the fact that an American league player has won five straight including Fielder and Cano being past champions and Bautista having competed before in the contest while the National league has no experience in this contest except Kemp...My pick is American league player to win -155.
American League
Robinson Cano, Yankees (captain); Mark Trumbo, Angels; Prince Fielder, Tigers; Jose Bautista, Blue Jays.
National League
Matt Kemp, Dodgers (captain); Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies; Carlos Beltran, Cardinals; Andrew McCutchen, Pirates.
My lock is that Matt Kemp will not win. He's a great player but he's not coming off the DL to win this thing. He's gonna be totally out of rhythm compared to these other guys and that's too big of a disadvantage.
If you assume that's true and you're looking at the overall winner, with the current odds of American league player to win -155 I think it's an incredible value. You've got a 4 on 3 competition with the four American league guys all being better in my opinion than the three remaining national league guys (sans Kemp).
Add to the above the fact that an American league player has won five straight including Fielder and Cano being past champions and Bautista having competed before in the contest while the National league has no experience in this contest except Kemp...My pick is American league player to win -155.