Hamilton saved this Home Run Derby. It's becoming like the Slam Dunk Contest, no high profile guys want to do it. Luckily he put on an amazing, amazing show that made it worth watching.
I would like to completely disagree. Baseball just markets its young stars poorly. It likes to hold on to aging stars and fails to promote the up and coming stars. Hamilton is the MVP so far. Grady Sizemore is a legitimate star. 5 tool player and leading the American league in home runs. He went to the ALCS last year. He should be there. Morneau is a replacement, but was MVP 2 years ago. Hes no slouch. Longoria in my opinion may be somebody who isnt as worthy as the rest, but he still will be rookie of the year, and should be marketed as such.
Thats just the AL. Chase Utley is going to be one of the best second basemen of all time, and has a proven track record and is as big of a star as any body in baseball right now. He would have been MVP last year if not for injuries and almost still was. He may well win it this year. Ryan Braun had historically one of the greatest seasons ever for a rookie and is continuing his pace. Lance Berkman is a legitimate star and is a triple crown threat. Uggla is on historic 2nd basemen power pace as well.
I dont think there is a lack of stars in this years contest. Its a problem with the way baseball is marketed. All of the "stars" people are complaning about not being there are all 30+. Most nearing their mid 30s. We hear more about Roger Clemens than Jake Peavy or Brandon Webb.
When people talk about missing the "stars" in the contest its more like missing our stars from 1998. Baseball is stuck in the past. Why not give shine to the Matt Hollidays, Grady Sizemores, Chase Utleys of the world. They are legitimate stars in their own right. They are the Dwayne Wades and Amare Stoudamires of their sport. They just arent marketed as well as the NBA does with its young players. We all know about Lebron and Melo and Chris Paul...Chase Utley is right there with them in terms of his sport and it doesnt make sense that he isnt recognized as such.
Baseball has a crop of young talent, Braun and Corey Hart. I mean if there was an NBA player having an equivalent rookie year that Edinson Volquez, they would make sure we knew about it.
Baseball is stuck living in the past. They need to quit reminiscing about the old days and realize they have some new blood they need to market and get fans behind. In my opinion, these guys should be there instead of David Ortiz this year. They are having better years, and if baseball would market them a little better, people might even have known about them and what kinds of things they are accomplishing.
