http://dawindycity.com/2014/06/28/jose-abr...RelatedCategory

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...-run-derby.html

http://www.southsidesox.com/2014/6/27/5848...cept-jose-abreu

http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/white-...-run-derby-call

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/...home-run-derby/

 

These are just some of the recent articles on the subject so it's quite the popular topic lately.

 

Everybody wants to know . Will Jose Abreu participate in the All-Star HR Derby contest which is usually the highlight of the proceedings besides the game itself. Abreu's been saying "no "but leaving his option open.

 

He has been in 5 HR Derby's in Cuba but feels it messes up his swing. I'd love to see him participating. White Sox news that reaches the whole nation is rare. But if he isn't comfortable doing it to hell with it. How does everyone else feel about it ?

I'd love to see it, but it really does seem like it messes up some players.

Just the fact he is wavering tells me he should pass. Hitting is in your head. Even if he just thinks he might have screwed up his swing by participating, he screwed up his swing.

Added a poll for funsies

I wish he would. But DA is right that if he's worried about it, then he probably IS one of the guys who might let it mess with his head.

Edited July 1, 201411 yr by Eminor3rd

Added a poll for funsies

Thanks for doing that . I considered it but making it confuses me.

Edited July 1, 201411 yr by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

I'm sure many here feel like I do having mixed feelings about it. It's so rare that the Sox are the topic of national attention and for that reason alone would love to see Jose gushed about in the HR Derby since he may only get 1 or 2 AB's in the game itself.

 

We all wanted to see if Jose 's hitting got hot along with the weather and for that reason I don't want to see him participate. After all it's possible he could raise his BA to around .300 and hit close to 50 HR's .

 

During the 14 game hitting streak I've seen less and less of the terrible swings we sometimes see against low and away sliders and curves. I'm just guessing but I'm sure his K rate has gone down over this last 2 weeks stretch of games compared to his season rate.

I voted absolutely NOT! I despise the Homerun Derby and do not want to see his swing messed up for the rest of the season.

I'd like to see him do it, as I think he seems to have the ability to make adjustments pretty quickly. But if he doesn't want to do so, he should just stay home.

f*** ya.

 

I know there's been plenty of research that the post homerun derby slump is basically a bunch of bull.

I don't worry about the slump, I worry about the foot.

I would like to see Nick Noheart in the home run derby.

 

Also, if there's a year for him to do it, it would be this year.

I'd love to see it, it's a lot of fun, but if he's so set against it, that's his call. Get Dunner in that thing

He should. Best publicity for the franchise in a long while for a team that so desperately needs it.

I'd love to see it, it's a lot of fun, but if he's so set against it, that's his call. Get Dunner in that thing

Wouldn't that be so cool seeing Dunn and Abreu hitting 450 foot blasts.

I'd love to see it, it's a lot of fun, but if he's so set against it, that's his call. Get Dunner in that thing

 

Don't you have to be an All-Star to be in the derby?

Don't you have to be an All-Star to be in the derby?

no

Sure he should. Frank Thomas was awesome in the Derby and it didn't mess his swing up at all.

 

Sure he should. Frank Thomas was awesome in the Derby and it didn't mess his swing up at all.

According to Hawk, it screwed up The Big Hurt for a couple of weeks.

According to Hawk, it screwed up The Big Hurt for a couple of weeks.

 

Frank participated in 1994 and 1995.

 

His line for the next two weeks in 1994 - .264/.423/.509 with 3 HRs, in 1995 - .358/.493/.698 with 4 HRs

 

So maybe it did affect him in 1994 as his OPS was nearly 300 points lower for the next couple weeks compared to his season line, but he seemed to get better in 1995, so who knows. It just goes to show how great Frank was. Most guys would kill for a .932 OPS and that was him when he was "struggling".

Edited July 1, 201411 yr by lasttriptotulsa

Frank participated in 1994 and 1995.

 

His line for the next two weeks in 1994 - .264/.423/.509 with 3 HRs, in 1995 - .358/.493/.698 with 4 HRs

 

So maybe it did affect him in 1994 as his OPS was nearly 300 points lower for the next couple weeks compared to his season line, but he seemed to get better in 1995, so who knows. It just goes to show how great Frank was. Most guys would kill for a .932 OPS and that was him when he was "struggling".

 

Well, he got the MVP in 1994 and finished with .358/.493/.698 with 4 HRs in '95.

 

Neither was a bad thing.

 

Hawk's opinion on baseball is too hyperbolic to be taken as truth.

Well, he got the MVP in 1994 and finished with .358/.493/.698 with 4 HRs in '95.

 

Neither was a bad thing.

 

Hawk's opinion on baseball is too hyperbolic to be taken as truth.

 

There is a pretty substantial difference in his pre and post all star splits in 1994 though. Pre all star he had a .385/.519/.832 slash and post he was .260/.400/.521. Whether that was because of the HR derby or not is anybody's guess. It very well could be because of something different and Hawk is just talking out of his ass. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

Yoenis Cespedes 2nd half 2013: 11 37 .261 .296 .473 - better than his first half.

 

Prince Fielder 2nd half 2012: 15 45 .331 .448 .558

 

Robinson Cano 2nd half 2011: 13 61 .309 .358 .547

 

David Ortiz 2nd half 2010: 14 45 .277 .355 .498 - some decline from first half.

 

Most were as good if not better than their first halves after winning the HR derby.

 

 

I hope he sits out HR derby.

no

 

Interesting.