David Wright Too Intimidated to ask Dom Brown to Join Home Run Derby Team
By Justin Klugh
Look, I wouldn’t want to approach Dom Brown either.
He’s simmered since going nuclear earlier in the season, but it seems like you can never tell when he’s about to blow up. And Wright probably doesn’t think he can handle that kind of heat, this late in his career.
Which is why Wright, while perusing the National League home run leader list, skipped right over Dom’s name in favor of Michael Cuddyer. Or Bryce Harper. It’s hard to tell which undeserving player is hitting in Dom’s stead. Harper is only there, by Wright’s admittance, because he’s what the fans want to see. Cuddyer is there because he and Wright grew up together.
"“I did it as easy as I knew possible. At the time when they needed to know who I was picking, I took the National League home run leader. I took the guy that won the fan poll — the guy who the fans really wanted to see in the Home Run Derby… I grew up with Michael. I think that he’s one of the more underrated players in the game.”—David Wright, via ESPN"
At least Wright was honest about his choices.
"“I’m sure there’s a lot of people that are disappointed.”"
Jul 8, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (26) and left fielder Domonic Brown (9) wait for the start of the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Nationals, 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
And there will be, whether those people are Phillies fans, or fans of home runs, of which Dom has 23. But apparently it takes more than the second most home runs int he league to be considered for a home run-hitting contest. It takes childhood memories with the team captain, or the delirious, slobber-mouthed voting of fans who think running into a wall at full speed is the same thing as “playing the game the right way.”
But hey, lay off Harper, I guess. He doesn’t have to run full speed at anything in this contest. He just has to hit home runs. Which he has done a mere 13 times this season. That’s ten less than Dom Brown. And two less than Michael Cuddyer.