Can Grady Sizemore Win the Home Run Derby?

Eight hitters take the field tonight in New York for the 23rd Major League Baseball Home Run Derby. 

For the American League, Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria, Minnesota Twins' Justin Morneau, Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton, and Cleveland Indians' Grady Sizemore will go. 

On the National League side, Houston Astros' Lance Berkman, Florida Marlins' Dan Uggla, Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley, and Milwaukee Brewers' Ryan Braun will hit. 

Hitting in Yankee Stadium favors lefties because of the infamous “short porch” in the right field corner.  Four of the eight hitters are left-handers. 

Since its 1985 inception, the Cleveland Indians have sent six participants to five home run derby competitions.  In 1995, two of the four AL sluggers were Indians with Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez both going. 

Three Indians total have gone for Cleveland.  Jim Thome went twice.  Albert Belle participated three times.  Manny Ramirez went as an Indian once.  Jim Thome came the closest to winning it for Indians fans, finishing second in 1998.

When Grady Sizemore heads to the plate, he will be the fourth Indian going for the Home Run Derby win.  He is one of the four lefties in the Derby. 

A dark horse in the field, Sizemore definitely has a chance to bring the title back to Cleveland.  He’s one of the hottest home run hitters in the league coming into the All-Star break.  Of his 23 AL leading home runs, 11 have come in the last 28 games, almost a home run every other game. 

The Home Run Derby, though, is all about finding your stroke.  It has made the likes of all past Indians' sluggers look bad. 

Jim Thome’s first appearance yielded him exactly zero home runs and a first round exit.  Manny Ramirez had three and a first round exit in his only appearance.  Albert Belle?  Same numbers in his first try...three home runs and a first round exit.

While Sizemore is overshadowed by the likes of Josh Hamilton, four-time participant Lance Berkman, and the only repeat person from last year in Justin Morneau, this writer thinks he has the odds on favorite to win the Derby because of his youth. Or maybe it's just because I’m from Cleveland.  Either way, Grady has a one-in-eight shot.