2012 Home Run Derby Contestants: Why the AL Has a Major League Advantage over NL

The American League can already chalk up a win in the 2012 Home Run Derby.

For starters, the National League doesn't have the reigning derby champion Robinson Cano and Matt Kemp has been out since late May.

Still, expect the derby to be exciting as always with blasts occurring toward every spot of the wall. Kaufmann Stadium is about to get jacked up, but mostly from the AL and here's why.

2012 Success

The best home run hitter right now in the NL is Carlos Beltran with 20 jacks in 2012. He also has a .296 batting average and 88 hits in 297 at-bats. So, in addition to sending them deep Beltran has been making consistent contact this season.

As for the AL, Jose Bautista leads with 27 homers which is also tied for the lead among all major league players. Unfortunately, Bautista has just a .248 batting average so if it's not gone then he's usually out. To that end, Robinson Cano gives the AL a huge edge as he's knocked 20 out of the park and is also hitting .313.

The AL, in addition, has another contestant with 20-plus homers and an average over .300 in Mark Trumbo. The next best National League contestant is Andrew McCutchen who has only 18 jacks but a .362 average. If there's a sleeper in the NL to count on, McCutchen's consistent contact will get it done.

The American League is just flat out better though from an all-encompassed perspective in 2012.

Experience

As previously mentioned, the AL has the reigning Home Run Derby champion Robinson Cano. Well, the American League also has two other competitors with derby experience.

Jose Bautista competed in 2011 while Prince Fielder was for the National League (Milwaukee Brewers) in 2009 and 2011. Three years ago Fielder also won the derby with 23, and now with Detroit the AL has two defending derby champs compared to zero for the NL.

Also, only Matt Kemp has competed in the derby among the NL's 2012 contestants. McCutchen, Beltran and Carlos Gonzalez have never before competed and in most cases a players first derby doesn't pan out too well. At least for the NL.

History

Prince Fielder may have won the Home Run Derby in 2009 as a member of the Brewers, but since he's now batting for the AL the NL hasn't been able to defend a derby title since Ryan Howard in 2007 (won in 2006).

Even before Howard the NL had trouble as the AL won in 2002, 2003 and 2004 as well. Other than Bobby Abreu winning in 2005 the National League hasn't won back-to-back derbies in over a decade.

And with three of its four contestants making their derby debut versus three AL players with experience and two champions, the odds are impressively stacked against the National League.

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