2012 Home Run Derby Results: Boos During Robinson Cano's Poor Showing Justified

Robinson Cano stepped up to the plate with his father preparing to deliver some cheese so his son could successfully defend his Home Run Derby title, and the fans in Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium greeted him with a loud chorus of boos.

Cano was promptly shut out in his bid to defend the crown, and his evening was done after the first round. None of that did anything to quiet the booing. 

These fans obviously were not taking the high road, but it is hard to blame them for their anti-cheering. 

Cano was the captain of the American League derby squad, and as captain, he was able to pick his teammates for the event. He did not choose Royals slugger Billy Butler for the squad. 

Butler is having a nice season. He is hitting .290 and has 16 home runs. That ties him for 16th in the AL home run category, which leaves him behind all but one of the four AL contestants—Prince Fielder, with 15 home runs.

Giving Fielder the nod over Butler is not the problem here. He is a veteran of these performances, and his massive swing is tailor-made for this event. 

The problem is that Butler is a Royal, and the Kansas City fanbase has had very little to cheer about the past two decades, as the economical landscape of baseball has made it nearly impossible for them to compete at a high level. 

Now, the long-suffering Royals fans have something in their backyard to get excited about, despite their team being 10 games under .500. They are hosting the 2012 All-Star Game, and they have a player that warranted consideration to be included in this competition. 

Cano should have given the nod to Butler for these Kansas City fans. He should have let them have their moment to show their love for a local player and truly enjoy a night of action on the diamond. 

He did not go this route, and that is his prerogative—but so was the fans' choice to boo him. 

Results

Champion: Prince Fielder

Final Round

1. Prince Fielder: 12

2. Jose Bautista: 7

Round 2

1. Prince Fielder: 16

2. Jose Bautista: 13 (Bautista won second-round swing-off with Trumbo to advance to final round)

3: Mark Trumbo: 13

4: Carlos Beltran: 12

Round 1

1. Jose Bautista: 11

2. Carlos Beltran: 7

3. Mark Trumbo: 7

4. Prince Fielder: 5

5. Carlos Gonzalez: 4

6. Andrew McCutchen: 4

7. Matt Kemp: 1

8: Robinson Cano: 0