You don’t see this move pulled too often but this week JD Martinez publicly refused to participate in the 2018 HomeRun Derby this year. You gotta applaud the move because not many have had his reasons for declining the invite to hit dingers on All Star weekend. As a Yankees fan it was tough to watch Aaron Judge crush the Derby last year and then go into what seemed like an inevitable 2nd half slump.
Now Judge had just about 30 jacks by the mid summer classic last year and being that it was his rookie year he probably jumped at the chance to win the Derby. (which he did – stud) . His numbers were also too good in the first half of last year that he was bound to come back to earth and regress 2nd half no matter what. Although I definitely think the Derby had something to do with it and may have messed with his swing. Also hitting all those homers off of BP, in front of a huge crowd, probably messes with your head a little once you get back into games. Think – ‘I just hit 35 homers in one night, I can get one off this slap tonight.’
Back to JD, (can’t stop talking Yanks once I get started) this was a great move by him to publicly flip the ole bird at the MLB and pump a ‘suck it’ sign at them. Not many players have that leverage especially when it comes to any type of All-Star game festivities. The reason JD quickly said ‘no way’ was because back in 2015, at the break, he had 25 homers and thought he was going to be asked. But according to JD, “MLB didn’t want me” . He went on to say that the MLB had other guys in mind and that he told himself right then he would never do the derby.
Now flash to today, JD is raking. He has 15 homers only his boy Mookie has more. Oo and he also signed a contract for $110 Million. So JD aint missing out on anything and finally got to say ‘No’ back to the MLB, after they snubbed him in the past.
Good for you JD.
— Quietly Mookie Betts and JD Martinez have been possibly the two best hitters in the Majors this year so far. Both hitting for power with 15+ homers 35+ Rbi’s and each hitting over .330 – which is crazy.
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Uh Huh.
Relax here, there’s a guy named TROUT in LA thats the best….period!