Derby squads provide lots of pop
— -- The 2014 All-Star Game Home Run Derby field has star power, international appeal and a healthy mix of players who've been making waves for a while and others just beginning to emerge on the national scene.
The only thing it lacks is closure.
Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki and Toronto's Jose Bautista, the respective team captains, named three players each to their squads Tuesday. Tulowitzki added Yasiel Puig, Giancarlo Stanton and Todd Frazier to the National League contingent, while Bautista selected Yoenis Cespedes, Adam Jones and hometown favorite Brian Dozier of the Minnesota Twins.
But Tulowitzki and Bautista are still only 75 percent of the way home. They plan to announce their final picks for the event on Thursday. The Derby will take place Monday night at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Bautista has been particularly challenged to fill out his roster. Mike Trout, Nelson Cruz and Miguel Cabrera all passed on the opportunity to take part. Edwin Encarnacion is on the disabled list with a quad strain, while Victor Martinez (soreness in his side) and Brandon Moss (ankle) are touch-and-go with injuries that have yet to send them to the DL.
So what can we glean from the news so far? A few Derby observations:
