Brewers left fielder Carlos Lee, who earned his second consecutive trip to the All-Star Game on Sunday, announced today that he will not participate in the Home Run Derby. Lee said he wants to give his sore left hand a rest.
That could be good news for Brewers fans.
After hitting 22 homers and driving in a franchise-record 76 runs in the first half, Lee represented his native Panama in the derby in Detroit, where he finished third behind winner Bobby Abreu and runner-up Pudge Rodriguez. He went on to sputter for much of the second half, hitting 10 homers and knocking in 38 runs the rest of the way.
"I don't know why that happened," Lee said earlier this year. "You have to try to be an all-star for the whole season, not just the first half."
The Brewers will spend the next few weeks deciding whether or not to trade Lee, who is eligible for free agency after the season.
Lee was named to the all-star team along with Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow. Left-hander Chris Capuano is one of five players eligible for a roster spot via online balloting. Voting will run through Thursday afternoon at www.mlb.com and www.milwaukeebrewers.com. With Los Angeles' Nomar Garciaparra and New York's Billy Wagner also on the ballot, Capuano's chances of winning the election seem remote. That won't stop the Brewers from pulling out all the stops. The team is airing scoreboard videos with other players urging fans to vote for Capuano.
That could be good news for Brewers fans.
After hitting 22 homers and driving in a franchise-record 76 runs in the first half, Lee represented his native Panama in the derby in Detroit, where he finished third behind winner Bobby Abreu and runner-up Pudge Rodriguez. He went on to sputter for much of the second half, hitting 10 homers and knocking in 38 runs the rest of the way.
"I don't know why that happened," Lee said earlier this year. "You have to try to be an all-star for the whole season, not just the first half."
The Brewers will spend the next few weeks deciding whether or not to trade Lee, who is eligible for free agency after the season.
Lee was named to the all-star team along with Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow. Left-hander Chris Capuano is one of five players eligible for a roster spot via online balloting. Voting will run through Thursday afternoon at www.mlb.com and www.milwaukeebrewers.com. With Los Angeles' Nomar Garciaparra and New York's Billy Wagner also on the ballot, Capuano's chances of winning the election seem remote. That won't stop the Brewers from pulling out all the stops. The team is airing scoreboard videos with other players urging fans to vote for Capuano.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
