ESPN

• Would Babe Ruth wear down in the Home Run Derby? Rank the all-time field.

We're sure the distinct lack of an American League lineup for the Home Run Derby has nothing to do with stars making like DeMarcus Ware on the sideline when asked to participate.

Sure, Josh Hamilton, Justin Morneau and Mark Teixeira already said they were out, and sure, the NL lineup was announced days ago. Yes, even Curtis Granderson has suggested it's not really his bag. But the delay is entirely coincidental; it's not as if the powers that be have been reduced to bribing Tim Wakefield to take some hacks. Right?

But if this year's Home Run Derby has all the makings of a dud (unless they wise up and make Ichiro do it), that won't stop us from wasting a few minutes on a Friday. How would things unfold if you put 10 of the greatest home run hitters (natural or otherwise) on the field for a power-hitting contest?

• Can the Derby mess up a player's swing? Apparently, it depends where you live.
• Josh Hamilton would have won with SportsNation's preferred Derby format.
• More than 70 percent prefer the Home Run Derby to the All-Star Game.
• Stunner: Albert Pujols heavy favorite to carry the NL flag.

“

I dont blame the guy for not wanting to be a part of it. He won last years and espn decides to interview Josh hamilton. When they finally do interview Morneau he's asked about Josh hamilton's preformance. It was a joke how they treated this guy who won the damn thing.

” -- socaliente

“

Baseball should have Griffey in it. I mean here's a guy who has the best swing in baseball and has won many of these before, in his prime. Now he is back home this season and the team and him individually have been god awful. In the past when he has won/entered into the Derby his swing has not been effected after, it's just that pure of a swing. Plus what's the worst that happens? his swing does slightly get affected? ohh well

” -- Lil_Duece46

Stephen Strasburg is supposedly the greatest thing since sliced bread. The problem, as Keith Law sagely put it in a recent chat, is that sliced bread is the best thing since Matt Wieters. Every potential new star is going to be the next player to redefine the sport.

We're addicted to hype (it's definitely one of the top five addictions in the ESPN era). So is Strasburg special, or just the best prospect this year? Baseball experts drop by SportsNation on an almost daily basis to answer to you, and the consensus seems to be this might be legit. No, seriously.

Buster Olney: I think that Strasburg will sign with the Nats, in the end, and that he'll be in their rotation all year. They desperately need something to create some interest in their franchise, and Strasburg will be that guy right away -- right from the start of his career, he'll have FernandoMania type of attention, Mark Fidrych type of attention. I'd bet that he'll sign a major league deal and that the Nationals will want him in the majors ASAP.

Jayson Stark: Tony Gwynn said this week that whatever team drafts him should ease off and let him recharge for next year after all the innings he's thrown in college and international competition in the last year.

Keith Law: I'm confident that they'll take him and that eventually he'll sign. He's not going to do better by waiting a year, and the risk to him is enormous. My suggestion, again, is to offer him some huge number on Draft Day with a condition: "It's $30 million if you sign today. It goes down half a million dollars every day you don't sign." And you leak it to the press so everyone knows what the kid is turning down if he doesn't sign.

Andy (Chicago)

Would any player who was drafted over the last 10 years have been taken over Strasburg if they were in the same draft?

Jerry Crasnick

That's a great question. Guys like Josh Hamilton, Mark Prior and Joe Mauer came with a ton of hype, but I'm not sure any of them would have been selected over Stephen Strasburg. Full transcript