Though largely shut out of the official majors home run race, a red-hot Sammy Sosa proved that he’s still got plenty of power left for the second half of the season.
The Dominican star slammed a total of 26 homers, the longest at 508 feet, to win his first All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday.
The Chicago Cubs’ outfielder electrified the crowd of 50,118 with an 11-6 homer edge over Carl Everett of the Boston Red Sox in the semi-finals and then crushed three-time winner Ken Griffey of the Cincinnati Reds 9-2 in the final.
"I came here for the last three years and I didn’t do anything, and I just
came with a different plan and went up there and gave myself an opportunity," Sosa said. "I took some pitches and started to swing the bat and made some great contact. That was a good show."
With National League home run leaders Mark McGwire (30) and Barry Bonds (28) injured, and American League leaders Carlos Delgado (28) and Ivan Rodriguez (26) bowing out without too much fanfare, the show was left to Sosa and Griffey (28).
Sosa, tied for ninth at 23 homers and batting .305, spoke about picking up the pieces after the distractions caused by failed trade talks of the past month.
"With the hurricane that happened to me the last month, everything has come down to normal," Sosa said. "I feel more comfortable with myself, I’m starting to feel much better. Before I was playing well because I was really happy, now I feel that I can come back again, go out there and get ready for the second half of the season."
Sosa, who would be a free agent at season's end, showed the Cubs' owners how valuable he is, and how important he could be to a rival club.
"I don’t want to just talk about a contract right now, because I want to wait until the year is over and relax. I would love to stay in Chicago, but if it doesn’t work out, you know, if I have to go, I don’t have a choice,” – (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
