Pittsburgh Pirates’ Pedro Alvarez Snubbed By David Wright


Pedro Alvarez

Kelvin Kuo – USA TODAY SPORTS

David Wright snubs Pedro Alvarez!

Yo, dude? What’s up with that? Come on — El Toro’s born and bred NYC!

Alas, Pedro will watch from the grass in front of the dugouts as 16 other home run hitters swing from their heels and try and mess up their stroke for the rest of the season in what has come to be known as the annual MLB Home Run Derby, sponsored by Frito the Bandito and Wrigley’s Spearmint Chewing Gum! [Caution: Never mix these two products together.]

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle may secretly thank Mr. Wright when he and the New York Mets come to town this Friday for their three-game series at PNC Park to close out the first-half of the 2013 season. The Pirate fans will not, however.

They will most surely display their displeasure in Wright choosing to go with Bryce Harper and Michael Cuddyer, both whose home run totals (13 each) seem pale in comparison to some other sluggers who’ll also be watching, Dominic Brown (23), Paul Goldschmidt (21) and of course, Alvarez, whose 22 dingers would normally be enough to get a chance to participate in the over-hyped, overrated, over-covered and under-ignored baseball “event”.

The reason the Pirates & Hurdle may be secretly happy is the old adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Pedro is doing just fine right now. He’s found his stroke. Why take any chances in messing up that sweet swing for some gimmick contest that’ll all be forgotten 10 minutes after it’s over? Think I’m exaggerating? Who won last year’s home run derby?

In any event, it should be interesting to hear the fans’ reaction when Mr. Wright makes his first plate appearance this Friday.

Stacey Kengal is a writer for www.RantSports.com covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. Follow him on Twitter @StaceyKengal, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.


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