According to Jayson Stark over on ESPN Bud Selig and Major League Baseball didn't take too kindly to the Kansas City Royals fans boo-ing Robinson Cano in Monday Night's Home Run Derby.
The fans let Cano hear it when he was announced and subsequently on every out he made in the Home Run Derby. Much to the delight of the fans Cano finished with a grand total of 0 Home Runs.
Cano sparked the ire of the fans after he did not select hometown favorite, and the only Royal in the All-Star Game, DH Billy Butler for the Derby.
The reaction from fans on Twitter was divided as well with some fans felling it was disgraceful while others thoroughly enjoyed the reaction.
According to Commissioner Selig MLB could discuss changing the Home Run Derby in the off-season to reserve a spot for a hometown player (next year would mean a N.Y. Met).
Truthfully it is an overreaction by Selig and would be a silly rule to put in place. What would happen if the Miami Marlins were hosting the All-Star Game this season? Technically they did not have an All-Star after Giancarlo Stanton was replaced because of injury. Would you have forced the NL to take another Marlin? Or image the Padres were hosting. Their home run leader is Chase Headley. He has 8, count'em 8, dingers this season. How much fun would that be for fans watching on television? It also doesn't stop the fans from booing any of the other contestants.
The Home Run Derby is already becoming a stale event. The fans booing Cano at Kauffman Stadium on Monday Night was a breath of fresh air. Baseball would be silly to try to take that away, after all I'm sure they got a ratings boost once Twitter exploded.
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