Logan Morrison complains about Home Run Derby snub
Should Logan Morrison be in the 2017 MLB Home Run Derby on Monday night in Miami? Absolutely. Other than Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, nobody has hit more dingers than Morrison, who has come out of nowhere to hit 24 before the All-Star break.
Morrison, who was once a hot prospect and is now a veteran having a career year, is absolutely one of the top eight power hitters of the season and should have a shot at this likely once-in-a-lifetime event. Still, he was cast aside when one of the four American League spots went to Judge’s teammate, Gary Sanchez.
On Tuesday, Morrison voiced his frustrations, per ESPN.
“Gary shouldn’t be there,” Morrison told the Tampa Bay Times on Tuesday. “Gary’s a great player, but he shouldn’t be in the Home Run Derby.
“I remember when I had 14 home runs. That was a month and a half ago.”
Still, Morrison, who was not elected to be in the All-Star Game, but is on the final five-man ballot, wasn’t finished. After taking a shot at Sanchez, the lefty went for broke, railing against MLB Network.
“I’m not disappointed,” Morrison said. “It’s par for the course. I play for the Rays. I get it. They can’t even get my picture right. When they put my name up there, they put Corey [Dickerson’s] picture up there … on MLB Network. When they put up the home run leaders, they put Corey’s swing on there — not mine.”
Morrison has a point. If you play for Tampa Bay and your name isn’t Evan Longoria, nobody outside of the hardcore fan is going to know much about you. Still, for the MLB to not have the proper picture and video to describe a man on pace for 48 homers is both absurd and unforgivable.
Ultimately, though, Morrison needs to stop complaining. He deserves to be in both the Derby and the All-Star Game, but whining about it in the media isn’t going to help things. Every year, there are a handful of players who get robbed. Khris Davis of the Oakland A’s has 23 home runs and 57 RBI, and he didn’t sniff an invite to either event. Davis also has a track record with the long ball, hitting 42 last season.
Morrison is at the epicenter of Tampa’s surprising run toward a potential playoff berth. At this juncture, that should be enough to both keep him happy and motivated. If the Rays should reach October, Morrison will be put on the sport’s biggest stage, giving him the platform to show off his considerable skills.
Until then, Morrison needs to be quiet. He was undoubtedly wronged, but his cause will only be drowned out by his own sour grapes.
