« Teixeira in Derby, Ichiro may participate »

Mark Teixeira has agreed to represent the U.S. in the Home Run Derby, scheduled for July 10.

“I still contend Ichiro has power and never uses it.”

The Texas first baseman born in Annapolis, Maryland has 22 homers on the season, and will represent a country loaded with heavy hitters, including Adam Dunn, Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez.

Meanwhile, the eighth country, most likely Japan, does not have a representative. Hideki Matsui did not make the team, and Ichiro is the only Japanese player participating in the festivities.

I still contend Ichiro, who averaged 16 homers a year in Japan, has power and never uses it. In all of the three baseball video games I have played, Ichiro has developed into the Mariners' cleanup hitter, hitting as many as 20 or 30 home runs in several seasons. But as a leadoff hitter, there's no way he should be shooting for the seats, especially when his current .308 average is well below his career average. (To be fair, he is 12 for his last 25). Also, he has more homers this season (6) than fellow participant Pudge Rodriguez (5).