Moustakas sees Derby time cut short as KC Royals first rep since 1991

The Moose (very nearly) got loose as the KC Royals first Home Run Derby representative since the George H.W. Bush administration.

For the first time since 1991, a member of the KC Royals participated in the Home Run Derby.

[captain turns off the “no snarky comments sign”]

Even though things fell just short of success for Mike Moustakas—as has occasionally happened for the Royals as a group in 2017—it was a step forward for the franchise on the national stage.

[and the “no snarky comments sign” resumes its previously fluorescent state]

Moustakas lost to Miguel Sano, 11-10, in the opening round’s first matchup, knocking out the KC Royals first participant in more than 25 years prematurely. There were highlights…

Like the Royals first Home Run Derby bomb since Danny Tartabull was still a thing.

Like home run No. 5

¡@Mooose_8 demostró todo su poder en Miami con este #JONRONAZO de 442 pies! 🙌👐 #HRDerby #ASG2017 #LosReales pic.twitter.com/wxIg76DtpK
— Los Reales (@losreales) July 11, 2017

Like nailing some poor gal with a liner.

Like being cheated out of eight seconds of precious time what shut up I’m not bitter you’re bitter.

@Mooose_8 coulda used 10 seconds extra. What a joke @RoyalsNation @royalsreview @RoyalsBlue_com pic.twitter.com/pK5Is9GEoV
— Ryan Cope (@ryanjcope) July 11, 2017

Like making history.

History! https://t.co/lBToJngzje
— Royals Review (@royalsreview) July 11, 2017

Like his spray chart. Please note the distinct pulling, in a place that seemed to play hell for lefties on Monday night.

Mike Moustakas Home Run Derby spray chart. Furthest at 442 feet. Fastest at 115 MPH. pic.twitter.com/kB5M6z8BJy
— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) July 11, 2017

Like real winners not needing an extra 30 seconds to advance, but you didn’t hear that from me. Aaron Judge won the whole thing, to the surprise of literally no one.

In other Monday news, it was announced that someone not named Jason Vargas would take the mound for the American League (boo) and Salvador Perez would bat eighth (also boo, but for a different reason) Tuesday night.

Your All-Star lineups. Sal Perez bats eighth. pic.twitter.com/o9WW9ObqQQ
— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) July 10, 2017

I think I’d put Salvy (and Mookie Betts, TBH) above Justin Smoak and Corey Dickerson—Smoak and Dickerson having played well above their previous stations, and Perez and Betts being veterans, of a sort, in All-Star situations—but haggling over batting order positions in an All-Star game feels stupid, so I’m not gonna go there.

Next: Stupid rule changes

The Midsummer Classic begins 6:30 p.m. (CT), Tuesday. Now that it matters less than ever, I’d recommend Baby Driver—good flick.

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