SportsNation Blog Archives
Prince Fielder
Where will Fielder sign?
Prince Fielder's reign in Milwaukee will likely come to an end soon, as the free agent has been rumored to be meeting with the Nationals. Will 2012 find him hitting home runs in Washington?
Fielder's rank?
Fielder's hitting prowess is beyond question, but it's a pretty good era for first basemen. Is he really one of the best in baseball?
Fielder or Votto?
Teams looking for a first baseman of the future have two attractive options: sign Prince Fielder now, or wait two years and go after the Reds' Joey Votto. Who would you go for?
Sure, there is the small matter of a spot in the World Series on the line as Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder trade home runs in the NLCS, but there's also the big matter of impending free agency. Or at least the matter of big money in free agency. Pujols won the day in Game 2 with five RBIs, but who is the prize this winter?
- "Albert is a Legend. While he, as he said, has been blessed with this talent, we cardinal fans have been blessed to have him on our team for ten years. If STL doesn't resign him, the organization will forever be known as the one that let the best player in baseball get away. And the fans will NEVER forget it." -- SN commenter Hogphan919
- "If Pujols really wants $30 million per for 10 years, I hope the Cardinals don't re-sign him. I'm sorry, but we Cardinals fans are 'blessed' to have a front office that rewards the loyalty of its fans by actually spending on team payroll." -- SN commenter AnthonyP005
Who is a bigger prize this winter?
Pujols has a better track record, but is that exactly why the younger model of slugger may be preferred?
Who is better right now?
Pujols is hitting .414 with a 1.176 OPS, one home run and six RBIs this postseason. Fielder is hitting .333 with a 1.300 OPS, three homers and six RBIs.
What does the future hold?
Fielder recently acknowledged this is likely his final season with the Brewers, but would a change of heart surprise you more than a change of scenery for Pujols?
We imagine it's difficult to stay in the headlines in Wisconsin once the Packers start playing, but the Brewers may be getting a little too creative in their efforts. First, reliever Francisco Rodriguez grumbled about his role. Now Prince Fielder is using the final days of the regular season to effectively announce his impending departure. Imagine if the team wasn't in first.
- "I feel bad for Brewers fans. This is the first great season in a long time for them. This just rains in their parade. Totally unnecessary and avoidable comment by Fielder." -- SN commenter KenM321
- "Life is tough. Axford is the better closer. If K-Rod is so unhappy he can turn down the $$ Milwaukee is paying him, retire and go work at a 7-11. Axford keeps his mouth shut, gets the job done and has class." -- SN commenter JonsZX2SR
Is timing everything here?
We've known Prince Fielder was going to test free agency, and we've known the Brewers were unlikely to find the money to keep him. Is his confirming that now a big deal?
Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols?
Pujols may be more of a lock for Cooperstown, but does age and relative cost make Fielder a better option in free agency?
Which one is Batman?
Fielder talked about breaking up his partnership with Ryan Braun, who the Brewers gave a long-term extension. Did they pick the right guy?
What about Francisco Rodriguez?
The Brewers talked about splitting saves when they acquired K-Rod, but John Axford has converted 39 consecutive chances, making him tough to displace.
- Rank 'Em: Who are the biggest prizes rumored to be on the market?
- Vote: How will the playoff race unfold in each league?
- Chat: MLB Insider Keith Law sets you straight in chat, 1 p.m. ET.
There may be plenty of shopping days left until Christmas (163 if you're counting), but time is running out for baseball teams hoping to find that special something for the pennant race. The end of the month brings the non-waiver trade deadline and the opportunity for general managers to make the kind of mark Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. did last summer in trading for Cliff Lee -- or, you know, the kind of impression the Cubs made in trading Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio in 1964.
Perhaps hoping lightning strikes twice, the Rangers made a big splash by landing Lee before the All-Star break, while the Braves used the pause to trade for slugging shortstop Alex Gonzalez. But could a player like Prince Fielder or Roy Oswalt tilt the scales enough in favor of another team willing to make a move?
Kevin Larson (Oak Lawn)
What kind of players are available for Kenny Williams to grab before the trade deadline? What about Adam Dunn coming to Chicago?
ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine
I have talked about Dunn for a month. the problem is his defense is poor and his baserunning is plodding. That's not exaclty Ozzie Ball type material. The part that Kenny Williams likes is the home run power from the left side. The Sox have lacked offensive balance all season long. When Quentin hits the team seems to score. Full transcript
Brandon (Springfield)
Should the Braves make a move for Corey Hart? Do you believe he is having a fluke season so far?
Rob Neyer
A little bit, maybe. But I think last season was the bigger fluke. Hart's a legitimate power hitter and could help a lot of clubs. Full transcript
J.B. (Dunmore, PA)
Can you see either Matt Kemp or Josh Willingham going to the Braves for the stretch run?
Jayson Stark
I don't. I keep hearing that the Nationals are telling teams interested in Willingham that they prefer to move Adam Dunn if they move either of them. And it's very unlikely Matt Kemp gets traded. If he does, he'll be very expensive. Also, the Braves can't add much payroll. Full transcript
- Rank 'Em: Where are the Braves and Phillies in your MLB Power Rankings?
- Chat: Jerry Crasnick takes SportsNation's MLB questions
Baseball players have too much time on their hands. Showing the best choreography this side of "Glee" on Wednesday nights, the Braves reacted to Nate McLouth's walk-off home run against the Phillies last night in memorable fashion. Instead of gathering at home plate, or even sticking around, they walked away, leaving McLouth jogging toward an empty dugout after he crossed home plate for the win.
Creative, but was it more creative than the Brewers serving as bowling pins (refresh your memory with the video from MLB.com) when Prince Fielder reached home plate after hitting a walk-off home run last season?
All we know is that if history is any indication, McLouth can expect a fastball in the back from the Phillies sometime next March. Or maybe tonight, if Roy Halladay is feeling frisky.
“OK. All you Philly fans need to chillax. I guarantee you'd react the same way if your team won a game like that in an important series against what is probably your most hated rival in the division. It was a good game and we're excited. Cut us some slack!!!
” -- hollisterhawtie06
- Vote: Are purpose pitches more effective than hockey fights? | Rank 'Em: MLB teams
- Chat: Jerry Crasnick was at the game and chats with SN Friday, 2 ET
- More from ESPN.com: SweetSpot blogger Rob Neyer on the Giants seeking payback
Pitt's Ashton Gibbs whet our appetites for college basketball drama by drilling a game-winning 3-pointer against Providence, NFL teams started throwing millions of dollars at guys like Nate Burleson at the stroke of midnight and Brett Favre played coy about his future with Jay Leno. So why are we talking about a spring training game in Arizona? Because we love us some controversy.
You remember Sept. 6 last year. You don't? Well, the Giants did because that's when Prince Fielder hit a walk-off home run against them in a game the Brewers needed to stay in the pennant race (not that it helped in the long run). As he reached home plate, Fielder jumped on the dish and all of his waiting teammates tumbled to the dirt like bowling pins.
So, of course, when Fielder came to the plate for his first at-bat in Thursday's exhibition game, Barry Zito drilled him in the back. Zito tried to say the ball just got away from him, and Fielder didn't go postal in quite the same way he did when the Dodgers' Guillermo Mota hit him last season. But was this fair payback or pure petulance on the part of the Giants?
“I used to love Baseball when I was younger. But things like this is why I don't watch it as much. You can't do anything fun after a big play. wow they showed him up last year. If he didn't like it dont give up a home run then.
” -- deejpee2
“Baseball needs to lighten up on some of the "unwritten rules" that come from the 1910's. Every Brewer fan and player knew this was coming. I wouldn't have any problem with the hit back if Prince did it in like the 4th inning or some other time when the celebration would've been premature or unnecessary but it didn't. It happened at their own park in an extra inning game, there is cause for celebration. I just don't understand why it makes anyone so angry. I'm all for baseball policing themselves but do it when it really matters, this isn't one of those times in my eyes.
” -- Brewerfan54
“[T]he point is that the celebration was not some special show they put on for the Giants game. The jersey thing was a tradition for every win. It was a representation of blue-collar work getting the job done; coming home after a long day of work and untucking your shirt and sitting on the coach. Thus, if you have a problem with that tradition in general, fine, but it has nothing to do specifically with the Giants. The bowling pin thing was excessive, yes, but piling on at home is a tradition for every team, and has been for decades.
” -- PersianRoyalty
With nary a dramatic pennant race in sight, baseball fans have to find some way to kill time until the postseason. Buster Olney mused about Prince Fielder landing with the Red Sox in Monday's blog, but after some time to think about it, he came up with another potential fit for Fielder before his chat with SportsNation.
Liam (Pleasanton, California)
Do you think Cain straight up would be enough for Fielder?
Buster Olney
Liam: To repeat, this all pure speculation, and based on nothing other than seeing how parts might fit. My guess is that the Giants would have to kick in a little something extra into a Fielder/Cain deal. What makes the Cain/Fielder think intriguing is that Cain has an unbelievably affordable contract for 2010 and a great and affordable option for 2011 -- over the next two years, he is signed to earn a total of $10 million. Fielder, alone, will make $10 million next year, and could make $15-18 million in arbitration in 2011. The Giants would get the slugger they need for their lineup, a perfect guy for their franchise, and the Brewers would get an elite pitcher with a great contract; Cain and Gallardo could be the backbone of a strong rotation. And the Brewers could try Gamel at first base. Again, to repeat: ALL SPECULATION.
Rich (NYC)
Wait- why would the Giants have to kick in something extra if Cain is so much more affordable?
Buster Olney
Rich: I ran this by a couple of talent evaluators today about all this, and they agreed with my thought that Fielder might have a touch more value as a player than Cain. Again, we're not talking about a huge difference, where the Brewers would demand Buster Posey or something like that. Full transcript
Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd avoided weekend upsets and maintained their places in the rankings, so they'll be back for more "SportsNation" TV.
Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPNEWS at 4 p.m. and ESPN2 at midnight ET.
Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).
If drinking your own urine was beneficial, would you do it?
Boxer Juan Manuel Marquez drinks his own urine ahead of matches. The WBO's 122-pound champ says it's a good source of vitamins.
Do on-field brawls help or hurt lesser-know leagues?
A fight between the Brampton Excelsiors and the New Westminster Salmonbellies resulted in 173 penalty minutes and five ejections.
Are MLBers too concerned with respect?
Torii Hunter said the Angels would have thrown at Prince Fielder, who untucked his shirt as he as he trotted the bases after a game-winning HR on Sunday.
Did the Redskins gain an advantage over the Giants?
Washington signed former New York backup QB Andre Woodson to its practice squad on Sunday, just a week before the two teams meet.
Will the Bengals win at least 12 games this season?
The experts on ESPN.com tab Cincinnati at third in the division and say anything better completely depends on a healthy Carson Palmer.
What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.
Sticks and stones may break bones, but batting helmets never seem to hurt anyone.
In another baseball brouhaha that was more sports creationism than sweet science, Kevin Youkilis charged the mound after being hit by Rick Porcello in the second inning of Tuesday's game between the Red Sox and Tigers. And it would seem to us that if you have a helmet in one hand and a bat in the other, and you elect to take the former into combat and leave the latter at the plate, you're pretty much admitting you shouldn't be going out there at all.
But aside from making for amusing video and brightening Ozzie Guillen's day, the brawl also got us wondering which batter would you least want to see rumbling toward the mound?
- Vote: The loss cost the Tigers in the standings; what's next in the Central?
- Vote: Do beanballs serve a purpose or just get more batters hit?
“Man, I could watch Kevin Youkilis get slammed down by Porcello all day every day. Classic!
” -- Bro_Montana
“Youk 220 and porcello 200....and youk is 6'1 and porcello is 6'5....youk was dumb to go high...got to go low if you want to knock him down...Youk tackles like the Lions....
” -- afkas4242
Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd still have their best days ahead of them, as they will highlight today on "SportsNation" TV.
Argue the hot topics, vote on the biggest stories and chat during the show, on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. and midnight ET.
Note: Broadcast voting results as of afternoon ET.
Should Yankee Stadium host a bowl game?
Notre Dame and Army may not be the only college football teams to play in the new Yankee Stadium. Is hosting a bowl game a good idea?
Can you withstand a kick to the face?
Of all the places to be kicked, the face isn't high on our list. But maybe we're just not as tough as SportsNation. If a MMA fighter can do it, so can you, right?
Did Prince Fielder break baseball code?
Charging the mound is one thing but charging the clubhouse is another. Did Fielder cross the line by going after Guillermo Mota after the game?
Which holiday sporting event do you prefer?
Football and turkey. Basketball and presents. Sports and holidays seem to go hand-in-hand. But which is better? NFL on Thanksgiving or NBA on Christmas?
Are Reggie Bush's best days behind him?
For some, this question was worth asking the day Bush was drafted into the NFL. But here in SportsNation we like to give people a little longer to prove themselves. Having said that, is Bush on the downslide?
What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.
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