cecil fielder

But he really wants to hit 52 - especially if it helps Milwaukee reach the playoffs.




Fielder connected twice Tuesday night to help the Brewers beat St. Louis 9-1, bringing Milwaukee within two games of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. It also allowed the typically jovial slugger to surpass Willie Mays as the youngest to reach that single-season milestone.

But Fielder was serious when he talked about hitting two more. His estranged father, former major leaguer Cecil Fielder, hit 51 home runs with Detroit in 1990 - and surpassing that total would be especially sweet.

"That's why I'm so passionate about playing,'' the younger Fielder said. "Hopefully one day, whenever they mention my name, they won't have to mention his.''

Fielder hit a two-run homer to right field in the first inning and a two-run shot to left in the seventh, giving him 50 at 23 years, 139 days old. Mays was 24 years, 137 days old when he hit his 50th in 1955, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"It was a great thrill,'' said Brewers manager Ned Yost, who this week was given a vote of confidence by team owner Mark Attanasio. "I told the boys, 'We're watching a little history here. Remember it.'''

Fielder's feats overshadowed the fact that Milwaukee drew ever closer to the Cubs, who were hamstrung by Dontrelle Willis and lost 4-2 at Florida.

"We're in the middle of a pennant race right now and that's all I care about,'' Yost said.

In other NL games, it was Washington 10, the New York Mets 9; Atlanta 10, Philadelphia 6; Pittsburgh 6, Arizona 5; San Diego 6, San Francisco 4; Colorado 9, the Los Angeles Dodgers 7; and Houston 8, Cincinnati 5.

Prince Fielder is guarded about the reasons behind the split with his father. According to a 2004 story by The Detroit News, Cecil Fielder frittered away his baseball earnings through gambling and bad business decisions.

Cecil has been more outspoken. At a Toronto Blue Jays alumni event in June, he said his son should show him more respect.

"I just don't think my son knows how to let it go,'' Cecil Fielder said. "I don't think he's grown up yet. Until he can move on and talk to me like he's my son, we don't need to talk.''

Fielder said he wasn't offended by any one particular comment from his father - but made it clear that he has been paying attention to what he says in public.

"You've got to look at who's saying it,'' Prince Fielder said. "Let's be honest, he's not really the brightest guy.''

Nevertheless, the Fielders became the first father-son tandem to reach the 50-homer mark.

"It's just an awesome feat,'' Prince Fielder said of No. 50. "Now my kids can know at one time, their dad was pretty good.''

Braden Looper (12-12) served up Fielder's first home run, and gave up homers to Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks.

Milwaukee starter Jeff Suppan (11-12) worked eight innings to beat his former team for the third time this year, scattering nine hits and three walks but allowing just one run.

Marlins 4, Cubs 2

At Miami, consecutive bloopers fell for hits during a four-run second against Ted Lilly (15-8), and the Marlins beat the Cubs for the eighth consecutive time.

Willis (10-15) struck out seven and won for only the third time in 15 decisions since May 29. Lee Gardner retired two batters in the ninth, and Taylor Tankersley got pinch-hitter Cliff Floyd on a flyout for his first save, completing a three-hitter.

Nationals 10, Mets 9

At New York, Jason Bergmann (6-5) held the Mets in check and Washington survived a six-run rally in the ninth. The Mets' magic number for clinching its second consecutive NL East title was cut to four when Philadelphia lost to Atlanta.

Tom Glavine (13-7) gave up homers to Austin Kearns, Tony Batista and rookie Justin Maxwell in falling behind 6-2 and losing for the first time since July 2.

Braves 10, Phillies 6

At Philadelphia, Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer and Chipper Jones had a two-run shot as Atlanta roughed up Jamie Moyer (13-12) and kept its slim playoff hopes alive.

The Phillies are two games behind NL East-leading New York.

Jeff Bennett (2-0) won despite giving up a sac fly to Pat Burrell that gave Philadelphia a 5-4 lead in the fifth.

Pirates 6, Diamondbacks 5

At Pittsburgh, Josh Phelps singled in the go-ahead run off Brandon Lyon (6-4) in the eighth for Pittsburgh, which cut Arizona's lead over second-place San Diego to two games.

John Grabow (4-1) allowed three inherited runners to score. Matt Capps finished with a perfect ninth for his 18th save.

Padres 6, Giants 4

At San Francisco, Brian Giles hit a go-ahead three-run homer off Brian Wilson (1-2) with two outs in the ninth inning and San Diego ended a four-game losing streak.

The Padres stayed one game ahead of Philadelphia in the wild-card standings.

Joe Thatcher (1-1) got his first big league win, while Trevor Hoffman earned his 41st save.

Rockies 9, Dodgers 7

At Los Angeles, Troy Tulowitzki homered off Mark Hendrickson (4-8) and Colorado won its ninth straight to eliminate the Dodgers from postseason contention.

The Rockies are one game behind San Diego in the wild-card race, tied with MILWAUKEE -- With Prince Fielder, the Milwaukee Brewers have hit the daily double; tangibles and intangibles, 50 home runs and a remarkable level of maturity for a 23-year-old in any walk of life.
The tangible half of the Fielder factor was on display again on Tuesday night, as the Brewers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 9-1. Fielder hit his 49th and 50th home runs, a pair of two-run shots. The Brewers climbed back to two games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Hope lived on for the Milwaukee club and Fielder continued to be a major part of the resurgence.

In the process, Fielder became the youngest player in Major League history to hit 50 home runs in a season. The youngest previously had been Willie Mays, at age 24 in 1955. "I told the boys, 'You're watching a little history --remember it,'" Brewers manager Ned Yost said.

"It's cool. It's cool for my kids," Fielder said of this season's monster numbers. "When they grow up, they can say: 'My Dad was good at one time.'"

In the spotlight, Fielder has revealed a nature that is both whimsical and driven. He has a dry sense of humor that he can turn upon himself. But he is driven by the slights that he perceived at the time he was drafted in 2002. In his recollection, some of the so-called experts said he was too heavy. Others suggested that he was catching a break only because he was Cecil Fielder's son.

Comparisons with his father persistently bothered Prince, particularly since the two have been estranged. On what was otherwise a feel-good occasion, his 50th home run, Fielder made certain that the distance between himself and his father was made clear to one and all.

When Prince Fielder was asked if he was going to keep the 50th home run ball, he said he wasn't interested in keeping this ball. But if he hit 52, he would keep that ball. Why?

"My Dad hit 51," Fielder said. "If I hit 52, he can't say anything to me."

Asked about the possibility of winning the MVP, a possibility that seems to grow daily, Fielder said that would be fine, and then added this:

"My Dad never won it, so that's one more thing. Shut him up again."

At one point, referring to his father, Fielder said: "Let's be honest, he's not really the brightest guy."

Fielder was asked if he was kidding with these comments regarding his father. "That's serious," Fielder responded, and he left no room for doubt.

Around the Brewers, Fielder is regarded with a blend of respect and admiration. Tuesday night's winning pitcher, Jeff Suppan, referred to him variously as "charismatic" and "a true professional." Fortunately for all involved parties, Fielder wears his status lightly enough.

When a comment was made to him about his maturity on Tuesday, Fielder responded:

"See, I have two kids. I have to grow up sometime." That was good. It was funny. It was at least mildly self-deprecating. It is possible that Prince Fielder has this whole baseball, league-leading slugger, acclamation-from-all-corners thing in perspective.

When Fielder hit his 46th home run, he broke the Brewers franchise record previously held by Richie Sexson and Gorman Thomas. But on Monday night, when he hit his 48th, he broke the Milwaukee record of 47, set by Eddie Mathews in 1953 for the Braves.

"It's cool, [Mathews] is a Hall of Famer," Fielder said. "It's great, but to me, I used to see my dad do well, but he won just one time. To me, he had all those good years and he only won once. I just never wanted to do that. You have good years, but it's almost for nothing you know? In my opinion, winning is first. I want to be known as a winner."

After he hit No. 50 on Tuesday night, Fielder echoed the same theme. "To have a year like this on a winning team means a lot," he said.

This is not empty verbiage with Fielder. He has become, remarkably for his age, a team leader. The home runs are appreciated, but so is the all-out approach to the game.

"He has so much invested in this year, not only physically, but mentally, and spiritually, I guess you could say," manager Ned Yost said of Fielder.

"He's got that special quality, at 23 years old, where he walks the walk. He doesn't talk it, he walks it. Everything he does on that field sets an example.

"Watch him on a grounder to short. He busts his butt to get to first base, every time. Watch him on a popup to the outfield, he's sprinting to second base, every time. He's working hard on taking pitches up there. He's planning his approach. He's very focused and determined at the plate. He very seldom gives at-bats away. He's always on his toes.

"So if some guy hits a ball and jogs up the line, Prince can legitimately go up to him and say, 'Hey, bust your butt down that line.' And that guy can't say [anything] to Prince, because Prince does it, every time."

At age 23, Fielder has set himself apart from the rest of baseball history with the relentlessly repeated act of hitting home runs. But the Milwaukee Brewers, doubly fortunate in this regard, get much more than home runs in the complete package that is Prince Fielder. Do you believe in ... nope, too soon: It's false hope to think the Tigers can comeback on the Yankees with the magic number at one. Who in their right mind has New York losing seven straight to end the season? But who cares? The final (regular season) game at Comerica Park will have playoff implications for Detroit. Those who struggled through the '90s and early portion of this decade know the significance of that previous sentence.


2. Goodbye?: Pudge Rodriguez sort of hinted he may not be back next season when he spoke yesterday of his career with Detroit in the past tense. Regardless of his statistical impact this season, I hope he comes back for at least one more season (hopefully to let Rabelo or someone else develop for a year). He was the first big name to take a chance on Detroit baseball when no one else would.


3. The Anti-Achilles Heel: So Maggs has been performing this well with a bum left heel all season? I don't know what's wrong with it, but as the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. That heel better be extra sore in '08.


4. Griese's the man: If there was ever a must-have waiver-wire pick up in fantasy football, this might be it. Poor Rex Grossman. Though, at least he's not a former Lions QB -- Chicago's media will probably be nice enough to let him fall into obscurity.


5. Vick is indicted: Not to completely change the mood, but I'm changing the mood. ESPN aired its town hall meeting thing on the Michael Vick ordeal yesterday. There are so many bigger issues plaguing this country at the moment, and we're choosing this to focus our attention and our animosity on? The man admitted to a crime. Let him serve out his punishment so that he may get on the right path to redeem himself as a man -- not a football player -- in order to truly become the hero that many believe him to be.



4 ... Best links outside the Freep


1. ESPN.com's Howard Bryant looks at the issues brought up by the Vick case:
"The letters sit heavy for weeks. They do not yellow, for in the paperless society people do not write the way they once did. They use e-mail, and it is now impossible not to be aware of the exact number of people who want to talk to you about him: from 255, when the federal government closed in on Michael Vick, to 974 later when it became clear he would plead guilty, to 2,208 on Sept. 20. That many from his first comments 'til today, 11 weeks of fresh air left before his Dec. 10 sentencing."


2. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tells us how Wisconsin's defense is preparing for MSU:
"What is wrong with you guys? The question surfaced after a stilted first-half performance in the opener against Washington State, cropped up again in Week 2 after a narrow victory against Nevada-Las Vegas and came from every corner after an ugly first-half performance in Week 3 against The Citadel."


3. Barry Bonds' career with the Giants is remembered by the San Francisco Chronicle:
"Barry Bonds will play his final home game as a Giant tonight. Manager Bruce Bochy made the announcement after Tuesday night's 6-4 loss to the Padres, which was decided on Brian Giles' three-run, ninth-inning homer off Brian Wilson."br>


4. Graham Hays of ESPN.com looks at Thursday morning's Women's World Cup matchup of the U.S. and Brazil:
"Three years after the United States held off Brazil in a 2-1 overtime thriller to win Olympic gold in Athens, the two teams meet again in the latter stages of a major tournament. For the United States, which has won more World Cup and Olympic titles combined than any other country, the game offers a chance to return to a World Cup final for the first time in eight years and erase the sting of a semifinal loss against Germany four years ago in Portland. For Brazil, it's a chance to advance to a World Cup final for the first time and a chance for revenge against the team that denied the country's first major title in women's soccer."



3 ... Best quotes of the day


1. Cyclist Floyd Landis writing on his website about the doping scandal that cost him his '06 Tour de France title: "If any good has come out of this, we have shown that the anti-doping system is corrupt, inefficient and unfair. The content of this decision unfortunately highlights this once again. The straightforward and clear dissent in support of my case contrasts sharply with the scientifically flawed and illogical majority decision against me. I still have hope that the system can, and will be, changed so that no other athlete has to suffer through this process only to be denied a clean chance at justice"

2. Prince Fielder on wanting to hit 52 home runs -- one more than what his dad reached -- and win the MVP, something his dad never did: "That's why I'm so passionate about playing. I don't mind them comparing me (to former Tiger Cecil Fielder, Prince's estranged father), but I'm totally a different player. Hopefully one day, whenever they mention my name, they won't have to mention his."

3. Tampa Bay coach Joe Maddon on beating the Yankees in the bottom of the 10th inning: We've stood toe-to-toe to all the contenders: Boston, to Seattle, to L.A., then Boston and New York here, and I like the way our guys have gone about their business against them. It's not about being the spoiler, it's about learning how to play this time of the year. And our guys have risen to occasion."