By: Melissa S. Wollering
We’re writing from Scottsdale today, as The Sportsbank.net hits the road to take in some Cactus League play. The pictures are all ours, the game summary is firsthand and the weather was magnificent. Thursday’s game between the Giants and Brewers started off with a little revenge that dates back to last season.
Remember when Prince Fielder smacked that walk-off homer off Barry Zito? Prince rounded the bases to join his entire team at the plate, signal the bomb (or bowling ball) and watch his teammates explode and fall to the ground (or drop like pins, whichever interpretation you prefer).
Today, Barry Zito wasted no time by smacking Fielder in the back with the ball in the first inning of the first game of Spring Training. Wow. Stay classy San Francisco.
The Giants argued that the celebrations was inappropriate because the Brewers were out of contention while they themselves were still in the playoff hunt. Either way you slice it, Prince handled it like a King, shrugging off the sting. He picked up the ball, tossed it back to Zito and jogged to first.
After the game, Prince was noticeably miffed while Zito played dumb to the situation. Here’s what Fielder had to say after the game as told to Tom Haudricourt, JS Online:
“They gotta do what they gotta do. But it’s not going to take [the celebration] away. It’s chronicled. I hit the home run and they gotta hit me. That’s what they gotta do…You’re damn right it was worth it.”
It was rumored the Giants might try it; but players and fans alike thought Spring Training wouldn’t be the time nor place for such behavior. Do you think Spring Training is the place to get even? Is regular season any better?
You know who WAS better today? Rickie Weeks. Behold what two healthy wrists can do for the man. He drove in two runs in the first four innings today to put the Brewers on top before the Crew fell behind, traded in its first stringers for its utility players and let the Giants breeze by 5-3.
Suppan pitched two solid innings, scoreless and retired all six opponents. Todd Coffee also had his caffeine brewing.
Mat Gamel might be the first significant player to be struggling with pain. Seems he sat out due to a strained shoulder. Not thought to be terribly serious, but we’ll see what the team physicians say this week/weekend.
And just as we’ve heard buzz about Joe Mauer and a potential contract extension, it was confirmed today that similar talks have begun with Prince Fielder. Who confirmed it? Not Melvin, not agent Scott Boras. Nope, Fielder himself confirmed it and said he heard it went well.
Only Brewers GM Doug Melvin confirmed that no official offer has been made. It can be assumed that Melvin and Assistant GM Gord Ash likely met with Boras to discuss Prince’s value to the organization and put a good faith commitment towards future talks.
And as if there wasn’t enough Brewers news in one day, Yovani Gallardo renewed his contract with the club today; being the last Milwaukee Brewer to do so. No figure was made public, but Gallardo made $414,000 last year.
As you know, we’re here in the Phoenix area all week, traveling from park to park to bring you Spring Training’s very best! Check back often and follow us @MilwBrewersBeat on Twitter for occasional tweets with just the most important developments during the game!
On Friday, we’ll see Ben Sheets and the Oakland A’s take on the Milwaukee Brewers in Phoenix proper.