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C'mon Prince Fielder, take it like a man
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After being hit by Guillermo Mota, Prince Fielder whines
to the ump, who already threw Mota out of the game.
(AP Photo/Gus Ruelas)
Prince Fielder is certainly big enough, but not man enough to simply accept one of the most important unwritten rules of baseball: If your pitcher throws at our star, we're gonna throw at your star.
The slugging firstbaseman was hit on his extremely meaty leg by Dodgers reliever Guillermo Mota in the 9th inning of LA's 17-4 rout of the Brewers. It was obvious retaliation for Milwaukee pitcher Chris Smith hitting Manny Ramirez in the arm — with a pitch up and in that was heading for Manny's noggin. Instead of being mad, Fielder should have just taken his medicine, and been grateful that the fiery Mota — who is not afraid to go after guys when necessary — aimed low.
That's the way it's done. It would be one thing if Mota threw at Fielder's head. Besides, Mota was immediately tossed from the game, so it's hard to see what Fielder is complaining about with the ump in the picture at the right. Mota would not have thrown at Fielder at all if not for Smith reacting tot he beat-down the Dodgers were putting on the Brew Crew by childishly throwing at Ramirez.
But, that's baseball. Teams getting crushed will often try to make a statement by going after the crushing team's best player. Happens all the time. What doesn't happen — or shouldn't — is that the guy who is the target of retaliation storms towards the opposing club house to have at it with the pitcher who meted out baseball justice.
How lame. Fielder was stopped from entering the Dodgers clubhouse last night by teammates and stadium security. According to the Associated Press story:
When the game ended, Fielder charged through the underground tunnels at Dodger Stadium to the door of the home clubhouse, shouting obscenities with many fellow Brewers trailing behind. Several security guards and teammates Bill Hall and Casey McGehee prevented Fielder from entering the locker room in search of Mota.
"He ran over there, and they weren't going to let him in, and everybody came back," Milwaukee manager Ken Macha said. "I don't know if you can restrain Prince. I don't think I can. I don't think there's anybody else out there who can."
Sure is going to be a fun series finale tonight! Fielder better get booed mercilessly by Dodgers fans. They might even want to bring a few hankies to wave in Fielder's direction, just in case he needs to cry again.
(Brewers Examiner John Buchel has his take on the story here.)
FOLLOW JIM LAKELY. THE DODGERS EXAMINER, ON TWITTER.
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