Brewers 1B Fielder looking to follow Phillies 1B Howard

Jul 9, 2007 - 9:39 PM By Jim Keller PA SportsTicker Baseball Editor

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - Like Ryan Howard before him, Prince Fielder wants to make a splash.

Fielder, the Milwaukee Brewers' third-year slugger, will attempt to wrest away the Home Run Derby championship from the Philadelphia Phillies strongman Monday night during All-Star Game Festivities at AT&T Park.

"That's the plan, that's the goal for the day," Fielder said about hitting some balls into the infamous "McCovey Cove" past the right field seats. "It's Home Run Derby, hopefully I'll get a couple."

Fielder has participated in just one home-run hitting contest in the minors, and didn't win it, but he is not foreign to the concept of hitting homers. The son of former major leaguer Cecil Fielder took batting practice with his father while a member of the Detroit Tigers while growing up.

"I think I hit my first home run at Tiger Stadium when I was 12 years old," he said. "I hit it in batting practice off one of the coaches just into the overhang in right field. It was pretty cool."

Local favorite and soon-to-be crowned all-time home run king Barry Bonds turned down an invitation to compete, citing age and the need for rest, but Howard feels he'd be the favorite if he had entered.

"I mean, this is his park. You know, all of the balls in McCovey Cove, he has more balls in McCovey Cove than anybody up here, all of us up here combined," Howard said. "You definitely have to give him the advantage. Plus, he's got his hometown crowd here, so he would have to be the favorite."

Without Bonds around, Fielder will have to contend with Howard, who came out of nowhere in 2005 to win National League Rookie of the Year honors after batting .288 with 22 homers and 63 RBI in just 88 games.

When the Phillies traded away first baseman Jim Thome that winter, the powerful lefthanded hitter took advantage, making the National League All-Star team last year after slugging 28 homers in the first half of the season. Howard made another mark by winning the Home Run Derby the day before the 77th All-Star Game played at PNC Park in Pittsburgh by hitting several balls into the water just over the right field seats.

With that in hand, Howard went on to a monster second half, clubbing 30 more home runs and batting .355 to nearly lead the Phillies to the postseason while winning NL Most Valuable Player honors.

"That was a lot of fun and it was a great year," Howard said.

Fielder hopes it's his turn now. Before he steps into the batter's box Tuesday against Dan Haren in the 78th All-Star Game, he, Howard and six others will do their best to reach "McCovey Cove."

Joining the power-hitting duo are Detroit Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Alex Rios, Minnesota Twins first baseman and reigning AL MVP Justin Morneau, Los Angles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday, who is replacing Florida Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

One person that will be in Fielder's corner is 2-year-old son Jadyn, who will be on the field.

"He's seen the commercials on TV and has asked if I'm going to hit the ball into the water," Fielder said.

To make room for Fielder in 2006, Milwaukee cleared out first Richie Sexson and then Lyle Overbay to open up a spot for the then 21-year-old who had just 103 games experience above Class AA. And the portly lefthanded swinger took full advantage, batting .271 with 28 home runs and 81 RBI while finishing seventh in a very talented Rookie of the Year voting.

Fielder has followed Howard's lead in his second season as a starter, leading the downtrodden Brewers (49-39) to first place in the National League Central and being voted an NL All-Star starter after garnering the second most votes in the league behind Ken Griffey, Jr.

"It's pretty cool, I really appreciate the fans voting for me," Fielder said. "Our team is having a great year all the way around, that's why we have four guys going (closer Francisco Cordero, shortstop J.J. Hardy, starter Ben Sheets). What's really cool is being over people like Albert Pujols, and the reigning MVP (Howard).

"I am looking forward to the Home Run Derby, and having fun with the guys."

Entering the break, Fielder already has surpassed last season's total with an NL-leading 29 blasts, including 13 in May - a club record for homers in any month. His .620 slugging percentage also leads the league and he ranks second with 70 RBI - just 11 shy of his entire 2006 total.

Fielder is the fourth Brewer to lead the league in homers at the All-Star break, joining Ben Oglivie in 1980 and Thomas in 1981 & 82.

Even though Fielder has no experience in the Home Run Derby, he won't be going in clueless. Cecil, who led the American League in homers in 1990 and 1991, was a three-time All-Star and participated in three home-run hitting contests.

However, Prince says he didn't take anything away from his father's experience, including one where he was shut out.

"I'm just going to go out there and try to have fun and hopefully I can hit one," he said.

Although not selected to play in the All-Star Game, Howard was invited back to defend the title he won over New York Mets third baseman David Wright last season. But he doesn't feel he has any built-in advantage.

"No, not really. You know, this event is just to go out and have fun," Howard said. "I think everybody up here that's going to be out there is out there for the purpose of having fun.

"As far as the advantage, I don't know what the weather is going to be like. It's a little bit colder up here. The wind might be blowing in. It might be a good night to be righty. I was telling Justin, we might have to work on that elbow swing tonight."

Let the fun begin.