Payback? Barry Zito hits Prince Fielder with a first-inning fastball

[cruzg24]

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Six months ago, Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder toppled his teammates like bowling pins in a choreographed home run celebration.

On Thursday, Barry Zito tried to pick up the spare.

Zito's first-pitch fastball plunked Fielder in the back, and while it didn't topple the Brewers' burly first baseman, it apparently sent the intended message.

Both teams, as well as the umpiring crew, seemed to acknowledge the payback pitch in businesslike fashion. Fielder, perhaps showing he wasn't impressed, picked up the ball and flipped it toward the mound before taking his base. The Brewers didn't retaliate, hostilities didn't escalate and there were no fighting words exchanged on the field or in either clubhouse.

That's not to suggest Fielder was ready to apologize for the Sept. 6 stunt at Miller Park, though.

"They gotta do what they gotta do," Fielder told Milwaukee reporters. "But it's not going to take it away. It's chronicled. . . . That's something I did with me and my teammates. It has nothing to do with them."

Was the celebration worth getting drilled in the back?

"You're damn right it was worth it," Fielder said.

The Giants hadn't seen Fielder since the stunt. At the winter meetings in December, Brewers manager Ken Macha approached Giants manager Bruce Bochy and apologized for it, saying it wasn't done with his blessing.

Fielder batted in the first inning, and Zito wasted no time. Plate umpire Ted Barrett stepped in front of the plate after the beaning, but Bochy said no warnings were issued — a good sign that Barrett's report will not recommend any disciplinary action.

But Zito took no chances when asked about the pitch, denying he intended to drill Fielder.

"We were just going fastballs in hard," Zito said. "The ball was running away. . . . It's not something that was thought of for months and months."

Zito dodged a question about his reaction to the initial home run celebration. Bochy was equally evasive, but indicated that there would be no further brushbacks from his pitchers with harder stuff.

"You know what, let bygones be bygones," Bochy said. "Let's focus on the game. We're moving on. This has created a lot of interest, but we're trying to get ready for the season. That's behind us."

Source: San Jose Mercury News

Barry Zito is a <Censored>. Dude get over it, he took you deep and beat you. Way to be a man and "settle" this in Spring Training, as opposed to just striking him out.

 

[Oiler35]

Dumbass move. I hope Prince does it again in, but this time in the playoffs.

 

[Blake]

It's kinda funny, stupid as hell, but funny.

I agree though, striking him out would have sent a much better message.

Oh well, it's spring, no need to look into that much.

 

[elcheato]

Didn't really see a problem with what Fielder did on that game winning homer anyway. He just won the game, he has the right to celebrate like that if he wants to lol.

 

[RipCity32]

Lol at Zito getting "payback" in a Spring Training game. Fail.

 

[Rios15]

Wonder what pm7 has to say about this lol.

 

[playmaker7]

No one knows if it was payback and he said it wasn't <_<

Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. Zito's fastball isn't that fast anyways so its not even a big deal

He pitched well that game and thats all I care about so STFU

 

[redbrid8]

lol. kinda funny that zito would have still been this upset to take it out after like 5 months , over a HOMERUN CELEBRATION!

 

[playmaker7]

i think its just saying that barry zito is a dumb player with to much money and no RECENT stats to back up that he should be getting payed that much.

This whole statement is just full of ignorance

Barry Zito is actually a VERY smart player and if you knew anything about him you would know he tends to overthink situations and always has. He probably was just overthinking this whole thing and pegged Fielder with a fastball that probably got off to 84 MPH...Fielder is a big boy and I'm sure he'll suck it up. If he got offended then he would have obviously went to the Giants clubhouse and tried to fight...

 

[playmaker7]

Ok, I just saw the video on my TV rather than computer...

He said it got away from him, like he actually would admit he tried to hit him, but it looks possible. I don't even care, they won the game =)

 

[elcheato]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMOzESM3QPM

 

[Mexi]

did prince try to go in the giants clubhouse?

 

[playmaker7]

No he did not so in conclusion, he was not mad about it

 

[cruzg24]

lol, pm7 trying to defend Zito. It was intentional and it didnt get away.

 

[playmaker7]

I'm not trying to defend him I'm just stating what he said. I could care less if he did it on purpose. They won and he didn't get rocked...that should be bigger news

 

[Gtown81]

did prince try to go in the giants clubhouse?

Mota's a douche though, he kept hitting Piazza(<3) back in the day

 

[cruzg24]

Mota's a douche though, he kept hitting Piazza(<3) back in the day

I hope Piazza goes in as a Met, cuz hes my favorite of all-time.

 

[Elite]

Piazza's an ass.

 

[Gtown81]

I hope Piazza goes in as a Met, cuz hes my favorite of all-time.

same

 

[Gtown81]

Piazza's an ass.

you're an ass