Prince Fielder: King for a Day

Prince Fielder's First Grand Salami

IRONICALLY IT WAS A WALLSCRAPER, Prince Fielder's grand slam yesterday, but a slam nonetheless. Surprisingly it was the vaunted slugger's first career grand slam. That is, it was also his 130th career homerun now into his 5th big league season. To explain the drought one could argue that Fielder gets pitched more cautiously with the bases loaded than others, but still 130 is a lot of roundtrippers without the sacks ever having been full. Last year White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez hit four grand slams during his rookie season. Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason in baseball, which is one reason why it is such a great game to watch.

Yovani Goes Yardo!

IT NEVER GETS OLD when a pitcher contributes from both sides of the plate, like Yovani Gallardo's 3-run bomb off Randy Johnson yesterday. Turns out it was the first homerun ever given up to a pitcher by The Big Unit—not a good sign. I always wonder if homeruns like this are the result of lucky swings. Bengie Molina called for the high heat, and Johnson located it, but at a mere 91 mph, a far cry from the heat he threw in his glory years. Gallardo jumped all over it, pulling the pitch into the leftfield stands. Oh, and Gallardo's pitching...2 runs in 6 2/3 innings. Not too shabby.