Prince Fielder Gets Last Laugh in Retaliatory Plunking Saga

It’s kind of sad when you consider the possibility that the Giants pitcher waited over five months — all those long winter months — just for the chance to meet Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder once again. Barry Zito can deny it all he wants, but there’s no way his plunking of Fielder in Thursday’s spring training game was unintentional. It’s not like Zito is known for his pinpoint control, but still — this was no coincidence.

You may recall an incident last fall, when Fielder hit a 12th-inning walk-off home run to give the Brewers a 2-1 win over the Giants, and in an elaborate, Ochocinco-esque celebration, Fielder rounded the bases and then jumped on home plate while his teammates surrounded him and then “fell like bowling pins,” as ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick describes it.

The Giants, presumably, were unhappy. And the Giants, who had no opportunity to retaliate in 2009, apparently had no problem saving the payback for 2010.

Zito can insist the sting of his mighty 86.5 mph fastball wasn’t meant to meet Fielder’s back in the first inning of a meaningless game in Scottsdale, but nobody will believe him. And while Fielder’s celebration back on Sept. 6 may have been a little tacky, plunking someone in a spring training game over something that happened six months ago gives new meaning to tacky.

In other news, Josh Beckett allows Red Sox Nation to become reacquainted with his undeniable charm when faced with the media, Boof Bonser makes no secret of his elation over beating the mighty Boston College Eagles in his first spring training game with the Red Sox and Rasheed Wallace makes one thing about himself very, very clear.

"I've always said, 'I play the game hard. I run hard. And after that, I don't care what anybody thinks.’ If that's what they've gotta do, that's what they've gotta do. Let them hit me once, and if that makes them feel better, that's awesome. Now we can just play baseball."
–Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder, on ESPN.com, on being hit by Barry Zito on Thursday

"We were just trying to go in there hard [with fastballs]. It's not something that was thought about for months and months."
–Giants pitcher Barry Zito, on ESPN.com, on whether his plunking of Prince Fielder was premeditated

"You're damn right it was worth it."
— Fielder, in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, on whether his walk-off home run celebration was worth getting hit for on Thursday

"I don't even know about those things."
— Zito, on ESPN.com, when asked about the possibility of disciplinary action

"I don’t even know what ace is. Is that an acronym for something?"
–Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett, on NESN, when asked who is this year’s ace of the team

"It went great. I'm glad it's over. My first spring training game in pretty much what two years. People say that, hey, it's a college team. Well, to me a college team wants to beat your brains in more than the regular team does. So like I said. I'm glad it's over."
–Red Sox pitcher Boof Bonser, in The Associated Press, on beating Boston College in his first spring training game with Boston

"Aw, that ain’t nothing new. [Expletive], I’ve been facing it since Day 1 when I came into the NBA. People get upset with me because I speak my mind. I don’t hold my tongue. I don’t care who it is or who it’s about. In this league and this game and this business, they don’t like that. They want you to kiss [butt]. I ain't no kiss-[butt] dude."
–Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace, in the Boston Herald, on realizing he will be a target of criticism if the C’s don’t get back in the NBA championship conversation

"What is this? I am not wearing children's pants today."
–Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis, on Boston.com, upon finding Dustin Pedroia’s uniform pants in his locker

"I hate flying. That's my biggest thing. … Alex Cora, who is one of my best friends and was with a couple of years ago, he used a line from Rocky on it and I still kind of live by it. I looked at him one time and I was scared to death. And he goes, 'Hey man: If we die, we die.' And I'm like, 'That's a good point.'"
–Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia, on ESPN Radio, on his fear of flying

"I [understand] wanting to take a tour of Fenway, but I'm a little more confused at the tours of City of Palms Park."
–Boston Globe Red Sox writer Amalie Benjamin, via Twitter

"That's their own making. If you do a good mitzvah, maybe you can eliminate some of those things. You think [Clippers owner Donald] Sterling's done enough mitzvahs?"
–Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, in the Chicago Tribune, on why the Clippers have had such poor luck since moving to L.A.

"Will be out for a min but when I return it is on. Win da ring for da king! Luv my team, Cavs baby!"
–Cavaliers forward Shaquille O’Neal, via Twitter, after undergoing surgery on his injured thumb

"If Jesus puts his horse in too low … I’m claiming him."
–Thoroughbred horse owner Mike Gill, on Boston.com, on the polarizing effects of his claiming methods