Cut Prince Fielder some slack — it takes talent to stop a 275-pound body on a dime.
But considering Fielder has hit 225 doubles in his career, you’d think he’d know how to pull up at second gracefully after pounding a ball to the outfield wall.
Nevertheless, on Saturday night against the Angels, Fielder made an adventure out of what should have been a two-bagger. After smacking a pitch into the right-field corner, Fielder hoofed it to second. As he was nearing the bag, however, he sensed the throw coming in, and that’s where the usual pull-up trot — or, God forbid, a major league slide — failed to happen.
Fielder put a hand on his helmet and cringed, apparently afraid of being hit by the relay throw, then fell into second base. His momentum was at war with his timing, however, sending him skittering past the bag. He tried to reach back to keep himself safe, but by that point, the damage was done, and the Angels had an easy tag for the out.
As far as base-running silliness goes, it doesn’t get much better than this. Check it out in the video below.
