With this seemingly relentless rain, it's hard to remember that not long ago North Texas was in a drought.
And with one simple swing yesterday, we were reminded that once upon a time Price Fielder hit home runs.
Fielder ended his career-long homer drought at 34 games with a shot to right field to lead off the 4th inning, helping the Rangers to a 6-2 win over the Pirates. Texas took two of three from Pittsburgh, moving to a season-best eight games over .500 and taking over first place in the AL West. With Yu Darvish back and Jurickson Profar providing a long-anticipated spark, things are going swimmingly as we officially head into summer.
Just think how good it can get if Fielder’s bat is resurrected.
There was a time when he was the biggest slugger in baseball. He hit 50 homers for the Brewers in 2007 and 46 more in 2009. Those numbers, however, are in steep decline as he’s turned 30.
Fielder's homer Sunday was his first in more than a month, and only his third of the season in 183 at bats. We all salivated about Fielder abusing Globe Life Park’s short porch in right field, but since arriving in Arlington he’s hit just 29 homers in 249 games.
Last year Fielder hit 23, but complimented that with a .305 average. This year he’s slumping to only .197.
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Which, actually, is a good sign. When Fielder wakes up, imagine how good this Rangers team can be.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
