O/T, Prince Fielder to Tigers for 9 year deal

[sayhey24]

Originally Posted by nebboy

Can't see that with his body type his good for a long term contract.

Cecil Fielder listed as 6'3" and 230pds
ie his dad and his playing days.
Within 8 years after Cecil's big breakout year of 1990
51 HR - 134 RBI season in 1990
6 years later - 39 HR - 117 RBIs
8 years he was hitting 13 HR - 61 RBI in 1997
gone 9 years after best sesson. 13 total

Prince Fielder listed as 5'11" and 275pds
50 HR - 119 RBI in 2007
4 years later - 38 HR - 120 RBIs
7 years to date.

So by the numbers his dad was as good if not a little player. But at the same point in both carriers (4 years after best sesson) Cecil only lasted 2 more year. And they give Prince 9 year contract?????
Hope for him its all alot of signing bonus and not so much backend deal for the 2nd half of the contract term.

The above comparison leaves out one major point -- Cecil was 27 when he had the breakout year you cite -- Prince was 23. A 27 year old player would be expected to break down four years sooner than a 23 year old.
That being said, can't see the Tigers getting value for the full nine years, but for the next five or six maybe he could be a force.

Greg