In 39 games for his Playoff Career, he holds a miniature .194 batting average with 5 home runs and 11 RBIs. This Playoff stretch of 11 Games in 2013 – there were no big flies and not even a solitary RBI. Fielder had 9 Hits out of 40 AB (.225) with just one Double.fans, we cannot blame Prince Fielder for wanting to play everyday. When you are going through personal issues, you may like to keep busy to stay away from the negative. You just have to wonder that if Fielder didn’t have an active consecutive games streak, would Leyland have rested him down the stretch when they had a commanding lead over the rest of the AL Central?. The bat points towards yes.

Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21

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I am still amazed that the Boston Red Sox won the ALCS.  I mean they were leading Game #2  5 – 1 in the Bottom of the 8th, and the Red Sox players had a collective Batting Average – not much higher than their wives watching the game.

Cue in David Ortiz‘s Grand Slam HR to tie the game – and pesto, the fortunes of the Boston club were soon changed with a win in the 9th.

The Red Sox only managed to squeak a HR from Mike Napoli in Game #3 to top Justin Verlander.  They had another crazy Grand Slam HR hit against them by Shane Victorino in the Bottom of the 8th in Game #6 to seal their playoff fate

I am also at a loss for words, that throughout the ALCS/NLCS, that Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Adam Wainwright and Max Scherzer failed to win a game this round, yet other than Kershaw’s poor performance in Game #6 of the NLCS, these Cy Young Pitchers were virtually unhittable, but couldn’t win buy some run support.

Then there is Prince Fielder.  I have been friends with Chuck Booth for 20 years, and he nailed it perfectly with the Reports in their coverage on this guy for the 2013 year.

Prince Fielder 2013 Highlights – Mature Lyrics so Parental guidance is advised.

Prince Fielder was signed to a 9 YR/$214 MIL contract before the start of the 2013 season. He is not Slugging as much as his Brewers days, however his OBP is just slightly lower in the regular season. Fielder has a chance to have a Hall of Fame Career. If he can bring a World Series to Detroit, he will enhance his chances. The Big man has to step up in 2014, or the team may fail to capitalize on the World Series Caliber team they have built over the last half a dozen years.  The clock is ticking.  on this franchise to end their World Series drought, as their nucleus will soon hit Free Agency.  Cabrera himself, is only signed until 2015,

First the owner of the fine site, said Fielder was potentially too heavy to sustain himself for the full year of play – and then head into the playoffs every year.

You can view that column here

Then the brilliant Correspondent of the team “Mathew Lafave” of the www.detroitexaminer.com questioned whether or not the big 1st Baseman should sit some games out – forfeit his stupid consecutive games streak, and just be healthy for the playoffs.

You can view that column here.

Not unscathed in the wrath of this article is Jim Leyland.  The manager should have been taking it easy on Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder down the stretch.

Instead, he trotted out his injured Batting Champion – and let Fielder round out the year with Consecutive Games Played Streak.

By struggling for the 3rd straight year in the playoffs, Fielder is entering bad territory for his Post Season Career.

He is doing about as well in his playoff career as a Mark Teixeira has.  But at least the Yankees First Baseman can lay claim to the 2009 World Series triumph.

The Tigers really needed Fielder to step up for them this October, with Cabrera at 70%, the team could have used a key hit to supplant the offense.

If people think I am harsh on the guy, may I remind everyone, that he just finished for the 2nd Year, of a 9 YR/$214 MIL contract.  He is paid handsomely to do the job properly!

Victor Martinez certainly held up his end of the bargain.

Guess what Fielder, there is good news.  You can erase all of this bad history – with one healthy run of dominance in the playoffs. 

Barry Bonds was no different from some schmuck off of the street for his playoff career, until he went absolutely mental in the 2002 World Series,

Another comparable is  A – Rod.  Even though guy has been brutal for most of his Post Season Career, he did help carry the Yankees to the 2009 World Series.

All it takes is one run.  The Tigers need to cash in for the 2014 year.  How many more times do they think the team can make it to the ALCS or beyond?  Asking for a 4th straight appearance next campaign will be a tall order.

Yes this team has superior Pitching, and great offensive players, but after 2014, Torii Hunter and Victor Martinez are both without a contract, Max Scherzer is a Free Agent in 2015, and they may already lose Veteran 2B Omar Infante this year.

The team also needs to add a Bullpen Closer.

All of this would still be a moot point next year if Fielder doesn’t club the ball like he can.

So Tigers management…have a sit down with the big guy, tell him you are going to give him a day off once in a while – or risk another October of the near 300 LB man not hitting worth a hill of beans!

Prince Fielder’s 2013 – 3 Slash Line (.279/.362/.819) is far below his Career Mark of .286/.389/.916. The man has not hit a HR in his last 74  Post Season AB. Fielder at least had 5 HRs in 1st 70 AB for his playoff Career.  With the #3 and #4 tandem of these behemoth’s, there is no reason why the club can’t win a World Series Championship in the next 2 years.  Fielder is signed through 2020, while Cabrera is a pending Free Agent in 2016.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners ***

A big thank-you goes out to Our ‘Chief Writer‘ Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s featured article.  Hunter is a Baseball Writer for MLB reports.

Hunter grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, now lives in Bakersfield, CA and played baseball with Sheldon Bream (Sid Bream‘s son) at Liberty University in the NCAA.

His favorite player is Brian Wilson (how could you guess?), and he hates when people can’t think outside the box! 

His favorite expression – is ‘drive that one out that out and you have 110 LBS worth of crap in a 100 pound sack!’

You can reach Hunter on Twitter  Follow @stokes_hunter21

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