The Fielders (circa 2002)

But Cecil Fielder, known as "Big Daddy," believes they can patch up their differences one day.

"I wouldn't call it estranged, me and Prince just ain't talking.," Fielder said Saturday. "We can't ever be estranged. I'm his father, he's my son. I gave that boy every opportunity to become who he is today. At some point, he's going to realize he's got some great people in his corner. People that are pulling for him."

Prince Fielder is one of the top young sluggers in the game for the Brewers. He hit .276 with 34 homers and 102 RBIs for the NL wild card winners this season, and his 50 homers in 2007 made Fielder the youngest player to reach that milestone.

The two have had a rift for about four years amid lingering bitterness over the breakup of Cecil Fielder's first marriage. Cecil Fielder has since remarried and lives in Atlanta with two kids.

"Things happen in your life that you might not be proud of or wish didn't happen," Fielder said. "But you can't stay stuck there. You have to have enough strength to be man enough to take your lumps and keep on moving."

Fielder and former Phillies slugger Pete Incaviglia were in Philadelphia to promote their involvement with a business group that allows a small stake of ownership in low-level pro sports teams. Both former players manage in the independent Can-Am League that is promoting the ownership shares.

Fielder, who hit 319 home runs in a 13-year major league career, said he had his finances in order after he was plagued by debt.

"I'm doing great, man. I'm doing a lot better than those articles said I was doing. That's life," he said. "You make money, man. You can always make money again. Money's not what drives me."