Let Freeman Ring!, Freddie’s Back!

He’s back!  Yes!  Since the personally dismal series of his in Philadelphia two weekends ago, the Atlanta Braves team leader and All-Star 1B Freddie Freeman has been on an absolute tear offensively.  In his last 10 games, Freeman is hitting .450 with 18 hits and 10 RBI’s.  Freeman raised his batting average over 100 points in the last two weeks, now at .324.  I swear that he’s going to win a batting title before he calls it quits many years from now.

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The top of the order is feeding off each other now.  Yes, Nick Markakis has cooled off a bit,  he’s a pure hitter and he’ll be fine.  With Freeman and Andrelton Simmons, the Braves 1-2-3 hitters have given the top of the order some serious teeth in the season’s first 29 games.  Not only is Freeman getting better pitches to hit since Simmons’ offensive improvement, but Freddie is doing what he does best at the plate: hitting RBI doubles to the gaps in the outfield.

After hitting four home runs very early in the season, Freeman fell into a slump for a series or two.  While his power is certainly the one aspect of his game Braves Country may want him to improve on, I’d rather see Freddie hit .315, 20 HR, 115 RBI than .265, 30 HR, 90 RBI.  Look at our rivals, would you rather have David Wright or Ryan Howard on the Braves?  Wright doesn’t have to hit 30 homers to have a great season.  Howard needs to hit 40 long balls to hit .250.  If Freeman has to hit like Wright to best lead the Braves offense, I’ll take it every single time.

I’ve always admired Freeman’s approach at the plate.  It’s reminiscent of Don Mattingly and John Olerud, two very good hitting first baseman. They were also great defensively at first like Freddie.  It’s taken me a while to figure out why I’ve liked Freeman so much since day one of his big leagues career.  I now know it’s because he plays the game like two first baseman I idolized growing up anchored to the first base bag in suburban Atlanta.

Keep kicking tail, Freddie!  It’s a pleasure to watch you play first base every night for the Atlanta Braves.