Braves sign Freeman to 8 year 135M deal! *Updated to 135m*

[thethe]

Heyward has one terrible season His numbers outside of 2011 are .268/.359/..457 (fulldiclosure, didn't calculate sluggin it just guessed since his 12-13 and 10 were right next to each other) Freddie is sitting at .285/.358/.466

Aside from Jason's bad year he and Freddie have been about equals offensively. Freddie has a higher BABIP, and that's the big difference.

Freddie has a higher BABIP because he hits nothing but liners and uses the whole field. I'm just not sure how anyone can watch the two play as much as you do and say that they are equals as hitters. The stats in baseball are phenomenal but they still need to be used in conjunction with what you are watching. My eyes tell me that Freddie is the better hitter right now.

[AUTiger7222]

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/hotst...joey-votto-mlb


I said this in Freemans rookie season but its very similar to the Bruce/Votto situation. Everyone thought Bruce would be the second coming but Votto became the better player. Now, I believe that Heyward will be better than Bruce but Freeman is going to be a superior hitter.

Let's don't act like Jay Bruce is a bum.

wRC+ (Since I have been told this is the stat I should be using to evaluate hitters on and not OPS)
2010 - 124
2011 - 119
2012 - 120
2013 - 117

And Heyward is already a better hitter than Bruce.
2010 - 134
2012 - 121
2013 - 120

Freeman
2011 - 120
2012 - 116
2013 - 150

[zitothebrave]

Freddie has a higher BABIP because he hits nothing but liners and uses the whole field. I'm just not sure how anyone can watch the two play as much as you do and say that they are equals as hitters. The stats in baseball are phenomenal but they still need to be used in conjunction with what you are watching. My eyes tell me that Freddie is the better hitter right now.

And Jason has shown more patience and power. Freddie and Jason are different hitters. Freddie is a traditional 3 Jason is a leadoff/4. Great at doing different things. I've been very happy with Freddie's growth as a hitter. I had concerns that he would not walk enough to make up for his non-elite power but he's increased his walks and cut his Ks that's always a great sign.

[Heyward]

Freeman is a much better HITTER.

Heyward is better overall when you factor in base-running and defense but going off of pure hitter, it's Freeman.

[thethe]

Let's don't act like Jay Bruce is a bum.

wRC+ (Since I have been told this is the stat I should be using to evaluate hitters on and not OPS)
2010 - 124
2011 - 119
2012 - 120
2013 - 117

And Heyward is already a better hitter than Bruce.
2010 - 134
2012 - 121
2013 - 120

Freeman
2011 - 120
2012 - 116
2013 - 150

Bruce is certainly no bum but I do believe that Heyward will be a better hitter. Bruce has too big of a hole in his swing. Heyward showed last year that he is figuring out how pitchers are pitching to him. Great sign.

I have just always believed since Freemans rookie year that he would be the better hitter. The debate is who provides more overall value and thats where Heyward has the advantage because of how fantastic of an all around game he has.

[NinersSBChamps]

And Jason has shown more patience and power. Freddie and Jason are different hitters. Freddie is a traditional 3 Jason is a leadoff/4. Great at doing different things. I've been very happy with Freddie's growth as a hitter. I had concerns that he would not walk enough to make up for his non-elite power but he's increased his walks and cut his Ks that's always a great sign.

Jason has 73 HR and 99 doubles. Freddie has 68 and 93 respectively. Jason also has over 200 more plate appearances. Freddie owns him in slugging and OPS.

[zitothebrave]

Jason has 73 HR and 99 doubles. Freddie has 68 and 93 respectively. Jason also has over 200 more plate appearances. Freddie owns him in slugging and OPS.

Jason has 14 triples Freeman has 4. Convenient you left that out. They have similar iso numbers but (again) Jason's numbers were hurt by his horribly injured 2011.

iso by season. for each

Jason

2010 - .179
2011 - .162
2012 .210
2013 - .173

Freddie

2010 - .167
2011 .166
2012 - .196
2013 - .181

Jason has posted a power season that Freddie hasn't been able to touch yet. Jason clearly has more raw power than Freeman. Watch the 2 play. Jason has the capabilities to be a 30+ homer guy without making a massive change to his approach like Freddie.

[Heyward]

Jason has 14 triples Freeman has 4. Convenient you left that out. They have similar iso numbers but (again) Jason's numbers were hurt by his horribly injured 2011.

iso by season. for each

Jason

2010 - .179
2011 - .162
2012 .210
2013 - .173

Freddie

2010 - .167
2011 .166
2012 - .196
2013 - .181

Jason has posted a power season that Freddie hasn't been able to touch yet. Jason clearly has more raw power than Freeman. Watch the 2 play. Jason has the capabilities to be a 30+ homer guy without making a massive change to his approach like Freddie.

Why would Freeman have to make changes to his swing?

[Runnin]

Without Jason's speed and sheer strength his numbers would be significantly worse. Half of Freddie's doubles would probably be triples for Jason.

Jason's got one of the worst swings in the majors, especially for a position player, while Freddie has one of the best.

[zitothebrave]

Why would Freeman have to make changes to his swing?

Did I say he had to? No. If you read the sentence I said he would have to to be a power hitter Jason doesn't.

[zitothebrave]

Without Jason's speed and sheer strength his numbers would be significantly worse. Half of Freddie's doubles would probably be triples for Jason.

Jason's got one of the worst swings in the majors, especially for a position player, while Freddie has one of the best.

[Heyward]

Did I say he had to? No. If you read the sentence I said he would have to to be a power hitter Jason doesn't.

Heyward is ripped physically, Freeman can still add plenty of muscle to his body.

Not crazy to think Freeman can hit 30+ HR's per year when he's at his prime.

[zitothebrave]

Muscle does not equal power. Sure it helps but Freeman's swing is much smaller and more compact You can't generate as much power with that type of swing. Sure he has a homerun swng as well but Jason doesn't have a different swing.

[Carp]

Jason had been the better hitter prior to 2013. Now it's not really close, in favor of Freeman. Heyward still obviuosly has more talent and could break out at any time. But I'll wait until I see it from Heyward

[AUTiger7222]

Bruce is certainly no bum but I do believe that Heyward will be a better hitter. Bruce has too big of a hole in his swing. Heyward showed last year that he is figuring out how pitchers are pitching to him. Great sign.

I have just always believed since Freemans rookie year that he would be the better hitter. The debate is who provides more overall value and thats where Heyward has the advantage because of how fantastic of an all around game he has.

I agree with you thethe.

[thethe]

I agree with you thethe.

I'm not sure why we can't say this without some taking it as an attack on Jason. Jason is a joy to watch but Freeman was/is/always will be a better hitter than Jason.

[thewupk]

Heyward is ripped physically, Freeman can still add plenty of muscle to his body.

Not crazy to think Freeman can hit 30+ HR's per year when he's at his prime.

Very few players hit 30+ homers a year anymore. Look at Votto. 1 30 homer seaso. He hits too many line drives like Freeman does. Freeman is not going to be a big homer guy.

[thewupk]

Jason had been the better hitter prior to 2013. Now it's not really close, in favor of Freeman. Heyward still obviuosly has more talent and could break out at any time. But I'll wait until I see it from Heyward

He also had a very high BABIP in 2013 that's not likely sustainable.

[50PoundHead]

Freeman's hitting fundamentals are better than Heyward's, but Heyward is the better all-around player. If it all comes together for Heyward, he'll be a monster, but there's something in his approach that seems to make him more vulnerable to slumps. No one is slump proof, but Freeman looks like he is going to be one of those guys who will be pretty consistent.

Don't know about Freeman's power potential. He may be one of those guys who could successfully sacrifice average for power. He reminds me of Kent Hrbek, who I saw a lot of up here in Minnesota.

[thethe]

He also had a very high BABIP in 2013 that's not likely sustainable.

It won't be as high as it was but I would expect Freeman to hit for higher than average BABIP's each season. When you cover the whole plate which doesn't allow the defense to shift on you in addition to all the line drives he hits then you are going to have some balls find holes.