NYCBrave
Well-known member
Don't forget Eric Hosmer
Braves sign Freeman to 8 year 135M deal! *Updated to 135m*
- Thread starter Tapate50
- Start date
Don't forget Eric Hosmer
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
Yeah. I knew there was one or two guys I was forgetting. Hosmer would probably fall in line behind Freeman who slots in behind Goldschimdt.
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
Watch this video and then tell me with a straight face this man can't hit 30 bombs. Freeman doesn't hit cheap homeruns. When he hits them they go a long way. Dude is plenty capable of hitting 30 bombs a season.
[video=youtube;RnLhgMT2JyQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnLhgMT2JyQ[/video]
[video=youtube;RnLhgMT2JyQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnLhgMT2JyQ[/video]
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
I think you're right!
Maybe in a career year or two. But he hits too many line drives (a good thing) to really hit a lot of homers. Votto for that same reason has only hit 30 homers once.
Its surprising to me how people were surprised with what Freeman did last year. You could see all the signs that he could be this good all throughout his first two years in the league.
Not sure if this was posted yet but I thought it was a great stat:
Freeman became the first first baseman since Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda to post three 20-HR seasons through his age-23 season. His three such seasons are tied with Cepeda, Jimmie Foxx and Hal Trosky for the most in MLB history among those whose primary position was first base.
Freeman became the first first baseman since Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda to post three 20-HR seasons through his age-23 season. His three such seasons are tied with Cepeda, Jimmie Foxx and Hal Trosky for the most in MLB history among those whose primary position was first base.
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
I completely disagree with that line of thinking. One of the best line drive hitters I ever saw was Gary Sheffield. Sheff had 8 different seasons with over 30 homeruns. I think the reason Votto has only done it once is because of how much he walks because of teams pitching around him to get to Brandon Phillips. If Votto had better protection he would get more pitches to hit and hit more homeruns. I mean last year he walked 135 times. In 2012 in just 111 games he walked 94 times. In 2011 he walked 110 times. He's not seeing many pitches to hit.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Love Freddie, but I would be shocked if he hits 30 homers regularly, he'd have to change his swing a lot. Of course you never know maybe he does. He has legit strength, but the problem is he doesn't have a power stroke. The hitter Freddie's swing most reminds me of is Chase Utley. Very fast to the ball, but makes a lot of contact but doesn't lead to many homers. While pure homer hitters like Howard have bigger swings but when they hit it they hit it hard.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Sheffield took PEDs. And from 02 on, SHeffield never had a LD% over 20% and after leaving the Braves never went above 18%. That was 3 of his seasons over 30 homers. Freddie hits WAY more linedrives than that.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
Freddie was more confident and I think that was the big one.
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
Look at how many homeruns he hit on that video where he just let it rip. Many of those homeruns were because he was sitting on a pitch and was looking to crush it and didn't miss it. In other words he used a homerun swing. He was able to do that because he's learning more about the art of hitting and the opposing pitchers.
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
Freddie showed that he can hit them out to left and left-center too. Freddie when he hits the ball that way reminds me a lot of Chipper. Chipper was at his best when he was hitting homeruns to left and left-center while batting left-handed.
zitothebrave
Connoisseur of Minors
That is part of it for sure but he doesn't often use that homerun swing that often. Or at least doesn't make contact that often. Bottom line.
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
Zito we're just going to have to disagree on that. I think Freeman will get to a point where he will be willing to sacrifice a few points on his average to put a few more balls in the seats, especially in certain spots when the Braves desperately need runs on 1 swing of the bat.
Terrible comparison. Sheff had WAY more raw power than Freddie. He had some of the quickest wrists you'll ever see in the history of the sport.
Freddie isn't likely to average 30 HRS per yr, though I he might have a yr or two in his peak where he hits over 30. That isn't a knock of Freddie but he has more of a line drive swing than a home run swing, which is what makes him such a good overall hitter. And 30 homers now is like 40 homers 10 yrs ago. In the post steroid era you simply aren't going to have but may be 5-10 players every yr hitting over 30 bombs.