FG article on Freeman's struggles

E

Enscheff

Well-known member
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-good-and-bad-news-about-freddie-freeman/

Summary: Freeman's expected stats suggest he is getting very unlucky, but those expected stats are not taking into account batted ball direction and may be overstating his "unluckiness". Freeman is not pulling the ball like he used to, and his performance against 95+ mph velocity is also declining. These point to a possible decline in bat speed that is likely age related (if losing bat speed is the cause).

His pulled line drives have turned into up the middle grounders, which is a horrible trade off. Perhaps it is an ill-advised attempt to make Chip happy and "beat the shift" with weak grounders. Perhaps it is age related decline in bat speed making it harder to pull 95+. Perhaps it is a bit of both, or something else entirely.

Regardless, I think AA is being smart not giving Freeman a Goldy extension. Let someone else pay top dollar for the decline years of a bat-only player.
 
In a vacuum Not signing FF is the right move, IF you replace him with another impact bat who is younger or at a premium position. So theoretically, if you thought Seager could put up FF production and stay at SS, then you could sign him with FF money.

In the real world I think it is going to be really hard for the Braves to let FF walk. He is the core of the franchise. It makes us look like a small market team. We should be in our championship window. And there is no guarantee that we sign someone to replace him. Bryce Ball does not look like FF at all and he's still in high A.

FF is still pretty young. He is only a couple years older than most of the big free agents. If you want to give him 4/100, do you really lose him if he wants 5/130?
 
In April of 2016, SB Nation’s MLB Daily Dish published an article about Freddie Freeman’s cold start. Up to that point, he’d been hitting .203/.329/.275 with a low BABIP. Here’s a revealing excerpt:

“According to a report from David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Freeman had begun working on some minor adjustments with Braves’ hitting coach Kevin Seitzer back on Friday. Freeman specifically cited that his ‘bat speed is just not there.’
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This gives me some hope.
 
You think he’s actively trying to hit the ball up the middle due to Chipper’s council? Surely not.
 
Re-signing freeman isn't all about cold numbers and dollars. He is the franchise player, carrying that direct line through Chipper, McGriff, Pendleton, and Murphy. You don't just dump him unless he really really sucks (and he doesn't).
 
Nerfherders said:
Re-signing freeman isn't all about cold numbers and dollars. He is the franchise player, carrying that direct line through Chipper, McGriff, Pendleton, and Murphy. You don't just dump him unless he really really sucks (and he doesn't).
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Acuña is the franchise player now
 
Slippyjms said:
Acuña is the franchise player now
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I've been wondering this for awhile, and I mean this in the most insensitive way possible. But is it really possible for Acuna to be the face of the franchise, clubhouse leader, etc if he doesn't even speak English?
 
FF is the main guy on the team. Like it or not, there is enough racism in the fanbase to prioritize the white guy over Acuna, Albies, etc.

FF has also been a MVP. He's grown up with the organization. He is billed as the next Chipper. Losing him would be a big deal to the fan base and to the reputation of the team amongst players.

We don't know what our future payrolls will be. It may be that AA does not think he can win paying a mid 30s players 15-20% of the payroll.
 
NYCBrave said:
I've been wondering this for awhile, and I mean this in the most insensitive way possible. But is it really possible for Acuna to be the face of the franchise, clubhouse leader, etc if he doesn't even speak English?
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Yes. Putting aside the racist overtones considering the fact that he’s exponentially better than Freeman and is under contract for far longer it’s definitely possible.
 
Slippyjms said:
Yes. Putting aside the racist overtones considering the fact that he’s exponentially better than Freeman and is under contract for far longer it’s definitely possible.
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I was just coming at it from the perspective of, he's not fully able to connect with his teammates, or many of the fans.
 
Russ2dollas said:
FF is the main guy on the team. Like it or not, there is enough racism in the fanbase to prioritize the white guy over Acuna, Albies, etc.

FF has also been a MVP. He's grown up with the organization. He is billed as the next Chipper. Losing him would be a big deal to the fan base and to the reputation of the team amongst players.

We don't know what our future payrolls will be. It may be that AA does not think he can win paying a mid 30s players 15-20% of the payroll.
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Freeman could be fairly easily replaced in the offseason.
 
If Freeman is willing to take premium money for 2-3 years, or less than premium money for 4-5 years, sign him.

If the Angels are looking to replace Pujols with Freeman on a mega deal, there's no way AA should even come close to matching that. Freeman fits that team very well as the LHH compliment to Rendon and Trout, and the Angels are just dumb enough to overpay for it.

The last thing the Braves need is to cut their current 5+ year window down to 2-3 years because they are paying an aging 1B $30M and can't afford to make additions to the roster during Acuna/Albies prime years.
 
Enscheff said:
If Freeman is willing to take premium money for 2-3 years, or less than premium money for 4-5 years, sign him.

If the Angels are looking to replace Pujols with Freeman on a mega deal, there's no way AA should even come close to matching that. Freeman fits that team very well as the LHH compliment to Rendon and Trout, and the Angels are just dumb enough to overpay for it.
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It still really baffles me how AA openly came out and said we know Freeman wants to be here, we want Freeman to be here, and it's our job to get it done. That was months ago, and we haven't even heard that Freeman has been approached.
 
It's quite possible, and probably a given, that Freeman's agent knows some team may be willing to give him something like 6/180. His agent also knows AA isn't going anywhere near that, so why bother?

Why settle for a reasonable contract with the Braves before seeing if a stupid contract is out there?
 
Enscheff said:
It's quite possible, and probably a given, that Freeman's agent knows some team may be willing to give him something like 6/180. His agent also knows AA isn't going anywhere near that, so why bother?

Why settle for a reasonable contract with the Braves before seeing if a stupid contract is out there?
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Because Freeman doesn't seem concerned about who's willing to offer top dollar. He openly wants to remain with the Braves. He appears to be the rare type of player who's more concerned about him and his family being comfortable and happy, than just going to any random city who's willing to pay top dollar.
 
I witnessed a similar situation up here in Minnesota with Joe Mauer, the difference being the Twins came forward with a ridiculously long (and lucrative contract) when Mauer was 27 and not 31 like Freeman is now. Midway through the contract, Mauer moved from C (where his value showed) to 1B (where it didn't) and his production really fell off and he was done by age 35. Freeman is a better power hitter, but Mauer is a cautionary tale when sentiment overtakes good sense. And I write this as someone who really enjoys watching Freddie Freeman.
 
NYCBrave said:
Because Freeman doesn't seem concerned about who's willing to offer top dollar. He openly wants to remain with the Braves. He appears to be the rare type of player who's more concerned about him and his family being comfortable and happy, than just going to any random city who's willing to pay top dollar.
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Have you ever heard any player pending FA say the didnt want to stay where they were?????
 
50PoundHead said:
I witnessed a similar situation up here in Minnesota with Joe Mauer, the difference being the Twins came forward with a ridiculously long (and lucrative contract) when Mauer was 27 and not 31 like Freeman is now. Midway through the contract, Mauer moved from C (where his value showed) to 1B (where it didn't) and his production really fell off and he was done by age 35. Freeman is a better power hitter, but Mauer is a cautionary tale when sentiment overtakes good sense. And I write this as someone who really enjoys watching Freddie Freeman.
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I’m off the mind that Mauer should be in the Hall.
 
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