The Braves make the right move, replacing Freddie's 32 year old bad elbow with 28 year old Matt Olson for more years, allowing them the flexibility to re-sign playoff hero Rosario and others. The World Champions will be adding at least three All-Stars: Acuna, Soroka, and Ozuna. No comments from the national media, who still are in love with the hapless Mets. Then Freddie signs with LA, and the media is gushing. "Greatest lineup ever". The Braves are younger, adding to their bullpen, and negotiating with playoff hero Soler.
Then MLB Network puts out a list of the top ten third basemen "right now" which doesn't include last year's first team all-MLB third baseman Austin Riley. Last yar Riley led all third-basemen with 140 wRC+.
The World Champions' lineup ain't exactly chopped liver.
RF Acuna All Star Silver Slugger
2B Albies All Star Silver Slugger
1B Olson All Star Silver Slugger Gold Glove
DH Ozuna All Star Silver Slugger
3B Riley All MLB 33 HR Silver Slugger
LF Rosario Playoff MVP
CF Duvall 38 HR in 2021
C D'Arnauld Silver Slugger
SS Swanson 27 HR great defense
SP Fried All Star
SP Soroka All Star
SP Morton All Star
SP Anderson playoff hero
RP Matzek playoff hero
RP Jackson had a lights out 2021
Yes I hate to see Freddie go, especially to the hated Dodgers. Gotta tip your cap to a guy who wants to be near family. He already lived outside of LA during the off-season. Freddie seems like the type who will be able to play a long time. Hopefully his trick elbow won't be an issue. Hopefully the huge contract won't cause Freeman to press, though I sure would like to see LA wilter in the playoffs – as they've done more times than not.
The official @MLB account on Twitter gushes about the Dodgers every hour, and hasn't mentioned the World Champions in two days. Bias much?
Buster shed light on the negotiation timeline, along with some interesting predictions and wise counsel from Freddie's pal Chipper.
Also gotta tip your cap to the general manager of World Champion Atlanta Braves. Doesn't negotiate in the newspapers, but pulls off one amazing deal after another. Not afraid to make tough decisions. Like the Cowboys of the 70's and the Patriots during their dynasty, AA isn't afraid to not pay aging stars, instead moving on to younger players. Currently no bad contracts on the team. This year I will have to learn what AA's name is, and how to spell it.
MICKEY COCHRANE [SABR Bio] was the first Hall of Famer to homer in his final at-bat in the majors, on 25-May-1937, Cochrane was at catcher for the Detroit Tigers, 2-1/2 games behind New York in an AL pennant race they would eventually win. Cochrane was their manager as well. In his second at bat in the third inning, Black Mike homered to deep right off Yankee starter Bump Hadley for his 119th and final career home run. In his next plate appearance, Cochrane was hit in his right temple by a Hadley 3-1 inside fastball. Cochrane did not finish the at bat, and would never play again. In the history of his franchise, he is the only player to hit for the cycle twice. While playing for the A's, then of Philadelphia, Cochrane managed cycles on 22-Jul-1932 & 02‑Aug-1933. No other A's player, based in Philly, KC or Oakland, has cycled more than once. His first major league franchise purchased an entire AA minor league team to secure rights to him. The A's purchased the Portland Beavers of the PCL in 1924. They also received the services of 19 additional players who would eventually play in the majors. Cochrane was in the starting lineup on Opening Day of the parent club the very next season.
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