Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Praises Freddie Freeman’s Base Running, ‘As Good As I’ve Ever Seen’
Freddie Freeman is known for being as consistent a hitter as they come, batting a career .302 average and holding the third-highest batting average this season at .336.
But the 34-year-old first baseman has also excelled this season at a stat that fans do not typically associate with the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Dodger.
In Monday night's win 8-3 win over the Detroit Tigers, Freeman stole the 20th base of the season, a career-high for a player who has only stolen 86 in his 14-year career. His previous high, which he set last season, was 22 stolen bases.
“This is one thing I never thought I’d do in my career, so it was pretty cool,” Freeman said. “A lot of credit has to go to [first-base coach] Clayton McCullough. So much work goes into it before games, picking up patterns on pitchers, situations of when to go and not to go."
(Via the Los Angeles Times)
Freeman became only the 11th first basemen to hit 20 homers (Freeman has 26) and steal 20 bases in the same season.
“First basemen usually aren’t speed demons. Like, my dad just texted me, he goes, ‘Fast enough,’" Freeman said. "The Freemans aren’t known to be very fast. But I just try to pick the right situations to go. I do keep myself in OK shape to run, so hopefully I can keep doing this for a little bit.”
(Via the Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who has worked with plenty of skilled base runners, said that Freeman's ability to score runs is unmatched. Freeman's 124 runs scored this season are behind only NL MVP favorite Ronald Acuna Jr. of Atlanta.
“He’s scored [124] runs this year, and that speaks to the baserunning and the ability to get on base, steal second, go first to third — he’s as good as I’ve ever seen,” Roberts said. “The object of the game is to score more runs than the other team. His run production and creation is incredible.”
(Via the Los Angeles Times)
As Roberts pointed out, Freeman could become the first at his position to steal 20 bases as well as get 200 hits. At 196, Freeman only needs for more.
"Man, it's an exclamation [point] to a tremendous season," Roberts said. "For him to reach that milestone is going to be pretty special."
(Via the Los Angeles Times)
