The Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday evening within the Bronx wrapped up the eighth World Sequence title in franchise historical past in giant measure due to Freddie Freeman’s unlikely manufacturing.
Throughout the Dodgers’ five-game overcome the New York Yankees, Freeman batted .300/.364/1.000 with 4 residence runs, a triple, and 12 RBI. He additionally struck out solely as soon as for your entire sequence. Inside these lofty numbers is Freeman’s signature second — his walk-off grand slam in Recreation 1, the primary walk-off grand slam in World Sequence historical past.
In Recreation 4, Freeman turned the primary participant ever to homer in every of the primary 4 video games of a World Sequence. For his efforts, Freeman gained World Sequence MVP honors, and it was one of many least stunning selections within the historical past of such issues.
Above we used the phrase “unlikely” to explain Freeman’s Fall Traditional rebellion. This isn’t as a result of we’re unaccustomed to seeing Freeman produce at a excessive degree. Certainly, he is one of the crucial productive hitters of his era, and he is in all probability headed for the Corridor of Fame in the future. Reasonably, his late October numbers have been stunning due to his well being. Freeman was badly restricted within the NLDS and NLCS by a sprained proper ankle. He was in much less apparent discomfort in the course of the World Sequence, however the harm was nonetheless obvious when he was operating the bases. Not like these first two sequence, nevertheless, Freeman’s ankle did not compromise his bat within the World Sequence.
Now we be taught that Freeman’s legendary 5 video games towards the Yankees are much more, effectively, legendary than we thought. ESPN’s Jeff Passan stories that Freeman, along with that ankle illness, was additionally coping with a severe ribcage harm in the course of the playoffs. Passan writes:
A day later, Oct. 4, after Freeman completed a information convention during which he declared himself able to play regardless of the ankle harm, he retreated to the batting cage at Dodger Stadium. He needed to take some swings in preparation for a dwell batting-practice session. His aspect tingled with every of his first dozen swings. On the thirteenth swing, Freeman felt a jolt by his physique and crumbled to the bottom.
Unable to even choose himself off the ground, Freeman was helped into the X-ray room subsequent to Los Angeles’ dugout. The outcomes have been inconclusive, and round 9:30 p.m., he acquired a name. The Dodgers needed him to drive to Santa Monica for extra imaging. He hopped within the automobile, then in an MRI tube. Round 11:30 p.m., the outcomes arrived: Freeman had damaged the costal cartilage in his sixth rib, an harm that sometimes sidelines gamers for months.
As Passan continues, Freeman persevered by the ache regardless that some near him have been urging him to not play. Ultimately, Freeman’s doggedness was rewarded with one of the crucial memorable performances of this or any October — one he authored whereas standing on a nasty ankle and swinging by a battered ribcage.
Unlikely certainly have been his heroics, and with out them the Dodgers in all probability would not be what they’re in the present day — World Sequence champions.
