Why Dodgers star Freddie Freeman has conflicting feelings about pursuit for 3,000 hits

PITTSBURGH –– With plastic cups full of sparkling wine raised in the air around him, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts led a toast to Freddie Freeman in the visiting clubhouse at PNC Park on Tuesday night.First, Roberts congratulated the team’s star first baseman on reaching 2,500 career hits –– the latest distinguished milestone in Freeman’s future Hall of Fame career.Then, as Freeman later recounted with a laugh during his postgame address with reporters, Roberts turned to the 36-year-old veteran and took a peek down the road.“You’d better get 500 more,” Roberts joked.“That’s a challenge, a tall order,” the skipper later added.“But I’m not gonna bet against him.”Entering this season, that had been Freeman’s plan following a rejuvenating and fully healthy winter: Play three more years.

Retire at the age of 40.And, injury- and performance-permitting, join MLB’s exclusive 3,000 career hits club at some point along the way.He knew it wasn’t a certainty.

As he joked this spring, “Father Time is going to catch up.”What he didn’t expect, however, was for his latest foray into fatherhood to so quickly change his perspective first.“I would love to get to 3,000 hits.I would love to.

I’m not going to deny that,” Freeman said Tuesday night.“But do I know if I’m going to get there? I don’t know.”Indeed, while 3,000 hits remains a goal for Freeman –– who would be just the 34th player all-time to accomplish the feat –– the journey still required to get there has raised newly conflicting feelings for the nine-time All-Star and former National League MVP.In April, Freeman and his wife, Chelsea, welcomed their fourth child and first daughter, London Rosemary Joy, into the world.

In a family of all sons previously, having a baby girl in the house was like stepping into a whole new world for Freeman himself, too.“We just stare at her all day,” he said upon returning from the paternity list two days after London’s bi...