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To Freddie Freeman, two years ago was “100 times worse.”And if he could find his swing then, he is confident of doing so again now. Freeman’s 2024 postseason, of course, has become club legend at this point.How he played through ankle and rib injuries.
How he slumped through the first couple rounds in his severely diminished state.And how, after a week off before that year’s Fall Classic, he tweaked his swing and produced one of the most memorable performances in World Series history — highlighted by his iconic walk-off grand slam in extra innings of Game 1 at Dodger Stadium.This time, Freeman thinks a similar turnaround could be much more simple, despite battling another physical ailment down the stretch this regular season with patellar tendonitis in his right knee.“I truly feel good right now, physically,” Freeman said on Tuesday, during a video conference with reporters ahead of the Dodgers’ first pre-National League Division Series bye week workout.
“So it’s on me now to figure out the mechanics of the swing in the next five days.And I have all the confidence in myself that I will figure that out by [Game 1 on] Saturday.”At the start of September, Freeman looked to be on the right track.The former MVP was sporting a .300 batting average, accomplishing his primary preseason goal.
He had looked more mobile at first base for much of the year, a byproduct of consistent health in his age-36 campaign.And though he was mired in a power drought, going 47 games between home runs at one point, he had nonetheless remained a key contributor in the heart of the Dodgers’ star-studded batting order.Then, just as the stretch run started to heat up, Freeman’s right knee suddenly began to hurt.There was no one play that caused the veteran slugger’s injury (at least not that he has pinpointed publicly).
He tried to downplay the severity of the issue, despite missing a handful of games during the middle of the month.But it nonetheless triggered a s...