Advantage: Freddie Freeman
What turned out to be Freddie Freeman’s final at-bat against the Padres in last night’s game (4/17/17) provided a range of emotions and eventual elation for Braves fans. With a 3 for 3 night, including a homer and two doubles already on the resume, thinking that should be enough offensive production for a night at Sun Trust, the Braves faithful found themselves leaning on Freddie one more time. The Padres had just taken the lead via an eighth inning long ball from Austin Hedges, who although given a small sample size, is an extremely fun player to watch play the game from the catcher position. His pick off throws to first base, though not always successful, will still haunt me as the Braves move on to their next series against the Nats.
The true purpose of this post is to talk about Freddie’s fourth at-bat, but more to the point, the match-up with Padres’ reliever Ryan Buchter. I had never heard of Buchter before last night. A quick look at his history and I see that he actually pitched for the Braves in 2014 (one inning), but who didn’t pitch for the Braves in 2014, am I right? Buchter’s attitude on the mound is my real focal point here. I didn’t take notice until he blew the first pitch 94 MPH fastball by Freddie in on the hands. I was impressed. A nice fastball, on the inside corner, essentially handcuffing Freddie and he couldn’t catch up. Strike 1. Cue the next pitch that sparked this post and my eventual rewinding of the at-bat after the epic climax.
As Freeman got ready in the batter’s box for the second pitch, Buchter seemed to have changed his wind-up and basically quick pitched Freddie. Ball 1. I know that I didn’t take kindly to the quick pitch and based on the ‘not so subtle’ gaze Freddie gave out to the mound, he was none too pleased with that decision either. Objectively, I understand trying to throw off a hitter’s timing, especially someone as hot as Freeman, but this seemed extra bush league to me, probably because I am a Braves fan. Buchter already possesses an interesting “wind-up”, bringing back memories of everyone’s second favorite starting pitcher from the 1993 Los Angeles Angels squad in Angels in the Outfield: Mr. Whitt Bass. Buchter’s delivery never seems to be the same on any two pitches, virtually choosing how many small arm and glove spasms he actually wants to employ before finally throwing the next pitch. Again, I get it. It is an attempt to deceive the hitter and it must work for him in order to be a major league pitcher. However, it proved ineffective against Freddie Freeman after the fourth pitch was sent over the left center field wall to tie the game.
On a 1-2 count, Buchter seemingly missed his spot, which I believe was supposed to be a high fastball. Instead it stayed over the middle of the plate and Freddie took it out of Sun Trust. The announcers made mention of it, but Freddie displayed more emotion than I had really ever seen from him after any hit in his career. Rounding first base with an outstretched arm and a simple gesture of his index finger, perhaps all that Freeman’s reserved personality could muster, Freddie revealed his true competitive nature. I like to think that the “burst” of emotion from Freddie was a mix of tying the game up at 4 runs apiece with a critical home run in the 8th and winning the battle with Buchter in the most ultimate way possible. It was clear to me that the quick pitch that Buchter threw for his second pitch got under Freddie’s skin. Mix in the lengthy wind-up, with unnecessary quirks to annoy and/or deceive the hitter, true vindication came on that fourth pitch when Freddie shot his second homer of the day over the wall. However minute this head-to-head match-up may seem on the grander scale of the long season, even Freddie couldn’t repress the legitimate satisfaction that came from the individual achievement of winning this battle.