Bucs need to find a spot for Freese
Maybe it’s because he has the coolest walk-up song in all of baseball, but the Pirates need to keep David Freese in the lineup, even when Jung Ho Kang returns.
Even though I love that Freese walks to the plate to the sounds of “Tool,” I am more impressed with the 32-year-old third baseman’s play.
Neal Huntington didn’t make many offseason moves, but the free-agent signing of Freese is one that he deserves a pat on the back for.
The former St. Louis Cardinal had a strong showing in the opener against his old club with two hits and several strong defensive plays.
It is obviously too early to call him Kang’s replacement. However, if he continues to excel, manager Clint Hurdle needs to find a place for him.
Freese is the ultimate professional and says he is just here to help the team, which shows he has a great attitude, but you know that deep down he wants to be out there every day.
Kang had an excellent rookie season in batting .287 with 121 hits, 15 home runs and 58 RBIs, while Freese struggled with a .257 average and 109 hits for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He hit 14 home runs and had 56 RBIs.
Since being named a National League All-Star in 2012 after hitting .293 with 20 home runs and 79 RBIs, Freese’s numbers have declined, but what makes him intriguing is his past performances in the postseason.
The Pirates have had a resurgence in qualifying for the playoffs in the past three seasons, but Freese brings the most decorated resume to the Bucs.
Freese has a .282 career postseason batting average and 49 hits in 51 playoff games. He has eight home runs and 30 RBIs, including a record 21 in the 2011 postseason.
Freese is most remembered for his two-run triple with two outs and a 1-2 count off Texas’ Neftali Feliz (who is now his teammate) to tie Game 6 of the World Series for St. Louis at 7-7. The Rangers were leading the series, 3-2. The Cardinals would go on to win Game 7 and take the championship.
Freese won the National League Championship and World Series MVP awards, and he also won the Babe Ruth Award, which is given to the player who has the best performance in the playoffs.
The question that will come up when Kang returns is what to do with Freese?
He has only played one game in Pittsburgh, and there could be big changes when Kang returns, but my gut tells me Freese is another one of those castaways from other teams that will succeed as a Pirate.
Kang’s natural position is third, but you could move him to shortstop upon his return. I don’t see Kang having the type of season he did last season.
Freese is not the answer the Pirates are looking for in regards to the future, but he will be a nice fill-in this season.