Dating back to last season's rediculously-insane run through the playoffs, all the way to game seven of the World Series, Freese has done an excellent job at making his presence felt by every one around him--no matter if they are his teammaters, his opponents, and even baseball fans from all around the globe.
What Freese did in game six of the World Series last season is what every player in the majors has once dreamed of--and for the record, in that very same game, he did it twice in just three innings in front of millions all around the world. Not that he hadn't arrived before that at-bat in the eleventh inning, but that very at-bat made Freese as big as he is today. What he did, no matter if it were during a deep sleep, or just out in the back yard by themselves, every player has dreamed about being in the position he was in, and coming through the way he did.
The kid came from baseball stardom through high school and college, to being almost out of baseball following past DUI's, to now being one of the centerpiece's to the franchise that he grew up as a young kid watching, looking up to, and idolizing. It certainly is one of the truly amazing "feel good stories" around not only baseball, but all of professional sports world-wide.
An off-season following his arrival to the baseball map, a lot of players would have been fine with calling that good enough for an entire career, but not this kid. Despite hearing in the past from many people that Freese has had a tough time keeping a positive attitude, the guy has really seemed to mature altogether. As a player, and as a human being as well.
Ever since the Cardinals got him in the trade, I have heard a lot of people doubt the kid. I can't say that I have ever doubted him, but I surely can't say I expected all of this out of him. The best aspect of his huge postseason explosion, you can truly tell that he is working hard and doing everything he can do to get better at both the plate and in the field--which is something that Cardinal Nation recognizes, as well as appreciates, very highly.
Dating back from last season up until now, Freese has put up some incredibly insane numbers--and dare I say it, is starting to feel more and more like the earlier years of Mr. Albert Pujols when he first debuted in front of baseball heaven, aka Cardinal Nation.
Over the past forty-five games, Freese is batting .378 with an on-base percentage of .439 with fourteen doubles, two triples, ten home runs, and forty-eight runs batted in. After doing a little bit of math tonight, over a span of 162 games, he would be on pace to finish a full regular season with some magic numbers of fifty-one doubles, seven triples, thirty-six home runs, and an electricfying 173 runs-batted in.
A lot of people are begining to realize how good of a player Freese is truly starting to become--and in my opinion, he is a huge key-factor in determining how good this team can truly be this season. If the kid can stay healthy over the entire season, this team could prove to possibly be once again true title contenders.
There is so much potential on this team it's freakin' amazing. We have suprises coming from left, right, and center and they just keep on piling up. Considering everything that this team has accomplished through the first month of the season, this team is doing all of this with Lance Berkman playing in just a small handful of games, both of our aces' being winless, Allen Craig having still not taken an at-bat, and various other minor injuries.
If Freese can continue to stay healthy as he has been thus far, this team is certainly on the road to glory. Say what ever you want about this kid, but an MVP award is most definitely in his sight in the near future from what my gut is telling me--and as he has been doing since the NLCS started last season, the heads around the baseball world just keep on turning and turning.
David Freese has arrived ladies and gentlemen.
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