The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 6-2 on Tuesday, but manager Dave Roberts was upset with a play by his first baseman, Freddie Freeman, during the fourth inning of that game.
Freeman, the reigning World Series MVP, attempted to steal second base, in which he was thrown out, and did so without the consent of Roberts or the first base coach. “I didn’t like it,” Roberts said.
Dodgers manager concerned about Freeman’s health
The scoreboard already favored the Angels by a comfortable 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning, and the Rockies scored two runs in the first half of the inning. In the bottom half, with two outs and Freeman on first, the World Series Most Valuable Player attempted to steal second base to get into scoring position, but he was thrown out.
“He’s competitive and he thought he had a chance to steal a base and give us a four-run lead. But I think right now we need to make sure we’re managing his workload and his health,” Roberts said.
“I just want to make sure that we keep him as healthy as possible, so I don’t think we’re going to see him stealing many bases in the near future,” added the manager of the MLB champions.
This is not the first time Roberts has spoken about Freddie Freeman’s base stealing, as a week ago, last Friday, when Freeman returned to the lineup after several games away, as well as during bobblehead night throughout the stadium, Roberts spoke about whether the veteran ballplayer had the green light to steal bases.
“No. It’s just red as red can be. Red as a fire truck,” Roberts said.
Due to the competitive momentum that Freeman possesses in every game, there are things that cannot be denied to him and keep him in good physical condition, but because of the impact he has on the team, Roberts only speaks cautiously.
Freeman stole only nine bases last season while dealing with various injuries, but in 2023 he recorded a career-high 23 steals. Legs are a key part of his game, but they are also the point of concern for his manager.
Without Freeman in the lineup, it’s impossible to know if the Dodgers would have been able to win the World Series in 2024, and especially during a game early in the season after being operated on his ankle in December 2024, Roberts does not seem to be making his comments with a critical attitude.
He just knows that the Dodgers need Freeman on the diamond as much as possible, and that means being a little more conservative when it comes to running the bases.
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