2:00 pm September 1, 2010, by Mark Bradley
We were just wondering what might bump up the Braves’ attendance. Maybe this will serve as a tonic.
The Braves announced via Twitter that Freddie Freeman is starting at first base against the Mets tonight, batting sixth.
I figure the only way Freeman can keep up with his buddy Jason Heyward is to hit a grand slam the first time up. (Heyward hit a three-run jack on Opening Day, as you might recall.) But whatever happens, I offer fair warning:
I’m going to the game. Doing the live-blog thing. Fully prepared to label FF a bust if he makes an out in his first at-bat. So I ask you, five hours in advance, to please join the frankly and fully fantabulous Freeman festivities. And I thank you in advance.
The AJC sports columnist is a blogging fool. But you knew that already
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176 comments Add your comment
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:03 pm
Go Braves!!! Go Freddie!!!
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:03 pm
Wow, 2nd time this week!
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:04 pm
Troy vs. D-Lee for Veteran Power bat off the bench…get your tickets here.
urm
September 1st, 2010
2:06 pm
sweet!
F-105 Thunderchief
September 1st, 2010
2:07 pm
Sixth!
EW
September 1st, 2010
2:07 pm
Just when D Lee starts getting some hits, they do this. That brilliant Braves mgmt!
F-105 Thunderchief
September 1st, 2010
2:07 pm
Might as well see what the kid can do. Looking forward to it.
Mark Bradley
September 1st, 2010
2:07 pm
DC Braves, you earn the kudos.
Delbert D.
September 1st, 2010
2:08 pm
We can use another first-swing home run.
Mark Bradley
September 1st, 2010
2:09 pm
That’s a point, Delbert D.: If Freeman doesn’t hit a grand slam on his first swing … he falls behind.
GT Alum
September 1st, 2010
2:09 pm
I was basically trying to make this same comment on your last blog, but it kept getting eaten. What, you couldn’t let me beat you to the punch?
Rduck
September 1st, 2010
2:10 pm
nothing like a fresh dose of pressure for the kid.. good luck Freddie.. hit’em where they aint!
James
September 1st, 2010
2:10 pm
This doesn’t make any sense the team is playing well without him why mess up the chemistry. Derrek Lee is just starting to hit and Troy Glaus should be ready to come back and help out. Freddie Freeman should make his debut next season.
Chip Shot Free Freddie
September 1st, 2010
2:10 pm
now MB what # will Fred at the Ted wear?
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:12 pm
Mark, how many pitchers do you think Bobby will take to the post season? By my calculation we need to cram about 27.5 guys into 25 slots.
Mark Bradley
September 1st, 2010
2:13 pm
I don’t know, Chip Shot Free Freddie.
Ted
September 1st, 2010
2:13 pm
James = Phreaking out Phillies Fan.
Ted M
September 1st, 2010
2:13 pm
The Braves ARE having a grand slam happy year so far.
Can we agree if he hits a slam in any of his bats he’s off to an okay start?
Mark Bradley
September 1st, 2010
2:14 pm
Sorry, GT Alum. The spam filter does as it wants. I know not why.
urm
September 1st, 2010
2:14 pm
DC Brave, just give Venters more arms. My vote
Ted M
September 1st, 2010
2:14 pm
Freddie would tell you his dad is not playing tonight.
Sonny Clusters
September 1st, 2010
2:16 pm
DLee must wonder what is going on since he’s just started hitting . . . and we was reading where Jeff got traded last night. It made us think of this song:
Let’s go to Arlington, Texas
With Jeff and Elvis and the boys
This successful life we’re livin’
Got us feuding like the Hatfields and McCoys
Between Hank Williams’ pain songs and
Newberry’s train songs and Ol’ Jeff swinging at the Rain
Out in Luckenbach, Texas ain’t nobody feelin’ no pain
@WreckBuZZ
September 1st, 2010
2:16 pm
Gosh, you can’t please anybody around here.
People have been beggin for weeks for the Braves to bring up Freeman and now that he’s here they complain about putting him in the lineup. Geez, get a life.
Bobby Cox always does this. He gets players right out there as soon as they arrive and see what they can do. I expected him to start the day he arrived if it was a right hander on the mound. Not that he IS the starter, just that he’d get a chance to get some swings.
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:16 pm
So many great story lines this year. Venters is definitely one of them. He needs to look meaner though. I think he should paint his face like Hawk and Animal from the Road Warriors.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 1st, 2010
2:16 pm
He hits for the cycle. You heard it here first. On the cover of SI next week labeled as the “Next,Next Natural”.
Ted M
September 1st, 2010
2:17 pm
James – BC always starts the kids when they’re first called up. I think its a good idea, he knows he’s going to get 4 or 5 AB’s. Plus the vets will really be pulling for him…its great for chemistry.
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:18 pm
Or maybe wear a black leather vest to mound when he gets called in…rocking out to the opening riffs to “back in black” or “sweet emotion”
Sonny Clusters
September 1st, 2010
2:18 pm
We think we was filtered.
Rich
September 1st, 2010
2:18 pm
Bobby is certainly going with the lefties vs. the righthanded starter. I think Prado is the only righthanded bat in the lineup? A very good idea given the versatile roster. (Until it falls flat, at which point I will grouse with everyone else.)
Metro Coach
September 1st, 2010
2:19 pm
DC Brave, I think he should go mohawk and goofy glasses a la Charlie Sheen in Major League.
Darryl Blackberry
September 1st, 2010
2:20 pm
EW: D-Lee has been hurting, according to Bobby Cox. This will give him a night off against a tough righthander and allow him to rest. Besides, aren’t you at least a little curious to see what the Kid can do?
nola braves fan
September 1st, 2010
2:20 pm
if the chat is half as funny as Monday’s nights was, then a good night will be had by all. You wearing a neon green shirt Bradley? Cmon, you know you have some neon gear in the closet. If you ran the peachtree in the early 90’s I know you have a orange neon shirt
urm
September 1st, 2010
2:21 pm
Dc- or walk around the mound like hacksaw Jim Duncan did.
Ted M
September 1st, 2010
2:21 pm
Mark,
Should speak with Bobby Cox tonight please thank him for me for not starting McLouth.
I mean really.
bass stringerfish
September 1st, 2010
2:21 pm
Why is Johnny Venters not part of the Rookie of the Year conversation?
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:22 pm
I hear you Metro Coach. Then again, maybe that disarming country boy look is part of his mojo. Man, this Freddie Freeman thing is gonna be fun to watch.
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:23 pm
Urm! Yes! He could carry an ax handle with him all the time too!!!!!
Ted M
September 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
Sonny – I was filtered too. Perhaps I’ll have a blizzard to drown my sorrows.
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
Listen up you prehistoric non-Braves baseball players…my name is Jonny Freakin Venters, and THIS, THIS is my BOOMSTICK!!!
Mark Bradley
September 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
You know, I AM wearing a green shirt. Purely unintentional.
Ted M
September 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
actually it just posted
CSpin
September 1st, 2010
2:24 pm
Great alliteration, MB!
Liz Dawg
September 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
YES! I can’t wait to see my Freddie in a big boy uniform!
DC Brave
September 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
I wonder if rookies get to ask for pre-at bat music….
Sonny Clusters
September 1st, 2010
2:28 pm
More Dairy Queens in Texas than in New York.
Mathman
September 1st, 2010
2:29 pm
Believe Mathman predicted yesterday on here that Freeman would be the starter tonight at 1B. Good luck to the kid.
Sonny Clusters
September 1st, 2010
2:30 pm
We was always good at song writing and making the girls cry.
James
September 1st, 2010
2:32 pm
@Ted
I’ am a Bravos fan 100%. I wish the kids well but I hope this don’t backfire cause ask the cardinals when they traded Rick Ludwick how the chemistry got messed up. Derrek Lee and Troy Glaus need to platoon at first.
Casey Strikes Out
September 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
Read elsewhere that FF got Rookie of Year for IL.
nola braves fan
September 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
classic … might as well bring the ol laptop down the first row and wave to all your bloggers w/ your green shirt.
how about a t-shirt if your predict F Freeman’s first AB…. i say 4-3, but a sharply hit ball, just a bad break for the kid (channeling my inner bobby cox on that one)