Freddie Freeman prides himself on his sturdiness, the Dodgers first baseman having performed all 162 video games twice and 157 video games or extra six different instances, a resolve that has required him to play by means of quite a few accidents all through his 15-year profession, together with a damaged right-middle finger in August.
However Freeman has by no means fought by means of an damage as critical because the right-ankle sprain he’ll try to play with when the Dodgers open the Nationwide League Division Sequence in opposition to the San Diego Padres in Chavez Ravine on Saturday night time.
“They told me this is a four- to six-week [injured list] stint, and I’m going to try to do this in a week and play,” stated Freeman, who suffered the damage whereas making an attempt to keep away from a tag whereas operating out a grounder within the Sept. 26 division-clinching win over the Padres. “I’m not going to be hindering, I don’t think.
“There are certain plays, like slowing down and stuff … I can’t thank [physical therapist] Bernard Li [enough], our whole training staff, for getting me to be able to do this. I’ve never sprained an ankle, and they say your first ankle sprain is the worst.”
Freeman was a restricted participant in Thursday’s exercise, however he fielded floor balls and threw to second base, ran the bases and took batting observe on the sphere throughout Friday’s exercise. Supervisor Dave Roberts stated he was “hopeful” Freeman could be within the lineup for Recreation 1, however a last choice received’t be made till Saturday.
“A lot of treatment, a lot of time in the training room,” Freeman stated, when requested what his final week has appeared like. “The swelling has come down a lot, so I feel good. Good enough. I’m sure you’ll be watching me, the slowing down part of running is going to be [tough]. But overall, today I felt much better than I have the last couple of days.”
Freeman, who hit .282 with an .854 on-base-plus-slugging proportion, 22 house runs, 35 doubles and 89 RBIs in 147 video games this season, stated the hardest motion on the sphere to this point has been hitting the bag along with his proper foot as he runs the bases.
“If I can hit the bag with my left foot, maybe [it wouldn’t be as bad],” Freeman stated. “But I think in the game, whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I feel stable enough to hit. I tried to push off as hard as I could [with my right foot] in covering first base in those drills. And I felt good enough.”
Not taking part in on this best-of-five sequence doesn’t seem like an possibility for Freeman, who started answering a query earlier than a reporter may end asking him how he’ll know if the damage is simply too hindering for him to proceed.
“It doesn’t matter,” Freeman stated. “[Saturday], who cares? No one is going to worry about me hindering [the team] or anything like that. We just gotta win ballgames, and that’s my focus [on Saturday].”
As powerful as it will likely be to beat the ankle sprain, it’s simply the newest impediment in a troublesome season for Freeman, who missed eight video games in late July and early August to be along with his 3-year-old son, Maximus, who remains to be recovering from a life-threatening bout with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a uncommon neurological situation wherein the physique’s immune system assaults the nerves.
“The second half [of the season] has been a challenge — I think everyone in here knows, it’s been a lot,” Freeman stated. “Sometimes you get hurt, like I sprained my ankle and had to stay home for those three days and was in here five hours a day getting treatment.
“But getting to put the kids to bed, seeing Max walking now, things are so much better. It’s been challenging … injuries that you just didn’t think would happen, but they happen. Every year is different. You just have to take it in stride. But we’re still here. We’ve got Game 1 of the playoffs, smile on your face, everything is OK.”
