It’s Combine Week in Indy, so a bit crazy. Add in a weekend illness and I’m behind on everything. Apologies and let’s get to it:
FREDDIE FREEMAN, 1B LAD (inflamed ankle)
There seems to be a lot more concern about Freddie Freeman in fantasy circles than there is evidence for concern. Yes, Freeman had ankle surgery, but it was extremely minor - a clean out that was for comfort, not structure. Bone chips are not a serious arthritic condition, but painful? Yes, so the clean out will make him a better player, more likely not to need days off or time at DH that’s just not there with Shohei Ohtani locked in.
While the Dodgers are taking things slow with Freeman, you might notice they’re taking it slow with everyone right now. There’s conservative care plans and then there’s this. My sense of this is that it’s timing - there’s just no reason to rush Freeman or anyone else while the calendar says February. However, I’m concerned there’s a bit more, that the last two years of disastrous injury numbers amid great on-field results is resulting in something of a change. I’m all for change, but if this conservatism continues into the season, it’s likely to cost extra days per injury with the risk that it doesn’t reduce the number of injuries.
Freeman is running and expects to play in games sometime in the next week or so. There’s plenty of time ahead of the Japan series to get his swings in and be ready. Freeman has regularly played nearly all of his team’s games over the years and while he may go less, my expectation is it will be more like last year (147) than some of the more aggressive adjustments I’m seeing.
BOBBY MILLER, SP LAD (concussion)
We continue the collision testing of the human skull. Bobby Miller took 105.5 almost directly to his forehead, over his right eye. I think the bill of the cap took some of the impact, but I haven’t seen an angle to confirm that. If so, it’s lucky since he was wearing no other protection. Miller had a headache as of Saturday, which is a symptom and would keep him in the concussion protocol. Once that clears, he’ll be able to get back out and throw and this shouldn’t hold back his buildup in any significant way. (He was cleared to begin throwing on Monday, meaning he’s through at least stage 3 of the protocol.)
Pitchers have a choice of whether or not to wear the available protection and most do not. Even pitchers who have been hit largely don’t. In large numbers, it’s not a big problem and most will walk away with a bruise, a story, and some mild PTSD. Someone won’t and I’m hoping the law of averages has it happen after I’ve ended my watch. It would be nice if someone created a better protective device, but I’ve heard of almost no development there because there’s such an unsure market.