Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — Oh lawdy! as they say down south. What a complicated little drama this road trip has turned out to be for the Dodgers. Or more specifically, for Freddie Freeman.
First, there was the outpouring of emotion on Friday night, the on-field interview, the ring ceremony, the whole Freddie-palooza that the weekend turned out to be. Then, the rumblings in the media (most specifically from David Vassegh on the audio side of things) about the whole thing being just a bit much.
“Hope we’re not second fiddle”
Then came the subtle pushback from the de-facto team leader Clayton Kershaw. In a comment most certainly meant for one particular reader of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Kersh took what could be perceived as a bit of a dig at all the love Freddie was sending to the opposition dugout. And in typical Clayton fashion, it was coated in plenty of sugar to help the medicine go down.
“It was very cool (to see Freeman’s reception Friday night),” Kershaw told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He’s obviously been a big contributor for our team. And I hope we’re not second fiddle. It’s a pretty special team over here, too. I think whenever he gets comfortable over here, he’ll really enjoy it. It was a good night for him.”
That seems to be pretty clear to me. Roughly translated, it would be something like “Hey. Dude. You’re a Dodger now. Start acting like it.” Make no mistake. If heaven forbid Kersh were to pitch for the Rangers next year, and they came into Dodger Stadium, he would take a moment to doff his cap from the mound in the first inning. But then, he would get to the business of trying to rip out the Dodgers’ liver and eat it with a side order of fava beans, metaphorically speaking. He’s just that kind of competitor.
Apparently the comment has been discussed by the two, according for Fabian Ardaya, who covers the Dodgers for The Athletic:
The agent is gone. Or not. Or something…
On Tuesday, the news broke across social media that Freeman had dumped his long-time agency Excel and was listing himself as currently “self-represented” And according to multiple sources, the MLBPA sent an email to agents asking them to not contact Freddie Freeman, typical procedure for when a player is changing agents
And then, a little later in the day, lo and behold Freddie himself made this pronouncement:
Freddie claps back
Then, a little later in the afternoon, Ardaya updated his reporting with this quote…
So what is going on?
So Freeman’s situation remains in flux. But here’s the deal. We as Dodger fans couldn’t care less how you left things with your old team. If they disrespected you or if your agent screwed the pooch, or what. That’s done Freddie. Your girlfriend’s done left the dance with another guy. So, you can make moon-eyes all you want, you can regret all you want, but sooner or later you got to focus on you and your new relationship.
And yes, Freddie, you need closure. Quickly. Before October and we have to play this whole ridiculous drama out again. Cuz you get a pass in June. In the fall, Dodger fans won’t be so forgiving.
