David Freese was just another role player for the Cardinals this season. Their lineup was built around Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday and they got lucky when Lance Berkman decided to try again after bailing on the Astros last season. Well, Freese is now a cornerstone at the hot corner, and he becomes a legend due to 18 games.
In 18 games this postseason, Freese has posted a .397/.457/.794 slash, scoring 12 runs, with 25 hits, including 8 2B, 1 3B and 5 HR. His 21 RBI are a postseason record. While Freese showed some skills in April before an injury caused him to get just 14 at bats in May and June combined, his overall stats in his 604 at bat career wouldn’t lead to anyone being intimidated by him:
.298/.354/.429 with 72 R, 30 2B, 2 3B, 15 HR, 98 RBI and a 141/47 K/BB
Getting hot at the right moment is what it is all about in October. While Albert Pujols’ 3 homer, 6 RBI-night will be remembered due to his ultimate legacy, Freese has given himself a couple of years in St. Louis to establish himself as their third baseman. Leading a team to a World Series title when you’re making $416,000 is a big deal, especially when Pujols could get $30 million per season and will never have a postseason like Freese did in 2011.
No one will ever have a postseason like Freese has had. Not bad for a 28-year-old who looked like organizational depth when he was acquired from the Padres for Jim Edmonds in 2007. He has become a story, the story. While so many thoughts will immediately jump to where Albert Pujols ends up after the World Series is completed and Free Agency begins, Freese deserves better than that, and as the Cardinals lead 5-2 in the top of the 7th in Game Seven as I finish this, he is worthy of the World Series MVP, even if the Rangers come back.
The Baseball Haven 