{"id":38250,"date":"2014-02-06T13:07:11","date_gmt":"2014-02-06T17:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/totfc.net\/?p=38250"},"modified":"2020-07-10T13:08:34","modified_gmt":"2020-07-10T17:08:34","slug":"extending-happiness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/?p=38250","title":{"rendered":"Extending happiness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"border-image alignnone wp-image-38251 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/totfc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/freeman-e1391610677108.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"490\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totfc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/freeman-e1391610677108.jpg 490w, https:\/\/totfc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/freeman-e1391610677108-300x196.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 490px) 100vw, 490px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">A little while back, I read this article about baseball payrolls, and one of the interesting things it pointed out was this little tidbit:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">In 2001, the Atlanta Braves payroll was roughly $90 million dollars ($91,936,167), and was #1 in the National League and #3 overall in Major League Baseball.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">Going into 2014, the Atlanta Braves payroll is estimated at roughly $90 million dollars, and ranks #8 in the National League and #15 overall in Major League Baseball.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">Considering the cost of a Coke bottle has nearly doubled and the cost of a gallon of unleaded has nearly quadrupled since 2001, it\u2019s pretty clear that the almighty dollar isn\u2019t what it used to be these days.\u00a0 As anyone can see, spending roughly the same amount as they did back in 2001 no longer makes them the biggest spenders in the league, but pretty much, smack dab in the middle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">Needless to say, the Atlanta Braves are a far cry from the days of Ted Turner flamboyantly spending his money for the world to see him amass top-tier free agent talent for the Braves, and that the team\u2019s corporate conglomerate ownership and management that seems to have staunchly agreed that the $90 million mark seems sufficiently adequate at being able to compete, even with teams spending over 30%, 50% and in the case of the Los Angeles Dodgers and their estimated $216 million payroll, well over 100% more than they do.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">That being said, it\u2019s become a pretty well-known fact that the Braves are a team that isn\u2019t known for spending money now, and that they\u2019re now an organization that relies heavily upon their minor league system, and that they are scouting, drafting and developing the right players to produce the biggest bangs for the least amount of bucks.\u00a0 They are, by all modus operandi and financial standing, a mid-market organization now.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">Not to say the Braves\u00a0<em>never<\/em>\u00a0sign free-agents; sure, they\u2019ve have had their share of free agent whiffs as every team has, but the general reputation is that blockbuster, seven-figure, multi-year deals and the Braves are not common occurrences.\u00a0 With the departure of homegrown All-Star catcher Brian McCann, that many fans once thought to be a Brave For Life, it began to put into question the futures of other current and young players on the roster, namely Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman; surely there would be no way for the Braves to retain either of those guys once they hit free agency, because the Braves do not have money and are cheap!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">Which makes\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/atlanta.braves.mlb.com\/news\/article\/atl\/atlanta-braves-sign-freddie-freeman-to-eight-year-deal-jason-heyward-gets-two-years-to-avoid-arbitration?ymd=20140204&amp;content_id=67434036\">the news that broke this week<\/a>\u00a0where the Braves managed to secure both Heyward and Freeman for multiple years that much sweeter.\u00a0 But with no disrespect to the phenom, the future and the sure-thing superstar Jason Heyward, I\u2019m way happier over the Freddie Freeman extension over Heyward\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">It\u2019s hard to believe the time that\u2019s passed, but it was about seven years ago when the Braves supposedly pull the biggest coup of the 2007 draft, when they snared Jason Heyward with the 14<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0overall pick.\u00a0 It was a supposedly mythical process that supposedly relied upon lots of misdirection, covert scouting and a good bit of acting to make Heyward, his family and all other MLB teams from thinking the Braves were interested in him, so that they would consider him as questionable and pick someone else.\u00a0 The tactics worked, and the Braves were able to get Heyward, and Braves fans everywhere rejoiced at the acquisition of this sure-fire, can\u2019t-miss, layup of a future superstar.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">Nearly 60 picks later, when it was the Braves\u2019 turn to pick again, they drafted this kid named Freddie Freeman.\u00a0 Not a ton was really known about the guy, but it was quickly revealed that him and Jason Heyward were familiar with each other and friends, having met in traveling leagues, despite living on opposite sides of the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">Jason Heyward has pretty much had the spotlight on him throughout the years, all through his development in the minor leagues to his ascension to the majors.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not undeserved, because he was and still is a freak of nature in the fact that he\u2019s this 6\u20194 mammoth that runs like a gazelle, has speed, athleticism and a cannon for an arm, and isn\u2019t even 25 years old yet.\u00a0 But throughout it all, always right there on his heels, was Freddie Freeman.\u00a0 Although Freeman was essentially c-blocked by a veteran first baseman in 2010 when Heyward broke into the major leagues, he arrived for good immediately the following year.\u00a0 The rest has pretty much been history throughout the span of the last three seasons, with the Braves returning to being a top-tier team with Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman basically leading the squad.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">Getting back to the point though, now I really do like Jason Heyward a lot.\u00a0 He is undoubtedly an amazing player, and until I see something more astounding, I will forever say that the home run he hit in his major league debut was the greatest, most magical moment I\u2019ve ever witnessed in sports.\u00a0 I will take that to the grave with me until proven otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">I\u2019m absolutely psyched that the Braves signed Heyward to a two-year deal, and that for this year and next, there will be little buzz and worry about Jason Heyward\u2019s financial standing with the squad.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">But I love Freddie Freeman.\u00a0 Freddie Freeman encapsulates everything that is right and everything that is good about baseball to me.\u00a0 When I say that baseball is a source of happiness, the image of Freddie Freeman is right there in mind with such a sentiment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">Aside from the fact that Freddie Freeman is an outstanding baseball player, who\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/cdn2.sbnation.com\/imported_assets\/750160\/Bedard.gif.opt.gif\">hits to all parts of the field<\/a>\u00a0and is a\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/assets.sbnation.com\/assets\/2948119\/2013-07-22_Eric_Young_diving_back_to_first.gif\">vastly better fielder<\/a>\u00a0than stat geeks want to give him credit for, it\u2019s absolutely everything else that makes me love the guy.\u00a0 Freddie Freeman is the guy, regardless of the fact that he\u2019s a millionaire professional athlete, you want to be one of your friends and a guy to go hang out with.\u00a0 Freddie Freeman\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-WA4a2-p0oH8\/Ud7VRPjsrHI\/AAAAAAAACeQ\/wHSn44MFjI4\/s1600\/votefreeman.jpg\">is candid, and down-to-earth with the media<\/a>.\u00a0 Freddie Freeman\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.allaboutduncan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Freddie-Freeman-Watches.gif\">bombs photos and television shots<\/a>\u00a0as epically as\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/assets.sbnation.com\/assets\/3084625\/2013-07-22_Jason_Heyward_diving_catch_to_end_the_game.gif\">Jason Heyward makes diving catches<\/a>.\u00a0 Freddie Freeman has\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/freddiefreemanhuggingpeople.tumblr.com\/\">created an entire culture around hugging his teammates<\/a>\u00a0and making it completely acceptable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">And then there\u2019s the touching story of Freddie Freeman and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/mlb.mlb.com\/news\/article.jsp?ymd=20120508&amp;content_id=30764428&amp;vkey=news_atl&amp;c_id=atl\">how he honors his late mother<\/a>\u00a0(who succumbed to melanoma) by wearing long sleeves every day.\u00a0 And then\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/sports.cbsimg.net\/u\/photos\/baseball\/mlb\/img15045023.jpg\">he dons pink cleats and pink wristbands<\/a>\u00a0and destroys his opponents\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/boxes\/PHI\/PHI201105080.shtml\">every<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/boxes\/SLN\/SLN201205130.shtml\">year<\/a>\u00a0on Mother\u2019s Day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">The bottom line is that he makes baseball fun.\u00a0 Not\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/siextramustard.files.wordpress.com\/2014\/01\/chipper600.jpg%3Fw%3D600%26h%3D375\">just for his teammates<\/a>, but\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pouyacreative.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/w20130811_marlins-0533.jpg\">the fans<\/a>.\u00a0 If you cannot appreciate Freddie Freeman for what he is in Major League Baseball and not just the Braves, you probably are incapable of appreciating baseball.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Lora; font-size: 12pt;\">The fact that the stingy, penny-pinching Braves opened up their wallet and made such a monumental commitment to Freddie Freeman makes me absolutely joyous.\u00a0 I understood why Brian McCann left the Braves, and I could realistically accept the departures of Jason Heyward and Craig Kimbrel if it comes to fruition.\u00a0 Losing Freddie Freeman would have absolutely demoralizing.\u00a0 Although the full details aren\u2019t disclosed at the time I\u2019m writing this, for all intents and purposes, Freddie Freeman will be a Brave until 2023.\u00a0 Hits, homers, hugs and high five celebrations for eight more years.\u00a0 This, is reason to be ecstatic.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A little while back, I read this article about baseball payrolls, and one of the interesting things it pointed out was this little tidbit: In 2001, the Atlanta Braves payroll was roughly $90 million dollars ($91,936,167), and was #1 in the National League and #3 overall in Major League Baseball. Going into 2014, the Atlanta &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/totfc.net\/?p=38250\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Extending happiness<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[62,66,79,15],"class_list":["post-38250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-brog","tag-baseball","tag-braves","tag-cashmoney","tag-og"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=38250"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38252,"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38250\/revisions\/38252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=38250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=38250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totfc.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=38250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}