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Braves: Freddie Freeman is Not to Blame for Lack of Rest

By Jake Mastroianni

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 20: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves gestures to his dugout to review a close play at first base on a ground ball hit by Henry Ramos #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning at Chase Field on September 20, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ramos was called out at first after a replay. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 20: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves gestures to his dugout to review a close play at first base on a ground ball hit by Henry Ramos #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning at Chase Field on September 20, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ramos was called out at first after a replay. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
Ozzie Albies #1, Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 and Johan Camargo #17 of the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Braves: How Much Rest Do Players Really Need?

So much is made about the fact that the Braves infield is in the top 30 of games played and no other first-place team has anyone in the top 30.

Well, those contending teams also haven’t lost their entire outfield this year either.

And I know this isn’t just a 2021 issue with games played, but the Braves have been fighting for their playoff lives all year — they couldn’t afford to give their best players a day off.

If Ozzie or Dansby takes a day they’re getting replaced by Ehire Adrianza. That’s a huge drop-off in production — especially when you already have replacement players in your outfield.

The front office is more to blame for the lack of depth. Atlanta can’t bring Gavin Lux, Chris Taylor, Matt Beaty, or even Albert Pujols off the bench to give a guy a breather as the Dodgers can.

But the question is, how many days of rest does a player really need? Does taking a day off in June really help a player perform better in August?

I don’t have that answer and I don’t think anyone really does.

Using the example from the article, Dansby didn’t play in the Marlins game on September 10. He’s 3-28 since then…

That’s one example in a short sample size, but still, not exactly a great indicator that rest equals better performance.

Maybe if you couple that off-day on September 10 with a day off back on August 12 — would his production be better then?

I’m being a little facetious as I do think players should get an off-day from their job every now and then just like we do from our jobs, but to make the point that doing that directly leads to better production is just not true.

Baseball players in particular are used to a routine, and I believe taking them out of that routine can sometimes be more detrimental than anything.

That being said, I think if a player is feeling fatigued and needs a day they have to be able to communicate that to the manager and the manager should be able to grant that request without fear of persecution.

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