Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Da Wrestling Board. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Baseballers of Lesser Note: Marvin Freeman
Topic Started: Jun 17 2011, 01:36 PM (805 Views)
Erick Von Erich
Member Avatar
I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
[ *  *  * ]
Hallo there, and welcome to the eleventh installment of (Professional) Baseballers of Lesser Note. In which we spotlight some of the distinguished gentlemen who have partaken in the professional gentleman's sport of baseball throughout the various eras encompassing the aforementioned sport.

This week we look at Marvin Freeman.

Posted Image

What'd He Do?
10 Seasons/35- 28 /4.64 ERA/593.2 IP/ 383 Ks

What Can You Tell Us About Him?
At 6'6 and a somewhat lanky frame, Freeman's physical appearance gave him the nickname "Starvin' Marvin", as in: "eat a deluxe pizza, you beanpole". After a collegaite career at Jackson State, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. In a spot start, he made his MLB debut in 1986 by pitching a one-hit 7 inning gem to pick up his first career win. Interesting note: the last two innings of that game were pitched by none other than Kent Tekulve. Also, Freeman's first child was born on that same day. An amazing debut.

What Happened to Him?
Since it was a spot start, it was not enough for Freeman to stick around. He didn't return to the Phillies until 1988, when he became an average to less-than-average reliever for the next two years. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves in 1990 for pitcher Joe Boever and became a part of the Braves bullpen. Which is when his career really started. Freeman was part of the Braves' "worst to first" turnaround of the early 90's, but was left off the postseason roster in 1991.

In 1992, after going 7-5 with a 3.22 ERA, he made his playoff debut in the 1992 NLCS. However, Freeman was one of the few pitchers to get destroyed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, including a mop-up 2 innining/5 run appearance in Game Six which included Lloyd McClendon's only postseason HR. While the Braves eventually made the World Series that year, Freeman was left off the roster for that round. His struggles continued in 1993, which included a return to the minors. His season ERA of 6.08 made it easy for the Braves to let him walk away a free agent.

In an under-the-radar signing, Freeman signed with the Colorado Rockies for 1994 to fill out their beleagured bullpen. As was becoming tradition, the Rockies projected starting rotation fell apart as the season began, so Freeman found himself as a starter. Originally the fifth starter, "Free" had the best year of his career, going 10-2 in the strike shortened year and actually finishing FOURTH in the Cy Young voting.

With the move to Coors Field in 1995, Freeman didn't have as much success, but was still an important part of the Rockies' pitching. While his ERA climbed, Freeman's career hit a snag in the 1996 season. He had developed something of a primadonna attitude and irritated the front office; citing his occassional removals from the rotation for the bullpen. In June, the San Diego Padres were hosting the Rockies and held a "Welcome to Sea Level Night", a play on the Rockies infamous thin-air offense. As part of it, radio talk show host Jim Rome held a live version of his show in the outfield, with plenty of "clones" in atendance. Freeman was scheduled to be a guest on the show, but took offense to the antics, snubbed and insulted Rome's fans, then threw them the finger. Freeman then went on to pitch an awful game. Freeman's incident was retouched over the years on Rome's show, with a baby's whine usually played whenever it was brought up. Things then went out of control for Freeman worse than his fastball. Within a month, he was released by the Rockies.

Freeman finished '96 with a few forgettable appearances for the White Sox. He tried to catch on with the BlueJays for 1997, but never made it above Triple A as he soon disappeared from baseball. However, Freeman's son, Justin, is currently in the Reds' system and may make the majors someday.

Marvin Freeman's career had both versions of the "One Hit Wonder"- he had a memorable debut, then also had a memorable single season.
DWS Apparel Store- Buy. Consume. Obey.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
[ *  *  * ]
So he's a two hit wonder, like the Human League? :P
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
torturedsoulv1
true maharajah Jinder Mahal
[ *  *  * ]
Never heard of this jabroni pitcher
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Scrooge McSuck
I'll get you next time, toilet!
[ *  *  * ]
I have only through my card collection. Can't imagine him being a prima donna attitude. Reminds me of Chuck Carr. "Chuckie is hackin' 2-0"
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Erick Von Erich
Member Avatar
I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
[ *  *  * ]
Initially, Freeman's frustrations were justified. The Rockies were babying Bill Swift and hoping Bret Saberhagen would make it back (he never did; at least as a Rockie). Freeman thought he should've been the "ace" of the staff, instead of being the 4th or 5th starter. I think he even threw a tantrum when the Rockies started former replacement player Mike Farmer. Instead of pitching better, Freeman didn't want to go back to the minors and decided that pitching like crap would be a good negotiation tactic. His wheels fell off, completely, after the Jim Rome incident so releasing him was the only move left.

Might sound cruel, but the '96 Rockies believed they were contenders and that Freeman was disruptive to their clubhouse atmosphere. Of course, jackasses like Larry Walker were allowed to come and go when they wanted and do whatever the hell they felt like. Probably helped that Walker usually batted around .300 with 30 HRs and 100RBIs, while Freeman's ERA shot over 6.00. Guy simply wasn't performing and, worse, was being a weenie about it.




Oh, I just picked up this book titled "You Gotta' Have Wa" about Americans playing Japanese baseball. I'm sure I'll find a (P)BBLN in there, somewhere. The first chapter is all about Bob Horner and I thought he'd qualify. But he tested negative, since he was a former RoY and two-time All-Star.
DWS Apparel Store- Buy. Consume. Obey.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
torturedsoulv1
true maharajah Jinder Mahal
[ *  *  * ]
Bob Horner was very good at the beginning of his career

Didn't realize he went to Japan later

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Erick Von Erich
Member Avatar
I'm Big E and I tell it like it is
[ *  *  * ]
Horner was only in Japan for the 1987 season and it was apparently a huge deal in Japan. The Japanese viewed his signing as a huge coup. It was sort of the reverse of Ichiro's signing and arrival in 2001. Horner hit 4 homeruns in his first two games and the mania was ON. The media followed him everywhere and even reported how much hair he had trimmed at the barbershop.

He played for the Yakult Swallows....and Yakult was a frickin' yogurt company. Whenever they lost, yogurt sales across the country went up; so they deliberately never finished in first. Worse, the Yakult owner was a huge fan of the Tokyo Giants (sort of the Japanese Yankees) and never wanted the Swallows to win the division over his favorite team.

The owner did an about-face when he got Horner; for the first time in their existence they wanted to win. Horner was also expected to hit 50 homeruns and was given that jersey number. Just some crazy shit and I'm only one chapter into it.

Also has some appearance from guys like Tom Lancelotti, Ben Ogilvie and Warren Cromartie. Like you, I never realized these guys were "gaijins" over in Japan.
DWS Apparel Store- Buy. Consume. Obey.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
torturedsoulv1
true maharajah Jinder Mahal
[ *  *  * ]
I have no clue who Tom Lancelotti is

Never knew Oglivie went to Japan to team with Warren Cromartie against Dick Murdoch and Tuffy Rhodes (or was it Dusty)?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Sports · Next Topic »
Add Reply