Starting Nine: Second? Third? Old thinking makes Freddie Freeman’s lineup spot inevitable

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Freddie Freeman hit second in 17 of the Braves’ last 18 regular-season games, slashing .382/.494/.779 with six home runs, nine doubles and 21 RBI to cap his NL MVP run.Consider any brainstorm sessions the Braves were planning for hype video for the 2021 season moot. Reigning National League MVP Freddie Freeman beat them to the punch, as he relayed a conversation with Hall of Famer and new hitting consultant Chipper Jones while working out at the team’s North Port, Fla., facility.

“[He] said, ‘You have every award now, but you’re still missing one thing.’ I said, ‘Yup, I know it and I’m coming for it,’” Freeman said. “... I can pretty much match Chipper here if I…