First baseman Freddie Freeman missed another start Monday because of continuing vision problems, and there is no easy solution.
Wind and dry air in Colorado when the Braves played the Rockies on May 4-6 were only the beginning. His actual prescription has changed since, from 1.5 in each eye to 1.75 and 2, and that isn't all.
Freeman no longer is able to make tears, not even after a procedure to plug the lower ducts.
The idea was that plugging the ducts would force the upper ducts to produce tears that would wash over and cleanse his eyes. But that hasn't happened. His frustration and worry grow each day.
Because catcher Brian McCann experienced vision problems after laser surgery, Freeman has been reluctant to go that route. But he's starting to reconsider.
"This is a nightmare," Freeman said.
Freeman is waiting for specially-designed glasses that will, he hopes, offer wraparound vision. Regular glasses are not an option for him at the plate because of his batting stance.
His face is not square to the plate, so he needs to be able to see the ball coming from the side. To change his stance so he can see the ball is obviously not a good idea for someone who recently became the Braves' three-hole hitter.
Freeman has had no depth perception since Colorado, and in Cincinnati, where the Braves were swept by the Reds in a four-game series May 21-24, he was seeing two balls coming at him.
The original problem was that wind-blown dirt scratched the cornea in the right eye and the outside of his left eye. But he was able to continue playing because the blurring wasn't in the middle of his vision.
That changed, and he sat out the May 15 game when the Reds were at Turner Field. He sat out again on the 24th.
After that, manager Fredi Gonzalez made the decision to sit him down after seeing how frustrated and uncomfortable Freeman was in batting practice.
Infielder-outfielder Eric Hinske is holding down the fort in Freeman's absence. He's more agile than he looks, although not as tall as Freeman, so he can't grab everything Freeman does. But he's no three-hole hitter on offense.
In Monday's 8-2 loss to the Cardinals, that role was filled by McCann, starting for the first time since he was felled by the flu May 22. He went 0 for 4, but felt good. Good enough that he expects to start on Tuesday.
NOTES, QUOTES
--C Brian McCann made his first start since May 21. He's suffered from a major case of the flu since then, and is still raspy, sniffling and weak. But he wants to play and the Braves need his bat. He hit third Monday, going 0-for-4. But he felt good. Good enough that he expects to start on Tuesday.
--1B Freddie Freeman remains out because of vision issues. He is expecting custom sports glasses that will wrap around, allowing him to maintain his batting stance, which doesn't have him directly facing the pitcher.
--3B Chipper Jones, on the disabled list because of a severe left ankle bruise, is able to do leg presses but not leg extensions or hamstring curls, so he is concerned about atrophy in his calf and quad muscles.
--LHP Jonny Venters's ball is going sideways instead of up and down, and the reason appears to be a hitch in his mechanics. He's tinkering with the positioning of his hand.
--RHP Kris Medlen said he doesn't consistently have a feel for his pitches since his Tommy John surgery, and he thinks that's because his arm slot might be a little higher than it was before.
ROSTER REPORT
--3B Juan Francisco (right hamstring) was injured May 26, and he didn't start May 27. He was back in the lineup May 28.
--C David Ross (groin pull) left the May 25 game, and he didn't play May 26-28. He's day-to-day.
--C Brian McCann (flu-like symptoms) did not play May 22-24. He was pressed into duty May 25, but he didn't start May 26-27. He was back in the lineup May 28.
--1B Freddie Freeman (blurred vision) did not play May 24. He returned May 25, but he didn't play May 26-28.
--3B Chipper Jones (bruised left calf) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 24. He had his bruise -- officially a hematoma -- drained May 26.
--RHP Peter Moylan (right shoulder surgery in October 2011) was long-tossing as of mid-May. He might throw his first bullpen session in late May.
--RHP Arodys Vizcaino (Tommy John surgery in March 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He is expected to miss the entire season.
--LHP Robert Fish (left elbow tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26.
QUOTE TO NOTE:
"This is a nightmare." -- 1B Freddie Freeman, on his ongoing vision problems.
