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769 comments Add your comment
ease19
March 4th, 2009
3:45 pm
Anders – just a hunch…you have a certain mischievous tone to your posts…(which is not a bad thing)
Drew
March 4th, 2009
3:45 pm
Chopper… Raglan Road (sp?) is an Irish restaurant in downtown Disney. Amazing food, drinks, sometimes you get some music and with St. Patty’s Day coming I would bet it would come with a lot of fun.
cvbraves
March 4th, 2009
3:45 pm
Carroll: Thanks for the articles, blog, play-by-play, etc. Take the night off.
arobs3
March 4th, 2009
3:46 pm
Word, Thanks Carroll…your p-b-p has been extraordinary
Eric
March 4th, 2009
3:49 pm
Any idea who is slated to pitch for Atlanta this Saturday?
Anders
March 4th, 2009
3:50 pm
Ease 19 – I haven’t posted anything since much earlier today. Anyway, I’m catching up on this whole Frenchy golf thing. What’s the big deal? Can’t blame the guy for going to play 18 with Tiger.
More to the point though, he gets off season batting help from Chipper and golf tips from Tiger. Is it just me or is Frenchy coming off as the rich fat kid who goes to all the good sports camps, gets personal training, has all the newest and best equipment and still can’t put the ball in play? I mean between Chipper and Tiger somethings got to take – no?
nolie
March 4th, 2009
3:51 pm
Hey Owl, our Braves were ranked 14th out of 16 teams in the N.L in hitting the long ball last year. Better yet, they ranked 22nd out of all 30 ML teams in 2008 at hitting HR’s. We added Garret Anderson and subtracted Mark Teixeira. Read the hand writing on the wall. Coach
but we were 6th in scoring runs anyway weren/t we? and scored more after Tex left (no I am not blaming that on him) than B4. I think if this team can stay healthy they will surprise you a bit with their scoring ability. Of course if Chipper or Mac go down for an extended period all bets are off. As I have said B4 as much as I love OBP I like it to be more BA-driven that Dunn has done. You know kinda like Chipper 300/400/555. I’ll take 6 of those please.
atlbravesfan44
March 4th, 2009
3:52 pm
I know it’s early, but Frenchy is picking up right where he left off. What are the chances that if he hits .091 (or even .191 for that matter) in the spring, that the d-bag gets released and we might see Schafer or B Jones out there in right?
cabravesfan
March 4th, 2009
3:54 pm
PWHjort
when I said Heyward has not hit above single A I meant (and I am pretty sure you knew this) in a game that actually mattered…hitting off guys trying to make the team in spring training is a little different then trying to hit Cole Hamels in Philadelphia on ESPN…Heyward will be in atlanta soon enough
The Real Don Steele
March 4th, 2009
3:54 pm
Sutton wouldn’t take a coaching job because it would be an 80% cut in pay. Would you do that?
Tennbravefan
March 4th, 2009
3:54 pm
If Francoeur doesn’t produce again, and I’m beginning more and more to believe he wont, I’m in favor of using a Diaz/Norton platoon in right field. Norton hit 289 last year against righties with an OPS of 840. Plus he hit 7 HR’s in roughly 180 ab’s compared to Francoeur’s 11 HR’s in 599 ab’s. We all know Diaz can hit lefties. I think this platoon will be servicable at least until the trade deadline when maybe they can trade for a bigger bat.
Fischerking04
March 4th, 2009
3:55 pm
Anders the reason you are dead wrong is that no one has ever accused Frenchy of being lazy. He has a reputation for being a hard worker. Would you be happier if he didn’t take batting tips from the 2008 batting champ?
Give the guy a break.
timthebrave
March 4th, 2009
3:56 pm
thanks cvbrave, 2park, carroll, and everyone else for the updates. sure beats doing actual work ALL day
Smokey Joe Wood
March 4th, 2009
3:57 pm
We all think it’s great that we signed Glavine, because you can’t have too much starting pitching. Someone will get hurt, we say, and then we can bring up Hanson. Well, what if someone doesn’t get hurt? What if Hanson dominates AAA like he did the AFL, but we leave him there all year cuz there’s no room in the inn? Will that change your opinion of the Glavine signing? You think Bobby’s gonna tell Glavs to go to the ‘pen to make room for Hanson? What would that do to the young man’s psyche, to squeeze out the elder statesman HOF’er? Somethin’ to consider.
MFin04
March 4th, 2009
3:57 pm
I’m excited about this roster! Can’t wait to see what everyone can do. I think we are all going to be surprised by a lot of guys this year. Kotchman, KJ, Garrett Anderson. I think all of them have a lot of potential to drive in a lot of runs and bat for a high average.
Anders
March 4th, 2009
3:57 pm
Fischerking – I was kidding around. I thought my last line would cement that. Relax.
Ninju
March 4th, 2009
3:57 pm
Norton is not an outfielder, he is best used as pinch hitter. They will give Frenchy a shot and IF he falters again (which i dont see happening) They will just bring up Schafer and use him along with Diaz/Anderson/Anderson.
ncscoots
March 4th, 2009
3:59 pm
What are the chances that if he hits .091 (or even .191 for that matter) in the spring, that the d-bag gets released
Zero. About the same as the chance of getting reasonable posts about the guy, I’d say.
I feared that the days of getting a daily Francoeur-bashing from BravesDave and the like were gone, but I see the fallen standard has been picked up and raised high once again by the many legions, LOL.
In related news, the sun rose in the East this morning.
Carroll Rogers
March 4th, 2009
3:59 pm
Bobby said Francoeur fouled a ball off his foot this morning and he probably shouldn’t have played him today anyway. He also said he didn’t know anything about Jeff playing with Tiger today….It’s hard to know exactly what to make of this, but I do think Jeff had a chance to play with Tiger today and it’s hard to fault him for wanting to take that chance. (I for one, think he’ll get plenty of at-bats down here this spring, whether he got one or three today.) It doesn’t sound like he was trying to hide it because he told two reporters and teammates about it today. I have a message into Jeff and will let you know if I hear from him.
Anders
March 4th, 2009
4:00 pm
Smokey Joe Wood – Under your 3:57 scenario they could bring Hanson up and put Glavine in right. Win- win.
Bubdylan
March 4th, 2009
4:02 pm
Anders, you thought the line:
I mean between Chipper and Tiger somethings got to take – no?
would cement, as a joke, the lines:
Is it just me or is Frenchy coming off as the rich fat kid who goes to all the good sports camps, gets personal training, has all the newest and best equipment and still can’t put the ball in play?
No, hell, you didn’t.
atlbravesfan44
March 4th, 2009
4:02 pm
ncscoots – you really think the chance is zero if he finishes with a spring line like that? and it isn’t just because he’s hitting line drives and getting unlucky? if so, i will definitely be buying red sox gear come april.
Anders
March 4th, 2009
4:03 pm
Uh-oh. Sounds like Frenchy might have some ’splainin to do. I mean the blogisphere knew before Mr Cox? Yikes.
We might have a mini A-Rod on our hands.
Smokey Joe Wood
March 4th, 2009
4:03 pm
Anders, Glavine in right would be great, except our lineup is already too left-handed.
Anders
March 4th, 2009
4:05 pm
Bubdylan – I forgot. Only you get to decide what is and isn’t funny here. My deepest apologies my liege.
Chop Chop
March 4th, 2009
4:05 pm
Well, scoots, the team brought this on the guy. They pimped him so hard when he got into the league that a lot of fans expected him to be the man. Factor that in with three straight Octobers sitting at home and, well, Francoeur is a symbol of what has gone wrong with the club. If Francoeur gets it turned around, great. All I know is that he is going to be ripped every day if he doesn’t. Besides, we’re supposed to be contending in 2009, right? Any guy who struggles this year is going to get it bad. As a result, this blog will be absolutely insane this year.
brent a.
March 4th, 2009
4:07 pm
Anders I actually understood your post.
Nowhere in it do I see you questioning Francoeur’s work ethic; but rather, you are simply noting that he appears to be one of the privileged few; yet, despite all of his advantages, he still struggles.
Bubdylan
March 4th, 2009
4:09 pm
I didn’t say it was an unfunny joke. I said it wasn’t a joke.
And if I carry any air of humor-snob, I don’t see how. I think most of my jokes are contrived, lame, or just corny, to be honest.
But you have a habit of taking cheap shots, and then reacting to objecting posters like they are mistaking your tone/meaning, most of which is clear enough.
ncscoots
March 4th, 2009
4:10 pm
atlbravesfan44, do you remember what anyone hit last year in ST? No? Maybe because ST numbers mean absolutely nothing, good or bad. It could take Francoeur (or any other hitter) all of ST and half of April to get a new swing in shape. Who cares about ST batting averages and ERAs? There might be a less reliable indicator of a player’s coming performance, but it escapes me just this moment. Oh wait, winter league numbers. Those have just about as much meaning as ST.
Kurt
March 4th, 2009
4:11 pm
I don’t desperately want to see Frenchy leave. I want to see him doing everything he can to improve upon last year. And hey, maybe he does need some time away and this will be good for him. But if he struggles to start the season, people will remember stuff like this. I think Heyward starts at AA, especially if he keeps raking like he is so far this spring. But remember that Brian McCann came to Atlanta from AA, so he would be within promoting distance.
I want to see Frenchy succeed. But this will haunt him if he struggles early.
Salty
March 4th, 2009
4:13 pm
In related news, the sun rose in the East this morning.
Yeah, Scoots? Maybe so, but it was late!
PJ
March 4th, 2009
4:13 pm
Here we go again with Frenchy not doing his job while batting!!!!!!!! I think Shaffer needs to start in right!!!!!!!!
dogsbrekky
March 4th, 2009
4:13 pm
Bubdylan – do not sell yourself short
I find you bloody funny
Was thinking about Frenchy today and the analogy I use is those poor sons of you know what who buy those Russian mail order brides..
At 22 they are really hot but by 25 you are starting to see their wear and tear as they age… By the time they are 30 you know you have just dusted a few hungy k on some commie mole who was a 2 hit wonder and when you had the chance to offload them (it was at the back of your mind) you went with the loyalty to your religion clause thingy..
[T.I.C.]
atlbravesfan44
March 4th, 2009
4:15 pm
ncscoots – for chipper, mccann, or just about anybody else on the team i would absolutely agree. however, for arguably the worst everyday position player in the majors in ‘08…he should be fighting for a position, end of story.
cphizzle
March 4th, 2009
4:15 pm
blahblahblah…ok guys this is gettin old you all are beatin this frenchy thing to death. it will take care of itself,just give the guy a chance to prove that he can turn it around and if he cant then we will part ways with him. newsflash its only the third week of spring training.
PWHjort
March 4th, 2009
4:16 pm
I was referring to John Dewan’s Fielding Bible +/- system when I said Francoeur had a -17 last year.
Anders
March 4th, 2009
4:17 pm
Bubdylan – I think you’re selling yourself short. You’re one of the funnier bloggers on here. I always stop to read your stuff.
As for taking cheap shots. Cheap – not so sure. Shots – absolutely. When misunderstood I do try to clear the air as quickly as possible lest it gets away from me – kind of like this.
No bad feelings guy. I truly like your work.
Anders
March 4th, 2009
4:20 pm
Dogsbrekky – I have to say I’ve read the last paragraph of your 4:13 a number of times and simply cannot connect the dots. Care to clarify?
TnBrian
March 4th, 2009
4:21 pm
Going golfing, or whatever the hell he’s doing won’t make a differnce as far as i’m concerned. He had a ton of at bats in ‘08 without any improvement. He’s changed his stance a little so to bi– about him not hitting 4-5 times a game in ST is silly! The ones here complaining about that have probably never stood up their and hit 90mph fastball with the guy mixing in changeups. It will wear you down fast. I know, because of HS. This kid named Brandon had a 90mph fastball and 78 mph changeup…with no control. Got beened more than once. Anyways, it’s good for Francine to get a mental break from it and go at again in a day or two.
ncscoots
March 4th, 2009
4:21 pm
Any guy who struggles this year is going to get it bad. As a result, this blog will be absolutely insane this year.
Jeez, Chop, LOL, what do you mean THIS year? This neighborhood has changed a lot in the last couple of years, and most of it comes from the folks who are willing to eat the Braves’ young at the drop of an oh-fer or 4-inning start. Fans griping is as much a part of baseball as peanuts, but, man alive, it’s gotten to be that a player having a bad year, heck, a bad AT-BAT, would be absolutely vilified in this forum.
I’m a big First Amendment guy, but, gawdamighty, some of this stuff sure makes the blog a harder read. Constructive criticism is one thing, mindless outrage just reminds me of I Am Legend.
Or Omega Man, for we who have slightly longer memories.
TnBrian
March 4th, 2009
4:23 pm
Speaking of golfing, is that not the most boring thing on the face of the earth to watch? My God, i’d rather watch bowling. WEEEEE… lets try to hit a little ball in a tiny little hole!
Anders
March 4th, 2009
4:24 pm
I just heard on the MLB network that when Cox went to leave the Braves ST facility his car was gone. When he asked the attendant where it was he was told ” Frenchy took it. He said he told you.”
Jeff321
March 4th, 2009
4:25 pm
hahaha
cphizzle
March 4th, 2009
4:25 pm
how bout lets talk about the potential of this pitching staff im mean look we got the chance of having 3- 12 or 13 game winners not to mention mr hanson. come on now lets focus on the positive side of things here boys.
Fail Watcher
March 4th, 2009
4:25 pm
Hey, Prado fianlly got a hit and is batting a cool .091 this spring.
TnBrian
March 4th, 2009
4:26 pm
Anders, I see you showed up today. Are your Mutts actually winning a game today, or what? THEM”S FILTHY MUTTS GOTS TO BE THE BIGGEST CHOKERS I EVER DID SEE!
Rahul
March 4th, 2009
4:27 pm
PWHJort….sorry dude i think you may have misread the data…according to that he was -7 in the field but +5 with the arm…-2 overall…similar to UZR. Also Dewan has him +26 runs the last 3 years, UZR has +21 or so…he is a solid fielder.
Anders
March 4th, 2009
4:28 pm
TnBrian – I’m guessing your about 12. At least I hope so for your sake. It’ll give you time to grow out of that ugly phase you appear to be in.
Chop Chop
March 4th, 2009
4:31 pm
Anders,
I don’t see you as some mean ball of hate who passive-aggressively vents his anger toward the Braves and their fans through the form of jokes. I just see you as someone who likes the back-and-forth of talking a little trash. Nothing wrong with that. Some malicious intent should be added to such comments. As always, people here can’t see the gleam in one’s eye as something is typed. Some of us (I’m one, of course) get in trouble for that here. I don’t always want to use italics, quotes, or emoticons to indicate that I’m trying to be funny. I do know that some people who get angry here are serious. Those are the wackos you have to watch out for.
Also, I think it can be just as funny to represent a ridiculous point of view for weeks on end in order to annoy people, but the odds of many bloggers seeing through the ruse (or BS) are low. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if some of the most single-minded commenters here are just humorous figments of someone’s imagination. In fact, that’s the way I choose to view the posts from nicknames like Coach, Robert, U Kno Who, etc.
Anyway, back to baseball.
Anon+
March 4th, 2009
4:32 pm
Can’t remember who posted that line-up with projections… definitely lacking power.
Bring in Bonds and move Garret Anderson to right. Yeah, we’ll have horrible defense, but you can’t win games if you don’t score runs.
Raging Alcoholic
March 4th, 2009
4:36 pm
Sunday liquor sales fail again. Dangit now I gotta stock up on Saturday. >:0
Jeff321
March 4th, 2009
4:37 pm
>how bout lets talk about the potential of this pitching staff
How about Tommy Glavine tanking this year? (And still getting sent out by Cox as if losing doesn’t matter.) Or how about Bobby Cox sending Boyer, Bennett, Acosta, Soriano out there to give the game away?
It doesn’t really matter how good the starting pitching is.. if the bullpen is crap. The only 4 I want to see relieving are: Gonzalez, Moylan, Carlyle, Campillo.
With that said, I haven’t actually seen the new guys yet. But, rest assured, the “give it up boys” will definitely be in the bullpen with Cox at the helm.
CCjacket
March 4th, 2009
4:37 pm
Looks to me like we’ve got a surplus of arms in the bullpen. Wonder if we could package a couple of those and get a RH bat with some power to come off the bench? I don’t know any names off the top of my head; some of you folks no doubt do.
cphizzle
March 4th, 2009
4:38 pm
I dont think we have a hat big enough to fit Barry’s head Anon+
Pete
March 4th, 2009
4:38 pm
From: PWHjort
“He (Francoeur) has TWICE posted FULL SEASON OBP’s of below 300. Just so you know, 300 is the Mendoza like for OBP and 400 is the gold standard.”
That is correct, and it is worrisome. Anyone else recall a guy name of Brad Komminsk? Also JF is greedy, so his head is messed up. He could have signed when McCann did couple years ago for roughly $25 Mil for 5 years, but thought he was much better than McCann and practically laughed at the offer…remember?
McCann is so much more valuable (being a catcher) than JF that you cant even mention them in the same sentence. Too many people for too many years have been telling JF what a stud he is, and unfortunately he believed it.
dogsbrekky
March 4th, 2009
4:41 pm
Anders – if you read Pete’s comments at 4.38 pm you will get the drift of the mail order bride thing !
Frenchy just needs to be dropped to AA-AAA for a good time so he can learn how to hit how he needs to, simple, nothing sinister, nothing hateful… we must try to win with the best possible team and I cannot see how he is in it at this time…
I pray he proves me wrong so I can eat my words
Passing the Torch | MLB This Week
March 4th, 2009
4:42 pm
[...] there is competiton for the fifth spot in the Braves rotation, and it’s between Tommys old and new. From Dave O’Brien’s notes column today, after Glavine went on about how his shoulder was kind of sore: I did toss out a question about [...]
Pete
March 4th, 2009
4:43 pm
And if I may add….remember when JF was sent down last year to Miss? He cried and complained about it; acted very immature and said (words to the effect) how his relationship with Braves had been forever changed.
He stayed only for a weekend cause someone got hurt; I always thought it was big mistake he didnt stay at least a week as was planned.
PWHjort
March 4th, 2009
4:43 pm
At http://www.billjamesonline.net/ he was -17 last year. And I didn’t misread anything.
Anders
March 4th, 2009
4:44 pm
Chop-Chop Appreciate the 4:31. I definitely stepped on lots and lots of toes when I first came here and I have to live with the fallout from that. I think for the most part I figured out how to co-exist here to get the back and forth that I enjoy.
I actually use this blog to keep mentally sharp as well, even at work. Believe me, it works. I’ve also pretty much learned who to ignore.
For me, the key has been no name calling, no north-south stuff (which I don’t believe in anyway), no politics and try not to be too personal. Follow that stuff no matter what’s thrown at you and over time most of the reasonable people stop doing it. Every time I cross one of those lines (sometimes it gets the better of everyone) I regret it because I have to build up goodwill all over again.
Again – thanks.
Kurt
March 4th, 2009
4:44 pm
Bringing Bonds here would be blasphemous. He hijacked our icon’s record!
I think this is a solid team, top to bottom. Not a lot of standout superstuds, but not a lot of weaknesses. Solid team with a lot of depth.
Lew
March 4th, 2009
4:45 pm
FRancoeur will or won’t improve this season-we’ll just have to see. However, one thing about all The Haters that I can’t figure out is why you’re all upset he didn’t sign a long term contract when McCann did. Seems to me that if you think he’s that bad and has no potential to ever improve, that you wouldn’t want him under contract for that long, anyway. Do you actually think it will make him easier to trade or to non-tender if he sucks as badly as you think he does?
Another thing y’all need to realize is that even were Francoeur to be shipped out to another team or the minors, Heyward won’t be called up. They just aren’t going to bring up a 19 year old kid with no experience over low A ball just because he had a good Spring-especially since they would more likely call up Schafer, or move Josh Anderson over there or maybe even Brandon Jones.
No matter how good a Spring he has, Heyward is like number 7 on the depth chart behind everyone else. He’s the future-and the future is NOT in 09.
KC
March 4th, 2009
4:46 pm
Anon+, you can’t win when you’re left-field is under indictment and in and out of a courtroom all years (potentially followed by jail) either.
Shane
March 4th, 2009
4:47 pm
The point is that even when Francouer was “great” he was … in fact …. average at best.
Thrillhouse44
March 4th, 2009
4:49 pm
Anders has actually grown on me too. Once you get over the fact that he’s an ultra Met homer, he’s very funny. Once I quit taking him personally, I was really able to laugh at his jokes. (Although I still think
should be placed beside his name whenever he posts.)
KC
March 4th, 2009
4:49 pm
Barry is gone. He’ll never play baseball again. As soon as he aged to the point where his ability could no longer outweigh his assholeness, he was finished. No one would touch him LAST year when there was no threat of a court date in the middle of the season… so CERTAINLY no one’s going to touch him now with a trial upcoming. Not to mention that he’s now been away from the game for year, at an advanced age.
No way. No point in even discussing it any further.
Steve McP
March 4th, 2009
4:49 pm
Did anyone else notice in the USA game that the new Mets signing JJ Putz gave up 3 runs in the 9th versus the minor leaguers of Toronto – looks like a great signing
cphizzle
March 4th, 2009
4:49 pm
shane if average is knocking in 100 every year well then i will take average all day everyday
Steve McP
March 4th, 2009
4:51 pm
For those tempted to go all OCD about the Putz post, they traded for him
glorydays
March 4th, 2009
4:58 pm
Carroll thanks for the posts. Also, you are clearly much better looking than DOB; having never seen you but having seen the DOB mugshot, I say that with complete confidence.
Lew
March 4th, 2009
5:01 pm
Jeff321-As a kid, were you Mikey on the cereal commercial? Dude, you don’t like anything about the Braves. Why are you even here? This team and it’s management obviously brings you no satisfaction or enjoyment.
glorydays
March 4th, 2009
5:05 pm
I think Frenchy is only a half step from Andrew from being washed-up even at his young age. And, washed up for a similar reason, he may be a nice guy in general but he is arrogant regarding his talent. He thinks he is so good he should be paid and treated as a super star for his potential. He’s spoiled. His only hope is that he realizes that he is no longer the stud, there is similar and better talent all around him and some of them actually do not feel like it all should be handed to them. His anger last year and resentment this years says it all given his production last year.
glorydays
March 4th, 2009
5:06 pm
His anger with the Braves
The Object of the Game
March 4th, 2009
5:10 pm
Shane @ March 4th, 2009-2:31 pm
RBI’s are meaningless in Baseball. OBP is the most important stat (on base percentage).All rbi’s do is measure how good the players are around you.
Three definitive statements there…but one commonality. Extreme narrow – mindedness.
The Object of the Game: To score more runs than your opponent.
Runs Scored is the most important stat because that is The Object of the Game. RBIs are also highly indicative of a player’s and a team’s propensity to achieve The Object of the Game. To dismiss these metrics in this manner indicates a serious logic flaw caused by over – valuing an individual metric (OBP) in the context of a team sport. If RBIs are meaningless, try telling this to the actual players who play the game. A player who drives in a run with an infield ground out (increasing RBI’s and lowering OBP) receives hearty greetings, back and butt slaps when they jog back into the dugout. I think the actual players value RBIs. At least more than you…
Ian Curtis
March 4th, 2009
5:11 pm
The Object of the Game: Dead on.
TnBrian
March 4th, 2009
5:15 pm
Anders, yeah, I’m a twelve year old at 6′0” 200 lbs that would woop your a– son! No, i’m 27, but most sports fans, no matter how old act like 12 yr. old’s sometimes. You’re the last one that needs to talk. Kidding about wooping your a-, but I wouldn’t mind meeting you someday.
nolie
March 4th, 2009
5:16 pm
How much is it actually going to cost the Braves in the long run to bring him up early? RITCHIE
possibly millions of dollars the last years of arb if he is as good as we hope. However I doubt that is the main reason that the Braves are thinking of not bringing him north right away. It certainly won’t hurt him to get some more seasoning at the AAA level. Someone earlier posted that AA is better than AAA, but that simply is not true. There may be more prospects in AA, but there are a lot in AAA too plus players who actually have experience in the bigs. Tougher tour of duty than AA or AFL. Plus he’s only an hour away if someone falters. Win/win situation for him and the team, regardless of how impatient many fans are to see him in the bigs.
Jeff321
March 4th, 2009
5:16 pm
>Dude, you don’t like anything about the Braves.
Actually I like everyone except Cox, Frenchy, Boyer, Acosta, Bennett, and Soriano.
> Why are you even here?
Ummm, well being a Braves fan since 1981-1982.. I feel this is the proper place to talk with other Braves “fans” about the good/bad. See, I’m not one of those people who just started watching the Braves in the 90s. When I started Florida didn’t have any MLB teams. (Translation: I have no problem with watching a losing team.)
>This team and it’s management obviously brings you no satisfaction or enjoyment.
Which is probably why I just forked over $109 to watch all the Braves games? To make myself miserable? Ha, I love the Braves, dude.
geauxbraves2000
March 4th, 2009
5:28 pm
I personally think the Braves and JF need to part ways. The old “change of scenery” phrase comes to mind. Tell him thanks and good luck.
If he hits .300/35/100 with his new team, well good for him.
I know it’s way early in the spring, I completely understand that, but so far he’s batting .091. And then he takes off today when he really needs to work on what the Braves are paying him to do. Fine if you want to take the day off, but at least stay with team, study the opposing pitchers, etc.
But, easy to say from my chair. I want him to do well, but until he starts realizing that he’s not the stud everyone always told him he was, I think a rapid decline is in his future.
Okay, I’m done ragging on him. I have nothing personal against him, I just don’t think he and the Braves are a very good fit right now with everything that has gone on.
Geaux Braves!!
Lew
March 4th, 2009
5:29 pm
You sure fooled me. In two seasons, I’ve never heard you do anything but rag on the Braves.
Lew
March 4th, 2009
5:31 pm
That was directed towards Jeff321
dogsbrekky
March 4th, 2009
5:39 pm
Saying here on SNY that JOHAN threw 46 pitches in bullpen session and is okay…… then again they said the same thing about poor ol’ Church last year with his dizzy spells…
Alonzo
March 4th, 2009
5:42 pm
Geauxbraves:
Who’d take Frenchy right now? He is no bargain at 3 mil/yr. Best thing to do is let him serve out the season and hope he’s better, and hope the kids have matured enough to take the position in 2010. Then do the trade.
dogsbrekky
March 4th, 2009
5:43 pm
good news is my friend at the game said Kawakami looks very sharp…
the speed change between the 12-6 and the fastball will freeze a lot of hitters….
Hokie
March 4th, 2009
5:46 pm
First time braves blogger,enjoy reading everybodys opinions.Many good braves fans with different thoughts.Hey,thats cool.I think we all should be excited about the braves potential this season,barring too many injuries.I feel our offense is very balanced with an excellent potential for pitching staff.I hope everybody appreciates the chance to root for our favorite team and manage vicariously.go braves
Jeff321
March 4th, 2009
5:46 pm
>You sure fooled me. In two seasons, I’ve never heard you do anything but rag on the Braves.
If you’re going to try and keep track of my posting habits.. You might want to pay better attention, because I told you the exact same thing last year. (When you also basically accused me of being a full time hater.)
ease19
March 4th, 2009
5:48 pm
Anders – I am not quite so sure I believe you…eeriness aside, you were lurking…But I am afraid I am going to have to agree with Chop Chop…Sorry dude.
Jordan Schafer (not really)
March 4th, 2009
5:48 pm
francoeur is tied with Prado for the lowest batting average in camp at .091
in a sane world, the braves would put me right and anderson in center.
Slugger
March 4th, 2009
5:53 pm
Hubris -
I promise you Jeff Francoeur works extremely hard. Just because there isn’t a picture of him on the front of AJC doesn’t mean he’s the next lazy Andruw Jones.
Jeff Francoeur does work hard. He’s an ex football stud, so he’s got the football training work ethic. A lot of ex-football players are the hardest working baseball players there are. They are used to the “football mentality” and that strength and repetion can yield results.
If anything, the round of golf will help him realize this is just Spring Training and no one has a gun to his head…they will in July if he hits .200, but it might be nice for him to get exposure to Tiger again for a day so Tiger can teach him about mental toughness and perserverence.
Is anyone mentioning the positive side to spending four hours with one of the most mentally tough athletes in the last 100 years? The guy can stop his 100 MPH+ swing on the downswing before making contact if something screws with his focus.
Jeff has also not ever been a really fast guy. He moved well for a big guy, but he’s a pretty big guy. Slow guys look lazy.
Jeff’s swing looks different. I hope he continues with his new mechanics and does not revert to old if he doesn’t find instant success with the new.
That, or he grips it and rips it (as I previously mentioned in my last post).
Chop Chop
March 4th, 2009
5:55 pm
Two questions:
If a dude hits .231 with RISP with 70 RBI (94 RBI total), is he valuable? Also, if a dude hits .192 with RISP and drives in 59 (71 RBI total), is he valuable?
The first guy is 2007 Andruw Jones. The second guy is 2008 Jeff Francoeur.
The RBI stat means more when looked at in terms of the successful conversion rate of a player with RISP or runners on base.
Another example: Keith Lockhart was a career .276 hitter with men on base. His OPS wasn’t great (.737), but that’s higher than I thought it would be. Anyway, Francoeur hit .203 with men on base last year. His OPS? .602. That OPS was better than his .592 with RISP.
(Small sample size from Francoeur, of course. He beats Lockhart out in his career averages. It’s just hard to believe that Francoeur could have been so bad last year. It’s not like the league hadn’t already figured him out in 2006. It certainly looked like he had made the necessary adjustments in 2007, but 2008? What the ****, dude?)
Lew
March 4th, 2009
6:01 pm
Jeff321-No, I just happened to take notice of your post about the pitching earlier-mostly I have a fair idea what to expect and just pass right on by. Maybe I made a mistake noticing your post?
dogsbrekky
March 4th, 2009
6:01 pm
Chop Chop – where do you find the RISP numbers for 2006 and 07, are they on fangraphs or ??
Slugger
March 4th, 2009
6:03 pm
All -
This seems like it’s becoming an extended version of some fans taking on the liking of Gil Renard, with Jeff Francoeur being Bobby Rayburn (Wesley Snipes).
Lew
March 4th, 2009
6:05 pm
And I’ll likely pass on by (since I certainly know what to expect) until next spring when I’ll say hello and see if maybe you’ve changed your mind (not that I expect you will).
Jeff321
March 4th, 2009
6:11 pm
Thanks, Lew! One back and forth with you is about all I can handle for one season.
Noch-a-homa
March 4th, 2009
6:18 pm
Did I miss something – where is Jordan Schafer? it seems like he has not played in a few.
The GM
March 4th, 2009
6:19 pm
Hopefull Bobby will go with the 5 best pitchers in the starting rotation. If that means Glavine or someone else has to stand aside for Hanson then so be it. Bobby has got to do what is best for the Braves not what he would like to do. If he can’t bring himself to follow a new path then the Braves need to boot him upstairs or out the door and hire a manager capable of managing this new crop of very talented Brave players. Further, if Frenchy is over the hill then there is sufficient talent to roam the outfield until Heyward is ready. Tought times. tough decisions but the Braves have to move on just like Smotlz did.
BX
March 4th, 2009
6:21 pm
Any chance we throw Glavine in the pen? To start the season, or mid-way?
Hanson can start, and we’ll have (hopefully) a better lefty option than we have now.
Lew
March 4th, 2009
6:22 pm
Agreed-Otherwise it’s just a re-hashing of the same old.
Chop Chop
March 4th, 2009
6:26 pm
dogsbrekky,
Baseball-Reference.com is the site I use.