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Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,631 comments Add your comment
BigMacAttack
May 28th, 2009
10:18 pm
When I think of Francoeur I always think of this:
“Francoeur asked for $3.95 million and the team offered $2.8 million. He settled near the midpoint (one-year, $3.375 million contract), and can earn an additional $25,000 with 685 plate appearances”
Just think if he actually got his asking price of nearly 4 million.
Unknown
May 28th, 2009
10:18 pm
We need to cut the dead weight. Send Failcoeur, Queefer, and Norton Hears a Hoo to the minors and call up Barton, Blanco, & Carnivares (sp?). Maybe even Brandon Jones. Point being, this lineup needs to be shaken up before were 10 games out.
groundfog
May 28th, 2009
10:18 pm
Heck, is Jeff better than Greg Norton?
Mixxo
May 28th, 2009
10:18 pm
Mixxo, Get out of my mind.
Nothing gets by us!!
Fluffy McNutter
May 28th, 2009
10:18 pm
Gregor Blanco’s OPS is now a pitiful .629. Schafer’s OPS is .623 right now, as awful as he’s been.
common sense
May 28th, 2009
10:19 pm
it just makes me not want to watch them. thats why i sit here and bash them and it makes me feel better
Schafer's Facial Expression
May 28th, 2009
10:20 pm
Dass my charlie-sheen lookin’ brutha wit dat double. I’d'a went three, though. Strikes, I mean.
BossLady
May 28th, 2009
10:20 pm
Two men on, Francoeur, Hernandez and Shafer useless at-bats. I’ll watch Orlando & Cleveland. Good luck Braves though.
pryguy
May 28th, 2009
10:20 pm
KJ is not a problem, as streaky as he may be. And I’m not saying that after his double.
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:21 pm
McFann
I will Admit It I was on that Trade for Eric Byrnes Bandwagon…
Didn’t he hit 20 homers and steal 50 bases in 07…Hell he was probably on HGH or Ginseng….
Northern Braves fan
May 28th, 2009
10:21 pm
DOB, in your opinion what was a worse scam, Madoff’s ponzi scheme, or Francouers arbitration hearing in which he was able to up his salary?
Vinings Jim
May 28th, 2009
10:21 pm
Joe Simpson must think he’s on the blog.
PWHjort
May 28th, 2009
10:22 pm
Chipper, where you at?
Shamus Thacker
May 28th, 2009
10:22 pm
Nice to hear Frenchy’s not acting like Tex.
It’s easy to joke about somebody when it’s going badly, I do it myself, sometimes to the extreme. It’s getting past the joking stage with Jeff.
I feel sorry for the guy. He’s gotta be pressing like crazy. If he’s not, he’s not human.
groundfog
May 28th, 2009
10:22 pm
I agree, why not KJ in center for at least a game. Schafer is an automatic out
Fluffy McNutter
May 28th, 2009
10:22 pm
Northern Braves fan…. Braves and Francoeur settled without going to an arby hearing.
Tim McCarver
May 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
He’s with me. You’re a real man, PWH.
freshd
May 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
Jordan Schafer, SPRING TRAINING PLAYER OF THE YEAR!
Madoff
May 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
what I did is nothing compared to Francoer’s thievery!
Jeff321
May 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
Nice hit by Gimper!
RHR
May 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
Mama there goes that man!!!!!!!
Mixxo
May 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
Attaway Hoss!
Louisville brave
May 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
Chippah!!!
Phillip Jarrett
May 28th, 2009
10:23 pm
Thanks Chipper.
Vinings Jim
May 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
Northern Braves Fan – there was no arbitration hearing for Jeff – they reached an agreement on the number in the middle just before the hearing. GO Chipper!!
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
Hey, Wasn’t Norton the best Pinch hitter in the league last year as some of the bloggers claimed on here…
I’m not hatin on Nawton… But Pinch Hitting is a hard skill to perform as some people seem to not understand…
Bravesfan
May 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
Well, at least that rules out a shutout.
LT- A Blogger
May 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
Just missed it- nice CJ.
Shamus Thacker
May 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
It’ll never get past the joking stage with Hammy btw…
Rodney Derrick
May 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
Geez, Joe and his apologia on the TV. Saying Kelly made the right decision not to go to third on his drive to right. If he had been running full tilt at the start, there would not have been a question with their outfielder fumbling the ball. He would have scored from third on Casey’s grounder.
AndyC
May 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
That’s the way to do it Hoss!
Ronald Millsaps
May 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
You only have 27 outs to work with in a game, and it makes all the sense in the world to use them effectively. Let’s look at the reigning champs for a minute; I’ve said it before and will again: A typical fly-ball to right by Shane Victorino last year had as much to do with their success as a typical three-run homer by Ryan Howard.
Nutritionists discuss calories vs. empty calories, and folks like me discuss outs vs. productive outs. I recommend bringing up Gregor Blanco to play center and bat leadoff and moving Jordan Schafer to Triple A in an effort to fill the holes in his swing.
Please don’t tell me about Blanco’s current numbers at Gwinnett, just like I’d rather not hear about Schafer’s numbers in spring training. Blanco has proven that he can play here; Schafer hasn’t–except defensively, an area which, to his credit, has been exceptional.
Blanco is also the fastest guy on our 40-man roster and the only guy you can look at as being a natural leadoff hitter. He also has productive at-bats consistently and fouls off a lot of pitches, which aggravates pitchers and gives teammates a bird’s-eye view of a pitcher’s repertoire (just ask Pete Van Wieren, who commented many times on Blanco’s fouling pitches to the same spot). Obviously, it’s one thing to lead the game off by grounding out on your second pitch and another to ground out on your ninth or tenth pitch.
I’d go: GREGOR BLANCO–CF; DIORY HERNANDEZ–2B (more speed); CHIPPER JONES–3B; JEFF FRANCOEUR–RF; BRIAN McCANN–C; YUNEL ESCOBAR–SS; CASEY KOTCHMAN–1B; KELLY JOHNSON–LF.
I wouldn’t trade Francoeur. As mentioned, his upside exceeds his downside, and his not batting cleanup is hurting him and the team. It really is. He also is a great role model and PR guy. When he said, “I just flat-out stink.” a year ago, the fact that he said “stink” and not the alternative speaks well of him.
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:24 pm
There we go Hoss, About Time You do something…! Maybe this will get the Awfense going!
MBroswell
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Way to go Chipper!!! In any other park, that would have been a homer.
Eric from MO
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Northern I thought the Braves and Francouer avoided arbitration hearings? I could be wrong but I thought they agreed about a week before them.
Unknown
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Well we got our run for the night.
Schafer's Facial Expression
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Top five batters all gots hits. Not us down here, though. We chill.
pryguy
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
RHR,
That was hilarious! What a nut
Rodney Derrick
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Again we have a bit of delay with the internet, and Chipper saves the day.
Heath (Cleveland)
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Braves have finally broke through against a very good pitcher…and…have caused him to throw 50 pitches so far here in the 3rd inning. The guys aren’t doing too bad.
groundfog
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Francoer does not handle pressure well. If we had an absolute power hitting left fielder, he could be fine maybe. He can’t handle the pressure imo-unfortunate!
Wes
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
might as well walk mccann and garret intentionally. guaranteed to limit the damage.
Boo
May 28th, 2009
10:25 pm
Braves and Francoeur settled without going to an arby hearing.
Amazing too. The Braves met and the middle and vastly overpaid for what was probably the easiest, most slam-dunk arbitration case ever. Francoeur wanted 3.95 million and everyone agreed he had no shot to win.
But going to hearing would “destroy his confidence.” Gosh, what would he be playing like if his confidence was destroy in that arb. meeting?
Fluffy McNutter
May 28th, 2009
10:26 pm
Norton was the best pinch-hitter in the NL last year. It’s fact. It’s not opinion. Look it up.
Bravesfan
May 28th, 2009
10:26 pm
Thank you Chipper. Even with a bad wheel he’s more productive than Schafer and Frenchy put together. Shoot, I think Chip could stroll up on crutches or roll up in a wheelchair and manage that.
Eric from MO
May 28th, 2009
10:27 pm
Tomahawkin I disagree with Pinch-hitting being a hard skill. I dont claim it isnt hard but I think it is more luck. With so few at-bats 4 hits can make a bad pinch hitter into a really good pinch hitter. This is just my opinion.
RHR
May 28th, 2009
10:27 pm
pryguy – that’s my favorite call in sports right now. Love it. lol
Brett
May 28th, 2009
10:27 pm
hey peter didnt realize you were such a huge braves fan…its brett. montag freshman year haha. nice blog by the way
pryguy
May 28th, 2009
10:28 pm
Haha, my buddies and I are using it as much as possible, it’s great.
Bravesfan
May 28th, 2009
10:28 pm
Somebody please point out this bad defense Diory is supposed to have. I’ve yet to see it.
common sense
May 28th, 2009
10:29 pm
way to go we got a run!!!!! runs are about as little as money in our treasury.
Boo
May 28th, 2009
10:29 pm
As mentioned, his upside exceeds
And what “upside” is that? Upside is used for younger players with little experience: not a player going on 26 who has played in nearly 600 games and has over 2,300 major league at-bats.
At some point, you gotta admit that the .309 career OBP is who Francoeur is. He is an out-maker.
BravesDave
May 28th, 2009
10:30 pm
Maybe Bobby Cox should consider separating the professional hitters in the lineup. Maybe alternating them (Chipper, McCann, Kotchman, and Anderson…possibly KJ) with the guys that are incapable of hitting major league pitching (Francoeur, Schafer, Hernandez, and the pitcher)…
Right now, putting Francoeur, Hernandez, Schafer, and the pitcher in consecutive spots in the order is literally giving the Braves 5-6 chances to hit in each game, rather than the 9 chances provided by the rulebook.
Dumbfound
May 28th, 2009
10:30 pm
Ronald Millsaps, even you can see that ! Oh ! wait a minute, He’s blind ! And so are you !!! You got to be kidding !!!!
johnny bravo
May 28th, 2009
10:30 pm
b.jones hitting over .300, over .340 against rightys and he’s down there and francine here, prima donna jordan waffer needs a reality check and a marta ride to gwinnett, fast
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:31 pm
Eric From MO
Good Point…About the Luck thing and pinch hitting…
But to sit on the bench all game and then come out against a teams set up man or closer is hard to make the most out of 7 pitches max
is this love
May 28th, 2009
10:31 pm
i thought for sure it was going to be jeff porter
Northern Braves fan
May 28th, 2009
10:32 pm
Thanks for the correction guys, obviously the point was that it was a joke for Frenchy to make money after the season he had last year. If anything he should pay the people who bought tickets and MLBTV
common sense
May 28th, 2009
10:32 pm
where is brad komminsk when you need him?
The Truth
May 28th, 2009
10:32 pm
How about trading Francoeur straight up for Mark Derosa? Similar salaries. Although Cleveland doesn’t really need corner outfielders. They have LaPorta and the Choo Choo train.
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:33 pm
OMG they were Playing Old Bone Thugs N Harmony “Notorious Thugs” For Augie Ojeda
That damn Song is a classic Rap song…Great beat
D.O.B.
What You Know about that old Bone…?
keylargo
May 28th, 2009
10:33 pm
McFann
Times are so tought in the outfield, you might have to grit your teeth and welcome the Reaper with open arms if we could somehow get him in a trade.
But, we know you’ll never have to do that.
Schafer's Facial Expression
May 28th, 2009
10:33 pm
Somebody get on base so I can get my whiff on.
MBroswell
May 28th, 2009
10:33 pm
Lowe rolling again. Great to see!
Pat
May 28th, 2009
10:34 pm
Let’s face it, with this lineup, there is no way we can compete in the division over 162 games. As tempting as it might seem, a trade is not going to change that. The past few yrs have shown that the Braves “buy high and sell low”….we would get nothing in return for Frenchy right now. It will be at least one more, probably two yrs before the young guns in the minors are ready to step up.
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:34 pm
The Truth
WnineBrenner and The Yanks will land Derosa, “Bank On It!”
MLBtraderumors.com has the lastest 411 about Winebrenner pursuing Derosa
Eric from MO
May 28th, 2009
10:34 pm
Bravesdave then they could just walk Chipper or Mac or who ever and pitch to Schafer or Francouer or the pitcher.
Schafer's Facial Expression
May 28th, 2009
10:35 pm
We gots one dumb outfield. Frenchy is country dumb. I’m city dumb. Garret… he just dumb dumb.
Louisville brave
May 28th, 2009
10:35 pm
Any Westminster grads on the blog tonight?
common sense
May 28th, 2009
10:35 pm
trade kotchman and mccann at first. use him to get an outfielder…
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:36 pm
I believe ChaseField has the Largest MLB VideoBoard Now… Looks Nice, I love Retractable roof stadiums BTW…
common sense
May 28th, 2009
10:36 pm
that is put Mccann at first and use sammons or ross at catcher.
Eric from MO
May 28th, 2009
10:36 pm
The Truth why would Cleveland trade DeRosa for Francouer?
Mark P.
May 28th, 2009
10:36 pm
Im going to predict the next innning. Anderson Groundout, Francoeur pop up. Hernadez groundout
common sense
May 28th, 2009
10:37 pm
jeff will strike out again
MBroswell
May 28th, 2009
10:37 pm
Anderson SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schafer's Facial Expression
May 28th, 2009
10:38 pm
Diory got to get on or I can’t strand nobody.
keylargo
May 28th, 2009
10:38 pm
Francoer does not handle pressure well. If we had an absolute power hitting left fielder, he could be fine maybe. He can’t handle the pressure imo-unfortunate! groundfog
When JF came up he was among the leaders for a couple of years in batting average with RISP. He was the man you wanted up with men on base. That disappeared with his power.
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:38 pm
I’m gonna Stop Commenting on Frenchy…! Words can even Express my opinions about him
And Joe Stop making excuses
Unknown
May 28th, 2009
10:39 pm
C’mon Diory the Explora!
Mark P.
May 28th, 2009
10:39 pm
whats Francoeur’s states for the last 7 games. does anyone no. Is he like 0 for 20 or something? can someone verify that
common sense
May 28th, 2009
10:40 pm
its funny to watch the expressions in the dugout. they are all carrying a chip on their shoulders. they all know they stink
groundfog
May 28th, 2009
10:40 pm
Keylargo as a rook he felt no pressure-now is quite different.
hawpeless
May 28th, 2009
10:40 pm
no i don’t want to whiten my teeth. these ajc ads are killing me
Stimpy
May 28th, 2009
10:41 pm
The natural has naturally lost his abilities to play baseball. How sad.
turning the page.
RHR
May 28th, 2009
10:41 pm
I hope I never sit near some of you at any game ever. I might get arrested, and I have never been arrested before.
brent a.
May 28th, 2009
10:41 pm
Francoeur is 8for26 his last 7 games before tonight.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6345
c jonze
May 28th, 2009
10:42 pm
I like Joe Simpson, but it seems to me he has become the biggest Jeff Francouer apologist anywhere…
BravesDave
May 28th, 2009
10:42 pm
Is Joe Simpson dating Jeff Francoeur?? Seriously, how many more excuses can he make for Jeff? Now, pitchers aren’t making any mistakes when they are facing Jeff? Ummmmmmmm, maybe that is because Jeff is such an easy out. The opposing pitcher can relax and throw the ball anywhere and Jeff will get himself out. There is no pressure to force a mistake.
Enough already. I can’t handle it anymore. I am a Dolphins fan and this is officially worse than watching Jay Fiedler try to fill Dan Marino’s shoes season after season after season when he was clearly an inadequate NFL QB. It is over. Francoeur needs to be removed from this team, regardless of how that is accomplished.
common sense
May 28th, 2009
10:42 pm
well you all saw what happened with andruw jones. he found himself on another team. Frenchy is a goner. its just a matter of time.
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:43 pm
RHR
LOL, I’m usually Chillax at the games checking out the Chicks while getting tuned up…! You don’t have to worry about me
brent a.
May 28th, 2009
10:43 pm
All season, it has been painful to listen to the Braves announcers when Francoeur bats. It’s like listening to all 3 coaches and the parents of a 10th place hitter in a little league game.
StingerSplash
May 28th, 2009
10:43 pm
If anything, Blanco is trade sweetener. He didn’t show that he could really handle big league pitching last year. I don’t see him as a short-term or long-term answer for the Braves’ ails. I’d much rather see Brandon Jones get some ABs.
(Russell Martin just had a very late slide into second base to break up a DP in the Cubs-Dodgers game. That’s the kind of shizzle that starts really good brawls. Musta been hangin out with Dahntay Jones).
But … did anyone know that Vick and the Human Society are ‘using each other’? Says so on the ajc.com/sports front page.
I’m glad the Humane Society is looking after animals. Maybe the Human Society is looking after the better interests of people. It’s about time!
The Truth
May 28th, 2009
10:43 pm
Dan Haren is going to go seven strong tonight.
Eric from MO- I don’t know. Thought maybe they would take the guy that is younger and controlled for two more seasons. But I have a feeling Jeff will be released by years end, regardless of what team he is on. No team is going to be willing to pay him more than 3 million. So he is really just a 4 months rental at this point.
Tomahawkin
May 28th, 2009
10:44 pm
Brent A.
Agreed, I’m tired of this Atlanta “Golden Boy” Thing for Francoeur
David O'Brien
May 28th, 2009
10:44 pm
Rodney Derrick: Where in my comment that you referenced did I say you weren’t allowed to boo Francoeur or anyone else, and to expect better — or expect whatever you want? You can expect him to be Mickey Mantle, for all I care. Seriously, your prerogative.
Where did I even suggest that? I just said I feel bad for the guy. If you don’t, perfectly fine by me. Then say it. But don’t try to suggest to me what I should think or write about the subject.
Doc Holiday
May 28th, 2009
10:44 pm
weak GA is already hitting .272………………just saying.
brent a.
May 28th, 2009
10:44 pm
Kelly
Jeff321
May 28th, 2009
10:44 pm
Anyone seen the KJ “defensive” lovers?
hawpeless
May 28th, 2009
10:45 pm
kelly bobbled it. Trade HIM!!!