Comments on: Braves should show more patience with Francoeur

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:59:31 +0000

Frenchy is in the right uniform. The Braves are not acquiring a power bat and he has proved his talent. Does anyone remember not long ago when he led the majors in 2 out RBI’s. He was clutch. Players get mental when bad streaks get prolonged. He needs to be moved up in the batting order. To get a clutch hitter to be clutch you put the pressure on them. Don’t take it all off a guy with this much talent.

By: SAM

SAM — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:16:53 +0000

Sam is back…lol!!!
I watched some of the game vs. the Cubs last night 2 nights. “Frenchy” frigging sucked when he had the bases loaded with 2 outs and had the chance to win the game. He was swinging at everything…no patience whatsoever. He struck out loking like an idiot.
Yeah…I see later he got a hit and they put a Black runner in for him. The Black pinch runner did steal a base but the refs blew the call.
Yo WIFE -BEATER Bobby Cox!!! Why don’t you just replace Frenchy with the Black guy???

By: Michael J

Michael J — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:41:04 +0000

Let’s not give up on Frenchy, he’s a local kid who is good for the franchise. Above average arm, good range in right field, and still young enough to salvage at the plate. He also puts people in the seats. Lets change hitting coaches, and get him introduced to some different teaching methods. I’m sure TP is a good guy, but his methods are not working. If they were, Frenchy would not be struggling, and Andruw never would have been allowed to develop and maintain his poor mechanics. Andruw has been born again in Texas with a new coach, and new approach. (He and his glove belong back Turner Field) McCann and Chipper are the best hitters on the team, and both have always been tutored by their fathers. One of the best athletes in the world, Tiger Woods, changed his coach a few years ago when he realized his mechanics were not what was needed to compete at the level he wanted to compete at. Sometimes a change is required, and now is that time. There are some really good guys in the metro area who could teach the players how to hit very effectively. Terry Harper would be one I would select in a heartbeat. He was the hitting coach in Greenville several years ago when Chipper, Javey, etc were coming up. Don Baylor could come back & do that job. The list is pretty endless. Do the right thing Braves, make the tough call and replace TP. Lets keep him with the team, just in a different capacity.

By: CJDawg

CJDawg — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:34:47 +0000

I cannot understand the total lack of respect for one of the best sportswriters of all time. The bashers are flexing their blog muscles and have no class. Mr. Bisher knows more about sports than all of you combined. I agree with his assessment of Frenchy. For goodness sakes, he is 24!!! He is a top nitch defensive player and he WILL come around. He is also a proven commodity in the community.

Mr. Bisher, on behalf of all of us who have enjoyed you over the years, thank you for your insight and I hope you let all of these bums roll off of your back. I am 37, but I have been a fan of yours since I picked up a sports page many years ago.

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:55:11 +0000

God, I love to read good writing. Too bad newspapers aren’t hiring writers of Furman Bisher’s quality these days.

I agree that people need to be patient with Francoeur, but I also think Francoeur needs to wake up and realize he needs to change something. He needs time with some actual coaching, not the TP-induced mental haze that seems to settle over Braves hitters not named Chipper at the plate.

Also, the Braves need to throw the kitchen sink at the Padres…for Adrian Gonzalez.

By: crabapplejoe

crabapplejoe — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:55:40 +0000

Sam wrote: “Hank Aaron is the milquetoast /Uncle Tom type”

So an icon of MLB who broke a milestone record held by a white guy amidst taunts from “fans” is an “Uncle Tom type” to you….wow…you are pathetic. Hank Aaron exudes dignity and grace and you call it “milquetoast”. Suffice it to say that Furman Bisher, Hank Aaron and I live in a parallel universe to you…

By: BJE

BJE — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:57:14 +0000

No new thoughts after the big HR, the walk and the sac bunt? I’m glad we’ll have a record of all of these names.

By: Anthony Tigerio

Anthony Tigerio — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:08:07 +0000

Furman, stop being an apologist and living in the past. The 1 for 14 days are over, time to move on. The new era needs to develop players, not just roll the ball out and ‘let ‘em play’. It begins and ends at the top. Bobby needs to go and take the seat warmer TP with him. The Braves have become a laughing stock when Chipper and McCann call their Dad’s and Francour and Andrew head to Texas when they need coaching. Why do the Red Sox want Francour? Because he has potential and their coaching/development process works. What do the Braves have? Bobby and TP wearing butt grooves in the bench, rubbing their foreheads and clapping ‘we’ll get ‘em next time’ after each failed at bat. There is no patience because the true fans recognize the problem, not the player that needs coaching but the coaches that aren’t doing their job. The seats will be as empty as the 70s until Bobby and his disciples are held accountable and shown the door.

By: chas

chas — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:24:53 +0000

The problem with JF is the same as was with Andruw Jones. It’s between the ears.

By: scottbravesfan

scottbravesfan — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:13:29 +0000

Jeff has been the worst every day player statistically the last two years in major league baseball. When you can’t get on base by drawing walks you better get hits like Ichiro and Jeff can’t do that so therefore his numbers look awful.