Hometown hero’s story twists into unhappy end
Sad to say, that in this fairy tale, nobody lives happily ever after.
“The Natural” has been cast off by the team that brought him in from the suburbs, gloated over him through those first two seasons when he was a steady producer, and then, suddenly, when he lost his game, there was no one to help him.
So Jeff Francoeur went searching on his own. I don’t understand how it came to that. Neither do I understand just why a hitting slump can’t be cured like the common cold.
At any rate, as the season ended last year, Francoeur had made arrangements to go to Texas and spend some curative time with Rudy Jaramillo, the Rangers hitting coach. No guarantee came with it, but Jaramillo had worked wonders with some of Francoeur’s friends and Jeff was in a listening mood.
Mark DeRosa was one, rejected by the Braves, signed by the Rangers and under Jaramillo, as the story goes, found a swing that eventually led to a $13-million contract with the Cubs. Then Mark Teixeira passed that way, and need I say more?
With Francoeur, it was a private project. He did confide in me and I wrote of his project, but he didn’t inform his mentor. This, of course, was a slap in the face of Terry Pendleton, the Braves hitting coach, naturally close to Bobby Cox. Nothing was said. Nothing was written of Jaramillo. Nothing of it ever surfaced in the Braves clubhouse.
Meanwhile, neither did Francoeur’s batting average show sign of recuperation. If his furtive mission to Texas ever came up, it never surfaced in Cox’s office. Nor with Pendleton. Through it all, Pendleton never mentioned it, nor did it ever come up even in casual banter around the batting cage. He was professional through it all.
I did have a brief exchange with Chipper Jones one day, in which I asked, “Who is the best batting coach you ever came across?” He pondered for a long moment, then said, “Don Baylor,” who spent the season of 1999 with the Braves.
So the season opened, Francoeur’s swing still showed some lack of discipline and his average hovered around .250.
He became a target. Meantime, Francoeur had directed Andruw Jones to Jaramillo, and thus the Rangers signed him. Andruw has had mixed results there, even though he had a three-home run game the other day.
Meanwhile, back in Atlanta, you wonder. How would Cox have reacted if Francoeur had told him of his Jaramillo plan? What if he had come back to the Braves hitting .300 with a generous sprinkling of home runs? Would he ever have been traded? Exiled to the Braves’ most despised rival, and in their own division?
Frank Wren, of course, handled the deal, but it had to be approved by Cox. And there went the hometown hero, who could have been a Clemson Tiger, but chose the Braves and their sweetened pot of $2 million or so. Now, all that remains of that class of golden prospects is Brian McCann.
So Francoeur was dealt to the Mets and his name is misspelled on the lineup card. Big deal. I once walked into the Milwaukee Braves clubhouse and Henry Aaron’s name was misspelled. Besides, Francoeur isn’t easy to spell, anyway.
Nor is it easy to say goodbye.
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97 comments Add your comment
country boy
July 16th, 2009
7:33 pm
Thanks Mr. Bisher. I believe this is more than a trade of two outfielders. It is a process a GM must take to remove an iconic manager. As you said Cox would have a heavy voice in the trade of JF as well as the abortion of Glavine, bringing up Medlin & Hanson, starting Schaffer, ect. When this poor season ends with us again missing out of post season play a decent GM must evaluate if mgr. is getting optimum results. I expect the JF trade is part of the needed process to push Bobby upstairs beside Aaron and get fresh blood for a mgr.
Jeff Francoeur Fan
July 16th, 2009
8:03 pm
Frank Wren is not only an idiot, but is a snake. The way he treated Tom Glavine and Jeff Francoeur are signs of what Braves fans can expect in the future. This will be Bobby Cox’s last season, and look for other moves (including Chipper) as Wren moves on any player who’s popularity threatens his over blown ego.
GO METS!!!!
hop
July 16th, 2009
8:06 pm
MR. BISHER,Another great article as you brought a prospective that i had not heard before.
it appears though not expressed that jeff crossed the line by pursuing an outsider to help him get through this long term slump.
the braves lost their patience including bobby cox.
i hope jeff finds his swing and the braves lose yet another in series of talented players to unperforming coaching.
where does the evaluation begin to look at the braves coaches to determine if thre is also a problem in this area .
hopefully, that process will begin as well or the braves will continue to be a sub-500 team.
Bill
July 16th, 2009
10:13 pm
What happen to DOB’s blog? Has he been fired?
Glad Frenchy is gone, now lets Win.
Ed-Covington
July 16th, 2009
10:19 pm
No mention of the fact that Francour refused to sign a contract just like McCann’s when Brian did, thinking that he would be worth more. Note to anyone: when your employer offers you a lucrative contract and you refuse to sign, you better produce or be ready to leave.
dose of reality
July 16th, 2009
10:25 pm
Jeff Francoeur fan:
For the last time, Tom Glavine was not sent to Guantanamo by Frank Wren. He was released at the ripe old age of 43, with an 80 mph fastball nonetheless, so he can go sip martinis at his mansion by his pool. After making millions off the braves and the city of Atlanta pitching baseballs for a living, Glavine doesn’t need you to complain/ campaign for him.
Moreover, Jeff Francoeur is too thick headed to ever become a good major league hitter. It took one season before teams learned he swings at everything all the time. Here’s a quote from ‘ol JF earlier this year: “If on-base percentage is so important, then why don’t they put it up on the scoreboard?” And he was wondering why the Braves didn’t give him a multi year deal when McCann got his? Dead weight if you ask me.
Ken Stallings
July 16th, 2009
10:33 pm
Good background on the inside working in the Atlanta clubhouse. And Furman is trustworthy to tell it like it is.
I wish people would get over the Glavine thing. Tommy will wear an Atlanta hat on his Hall of Fame plaque. He will grace the Braves Hall of Fame and within a year join Maddux on the outfield fence.
Tommy Hanson’s performance has removed all doubt of the decision to release Glavine. The Braves offered him a position with the organization and a press conference to retire if that was his decision. Tommy declined. No one has tendered him a contract either, have they!
Hey! It’s tough. I loved Glavine. But everyone’s career ends. I just wish Glavine and Smoltz followed the lead of Maddux, who left with nothing but praise for Atlanta and the entire organization. He burned no bridges, made no emotional statements. Glavine and Smoltz could have taken a page from that, but they did not.
It doesn’t nor should change our regard for Glavine and Smoltz. But, it’s time to move on and look forward to their respected HoF speeches!
supernes
July 17th, 2009
3:10 am
How can Bisher say “there was no one to help him?” Pendleton, Chipper, McCann, the minor league staff when he was sent down, and several others tried.
sad brotha
July 17th, 2009
6:45 am
“The natural” is a natural bust. Numbers don’t lie and the ONLY reason we are discussing Fancant at length is because he is a “homeboy.” He needs to get his clear his head, he needs to be more patient, he needs a change of scenery, he needs a trip to the minors… he needs to “get gone” and finally the Braves got rid of him. Now he is the Mets problem and he will be out of MLB within two years. Good riddance and now what are we going to do with the real problem of the Braves… Liberty and McGuirk?
Maybe Next Year
July 17th, 2009
7:32 am
A “hometown hero” does not whine like a baby when he is sent to the minors. So let’s stop treating Francouer like he was a HOF.
bull-gator
July 17th, 2009
7:35 am
Too much hype way too soon and the kid started to believe he was Roy Hobbs. Sports is a business, albeit entertainment, but still a business. Winning brings people to the ball park with money to spend. I wish the kid the best and would like to have seen him go 4 for 4 last night. I cringed when he smacked the first pitch he saw right into a double play. Oh well, some things will never change. Good luck kid, you’re gonna need it in NY.
Henry D.
July 17th, 2009
10:15 am
Jeff’s downfall started when he declined the multi-year, multi-millions contract the Braves offerred him and McCann at the same time.
That was when Jeff started his decline. The first thing was to go “bulk-up” to hit more home runs. I think he started to put so much pressure on himself at that point so he could make the REALLY BIG BUCKS and that’s when his head caved in.
And that’s the true story of Jeff Franceour.
Gene
July 17th, 2009
10:35 am
I seem to remember Chipper Jones going to his father for hitting advice a few years ago. Will he end up in NY? I think that Pendleton was a better hitter than he is a coach.
Herschel Talker
July 17th, 2009
12:48 pm
This man, Jeff Francoeur, hasn’t been a hometown hero for quite some time. All you need to know about “Frenchy” is what Henry D. says at 10:15am. That sums it up.
Furman – no wonder you get so few readers these days. This column is pure dribble.
Observor
July 17th, 2009
5:18 pm
Francine was by far the most overrated and overhyped player I can ever remember come through the braves organization. He’ll slowly fade away out of baseball in a few years and into oblivion. He’ll be an obscure trivia question in 10 years, where the reaction of most people will be ‘oh yeah, that guy….I remember him’.
Greg
July 17th, 2009
5:26 pm
Yes, Chipper went to his dad for some tweaking, but he’s been doing that for 30 years. He’s also got more cache since he’s been around for 15 years and has done nothing but smack the ball around. I wish frenchy the best, but face it: Here, he just struck out.
mudcat
July 17th, 2009
5:41 pm
You look at this team, day after day, and there is no spark. We don’t need to make a minor-league busting trade to start winning. The on-field managament NEEDS to be changed. If that doesn’t happen, we’ll continue finishing second-fiddle to other, less talented teams.
Sr.Circuit sadsack
July 17th, 2009
8:08 pm
What are Ted Turners book sales like? He said if he made enough it would be used to buy our Braves back…
This is everything we gripe about; money. Our gm can’t spend like we used to when I could watch Murphy chase down flyballs. Thus we are much more dependent on each player we have. Jeff is no student of the game. If he were, he’d have used Chipper just like Mac did w/ good results last year when Brian had to be reminded to pretend his back foot was nailed to the ground inna 5min review by Hoss. TP is a fine batting coach. But golden children won’t blame themselves till too late. Coaches are only capable of helping the coachable. Jeff is not a student of hardball; he is a. Multisport jock that took the biggest offer that held greatest acclaim for his “I will crush it or be damned ” ego. He was embarrased & pride drove him to Rudy in TX.so none of us or Braves worried or asked. NY will take the ego down or he’ll be in AL farm system one year from now wondering if football needs a supa-star…
ASN
July 17th, 2009
8:29 pm
Mr. Bisher,
I don’t think Frenchy was traded because he didn’t seek help from Terry or some other in-house option (because he did – all of last year). He was traded because the team was going to non-tender him at the end of the season. And this move at least assured us a decent player.
I hate when journalists offer a side that so many people (several journalists and players) have disputed. It’s frivolous and leads to unqualified rumors.
DBCOOPER
July 17th, 2009
9:32 pm
I agree with most of what Mr. Bisher says about Francoeur however, I stopped feeling sorry for millionares some time ago. Todays atheletes are coddled from about 9th grade on. I have witnessed it first hand , in High School and college and it only gets worse in MLB or NFL etc. He should be fine the rest of his life and the rest of us will get up early and hit the “grind”.
As for Glavine and Wren’s handling of some of our veterens. I do remember Glavine jumping ship for New York when he could earn more money. He left them first. I also lost some respect for Glavine during the players strike in the 90’s. Thought he acted like a little weasel. Thats just me, and besides he’s probably earned over 100 million dollars in baseball and will go to the HOF. Not a bunch of tears from me. It was good he was a great pitcher but hey it’s a business the rookie they brought up is good and time goes on.
Ross
July 17th, 2009
10:09 pm
What we have here is lack of maturity, which could have been gained in the Clemson backfield and outfield – but the money talked louder than everything else – and you ask why? Here’s a kid from a fairly well-to-do family who could have taken a chance that college sports would not cripple him physically – the money was always going to be there. Francoeur was his own worst enemy – the old story – when the first hurdle appeared, he stumbled, tried to go under it, but just lacked the maturity to adjust. Again and again we see that talent is always trumped by character.
-drl
Joe Charboneau
July 17th, 2009
11:45 pm
I did the same thing in Cleveland. Workin’ blows….wish I’d listened to my coaches
GT
July 18th, 2009
8:47 am
Lets see, Jeff Franceour not only started hitting like a pitcher, he made base running errors that would embarrass a little leaguer and this natural business didn’t seem to help his ability to adjust and certainly didn’t overcome him being eaten up by the dumb jock disease. I am thinking the marriage which seemed to coincide with his downward path would be a bigger cause and effect than drifting off to a club pro to improve his backhand. Something changed, when he was living with McCann he seemed to be more alert like being in boot camp ready for war. McCann is still that way, Jeff is a space cadet. Going to Jaramillo is a last dig effort at denial for Jeff that what ever is happening to him is someone else’s fault besides himself. This has nothing to do with Cox or Pendleton who I am sure would have love Jaramillo putting some magic dust on a sick puppy, he was still a Brave, the return would have gone into their bank account. The guy couldn’t play baseball in all levels of the game not just hitting. I suspect there is something deeper going on here, something the reporters because of Jeff’s popularity know and won’t tell or just won’t do any homework to find out. It will eventually surface and you will scratch your head wondering why Cox or Pendleton were exposed to all this because they happen to be in the neighborhood.
o-me
July 18th, 2009
10:38 am
Please Enough on the Frenchy Crap. Its over get a life.
Ringleader
July 18th, 2009
10:46 am
Francour forever lost his homeboy immage when he commited to the Clemson Tigers rather than the Dogs. He has no allegance to anyone. Put him out and let him go. He is just a Prima Donna.
Not Sympathetic
July 18th, 2009
12:54 pm
Spare us the melancholy. He was a terrible terrible baseball player who is basically a 1/2 tool player now considering his strong arm is not accurate. That in and of itself would not inspire disdain from a large number of us knowledgeable Braves fans, however the fact he was a class A primadonna is.
Good riddance to him. Frankly, I find him to be a fraud. He was never fast, and never would listen to anyone that would tell him anything he didn’t want to hear. And before I forget, shame on the Braves for demoting him for three games and then letting him whine his way out of it.
RK
July 18th, 2009
3:17 pm
listen to o-me
dawes
July 18th, 2009
8:58 pm
ypor people don.t be mad my wynn you got unstand that glvane was wash up and francour have not hit but 225 in last year and half they two can blame them self
dawes
July 18th, 2009
9:06 pm
your people don,t be mad at mr wynn you got to unstand that glvine was wash up and francour have not hit but 225 in the year and half they can blame them self
Rich M.
July 19th, 2009
1:22 am
Pendleton may be professional, but how good a hitting coach? He doesn’t seem to be able to help proven hitters when they get into slumps. Might be time to make a change.
Furman Bisher
July 19th, 2009
7:53 am
Has anyone seen my bedpan?!
I just soiled myself!
Where is Terence Moore to roll me over- the bed sores are killing me!!!
Tim in Stockbridge
July 19th, 2009
3:20 pm
The truth-the Braves realized that this guy is not a major league player. He will be released by the Mets at the end of the season and out of baseball in one more season.The problem with the braves is their style of play, instead of manufacturing runs, putting pressure on opposing pitchers, they wait on homers, which has rarely happened with this team. Hometown hero?lol!
jeff is gone n bobby next
July 19th, 2009
6:17 pm
Well yesterday frenchy did zip…if he go’s 0-5 he be like was here at 240 mets soon….and howard johnson will try n even mets former accouncer use play for Pirates ralph houk said he would relax he be better u think he listen Nope….HJ n fellow coach’s just say 3 words to frenchy he understand Minors for help are this one…Bye Bye at end!Oh and braves be 8 out after tonight…..Just about over n cox to and TP job also bring in eddie yost as mananger
Acworth Don
July 20th, 2009
8:10 am
Well, most everybody right on this subject, NO ONE HAS A CLUE. Folks this is baseball. You don’t get to write anyone’s history, they do that and yes, some promising players learn and some
don’t. Frenchie hasn’t! he may still someday but if you noticed yesterday the Met Manager was
asked point blank about the trade and he said something like, “He (Frenchie) brings a lot of energy
to our team and we hope he is going to produce for us.” Joe Morgan asked the question. We fans
got to see Jeff in four games and he never hurt us at all. GREAT COLUMN as usual Bish! The Braves hope is our becoming great pitching.
J-man
July 20th, 2009
9:28 am
So many posts. So much wrong information. The Braves forced Glavine to leave to the Mets by retracting their final offer after it appeared that he was going to accept it. How people continue to blame Glavine for being “greedy” is something I just don’t get, but Schuerholz has spin doctors like you wouldn’t believe. The fact is that there was no offer from Atlanta in the end and that’s why Glavine left.
Anyway, Pendleton is a terrible hitting coach. He was never going to straighten out Francoeur. Note that when Chipper was asked who was the best hitting coach he ever played under that he did not say Pendleton. The truth is that Francoeur showed signs of decline in year 2 and it’s basically been downhill since then. Francoeur came up as a deeply flawed hitter with poor strike zone judgment. Some guys just decline. That’s just how it is.
TT44
July 20th, 2009
12:20 pm
Glad they moved JF. TG, Js, arent getting the job done pitching any longer. Liked them both…..move on…..
Braves will win the division with at least one more power hitter this season…….
Jay
July 20th, 2009
1:02 pm
Your article reads like a listing of jotted notes. Please have someone edit this next time.
Stanco
July 20th, 2009
1:19 pm
Unfortunately it was best for Jeff to go. The best players always make adjustments, to both improve and take it to the next level. The mets will release him after the season….then KC with sign him, as Taylor tries to build a Braves II in Knasis City…
Stanco
July 20th, 2009
1:20 pm
oops….Kansas City
Allen
July 20th, 2009
1:55 pm
Cox has to go – but no one in the Braves org. will make that happen until Cox decides he is tird of coming to the park. Even when the Braves were winning, they still underachieved except for 1995. If Joe Torre had the talent that BC has had he would have 10 rings instead of 4 or 5 or what ever he has – how many does BC have? Believe it is one! Said this before, Cox likes managing the braves, what else is he going to do, go to his farm and watch the grass grow – here is the rub, winning is only a bonus for him, iceing on the cake if you will. Why would he retire when he obviously loves coming to work and being in the dugout? Having to answer the not winning quesitons is only a minor inconvenience in the bigger scheme of things.
D.W.
July 20th, 2009
2:37 pm
Bobby Cox does need to go and I agree that the Braves should have more than one world chapmpionship banner with the talent that they had over the glory years. Also, they never should have hired Frank Wren who is a John S. clone. The Braves need some totally new blood with new ideas. I like Chipper Jones and he is one of the best pure hitters inn MLB. However, they need to trade him and get some good prospects for him.
Also, why are they Braves always trying to trade Junel Escobar. Is he a distraction in the clubhouse or something? I think with a better displinarian as the manager he could be handled and molded into a superstar.
The Braves need to quit trying to be contenders year end and year out and go into the re-building phase so that they can get back to being contenders.
Anthony
July 20th, 2009
3:14 pm
There is more to being a hitting coach than making sure there are balls available for hitting practice and finding a seat beside Bobby at game time. Just as there is more to being a manager than filling out a lineup card and cheering from the dugout. Neither TP nor BC are doing what it takes to work with and develop players and provide situational game management. As a true fan of baseball, and not just a home town apologist, you can see a stark difference between the Braves and the top contenders. Until the leadership is changed, expect nothing more than what you’re getting, a non-playoff team with non-disciplined players. JF failed as a Brave as he got neither coaching nor management. Do you think any other team will let him swing at every first pitch?
Chris Broe
July 21st, 2009
12:01 pm
Braves are gellin’. If they can just keep up the pace demanded of them by playing .500 ball.
James
July 21st, 2009
1:28 pm
I was glad to see someone with some insight defend Jeff. I have felt like this was a management trade from the beginning. Jeff went to arb.
with the Braves last year and won. In my OPINION management wanted to make an example of him. If TP is such a great hitting coach then why have the Braves bats been so bad for the last three years. Jeff reached
out to another coach for help but what did Braves management do. This is
another trade the Braves will regret. As of now we have less defense in
right and a platoon players. If Cox cannot manage players that he has a
difference with then maybe it is time to look at him. Escobar needs to grow up in a hurry or he will be another example. I am very leary of Braves management now. The way Glavin was treated was embrassing. The way the Braves are playing now I feel like bring Hanson up was the right call. But you do not treat a player like Glavine like a bag of trash, after you’ve rode his coattail for so many years. Kelly Johnson is another player I like, but with his bat he is most likely on a short list. What about Hudson will the Braves keep him next year or not? If the Braves do not play any better [around 500] then maybe it’s time to
look at trading Chipper and give him a chance to be in the playoffs again. But the Braves usually trades a way the farm for someone they will have for a few months maybe a year and then trade him because they
know they will not be able to sign him. Oh for the days of Ted Turner.
The Fox
July 21st, 2009
1:55 pm
Mr. Bisher,
I do read your columns and appreciate your opinions/imput. My family will miss Frenchy in Atlanta. We happen to believe that having a native son on the team is a great thing. Frenchy’s defense made up for offensive woes sometimes. And we believe that if he can hit like he did previously, he will again.
He will be sadly missed.
And thank you to Furman for your insights.
Baseball Fan Family
Hank
July 21st, 2009
2:26 pm
You people must be on crack, or perhaps too young to remember who helped build the braves team that lost to the cardinals in 82. Not Joe Torre who did the losing and then more losing with the same cardinals. Cox coached 3 HoF and perhaps 4 with Chipper. No explaining who the three are but, in New York a gold fish could have coached those players. HoF shortstop, catcher, CF, Clemons (pre-steriods taint), Mussina, Pettitte, perhaps O’Neal. Give me a break. Cox has coached a lot of journeyman players at best, most of whom fell apart after leaving Atlanta, and numerous rejects or cast offs from other teams. We had one Rookie of the year during this span, David Justice. How many did the Marlins have? The Dodgers? Any Biggios or Bagwells? No we had Breams, Cabrerras, Nixon, Smith, Lemke (played huge in the playoffs) but, no HoFs in this bunch. Cox is not the problem but, he has been the solution.
Paul In Richmond
July 21st, 2009
6:13 pm
Some of you don’t understand the attitude in baseball about hitting. There are guys who live for the long ball and there are guys who seek to put the ball in play. Turkey pants lived for the long ball. Just as Ron Gant, Andruw Jones and even Bobby Cox all seem to do. The real mystery is how/why a contact hitter like Pendleton got the batting coach job since Bobby has no desire to play small ball. He will bench a Diaz in a heartbeat for someone with 50 points less of an average but is a bigger long ball threat.
Frenchy would not be coached by a contact hitter. Neither will Larry Jones. Neither would Andruw. Don Baylor- yes. TP-no. Even if they listen to him they don’t follow his suggestions.
Add to that the “natural” had no idea why he could hit so he had no idea why he stopped hitting. He was pretty much uncoachable. By anybody. Look for him, and Andruw and Ron Gant and others like them to forever be ground ball outs that is unless the pitcher throws a mistake- then they will jack one and run back to the dugout with a smile on their selfish faces.
Ed D'Agostin
July 22nd, 2009
6:41 am
So far Wren’s moves are looking pretty good and this Brave team is very exciting and getting better EVERY day. This team also has balance and youth with great pitching. Who knows, maybe later this year we will see the best prospect in baseball in Atlanta, Jason Heyward. The Braves will be in the playoffs this year and next year! Frank Wren should be the Gerneral manager of the year.
aztec
July 22nd, 2009
9:14 am
hey guys, as my freind clark howard says, talk with your wallet and stop supporting pro sports financially..there is plenty of great baseball on the high school and college level in the atlanta area
Scuba Steve
July 22nd, 2009
9:21 am
How can you people defend Jeff…he was a cancer and the team is much better off without him! His sulking seemed to bring the whole team down and he had more than his share of chances!
fred
July 22nd, 2009
12:28 pm
From watching him for many years you can tell the guy is ADHD, which explains his lack of patience at the plate. Just watch a tape of his spotlight show as he constantly rocks back and forth while speaking to the reporter. This energy, while sufficient for HS and the minors is not a calculated disciplined approach needed at the majors.
Leonard Smalls
July 22nd, 2009
12:49 pm
Frenchy hung himself by being way to aggressive. He has to learn that major league pitchers study the opposition intently. They figured him out about two years ago. He still hasn’t figured out anything. Glavine has been treated with nothing but respect from this organization from day one. He disrespected us by going to the Mets. For what? A couple million dollars. That’s loyalty, huh? He had every chance to be in the rotation this year. He got hurt. He’s old. We offered him a way to exit that would have been good for everyone involved. He refused. He cried foul. Over what? One million dollars. I’m sorry, but $ equals opportunity in MLB. We weren’t going to sign an inconsistent player like Jeff to a long term deal. Trade him. We weren’t going to give the ball to a 41 year old “friend” who is past his prime, when we have so many other effective pitchers. Release him. Sure makes a whole lot of sense to me. But then again, I did use rational thought and logic. Not very common these days.
Joseph killeen
July 22nd, 2009
3:00 pm
MR. BISHER DO YOU RELIZE I NO JEFF FRANCOUER ISNT HAVING THE BEST SEASON BUT RYAN CHURCH IS JUST OK I MEAN HES A HITTER BUT HES GLOVE IS NOWHERE NEAR FRANCOUERS AS A BRAVES FAN I WANT FRANCOUER BACK EVENUTALLY AND MR. BISHER THE BRAVES R GOIN TO THE PLAYOFFS YOU WATCH
The Grinch
July 22nd, 2009
11:16 pm
Frenchy was and is his own worst enemy. Everyone bashing Wren should notice that since the dead weight’s been dumped out of the lineup (Schaeffer, KJ and JF) we’ve won 15 of 21. Leaving them in that long in the first place is on Bobby.
tim
July 23rd, 2009
7:14 pm
The reason we traded Jeff: We had an opportunity to upgrade.
Jeff isn’t gonna turn it around. Unfortunate but true. The Braves have a history of knowing when players are done. Just ask Marcus Giles and Andruw Jones (though Jones has been pretty good in Texas where he hasn’t had to field).
No
July 24th, 2009
7:13 am
Should have kept frenchy and got rid of Wren.
Boss Hogg
July 24th, 2009
7:43 am
Francouer had the touch of Midas at Parkview & his first 2 1/2 years with the Braves. When he had some adversity with his 2007 season, he did not know how to handle it. Another in a long line of Atlanta area players who did not pan out & left town. (Nick Esasky,Chuck James, Kyle Davies, Terry Harper, etc). The ironic thing is that Brian McCann was in the shadow of Francouer & has turned out to be a much better player than Francouer ever will be.
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 24th, 2009
1:07 pm
Frenchy should have taken the multimillion dollar contract, instead he pissed away more than twenty million. He’s an incredible talent with a ten cent head who has became the second coming of Brad Komminsk. Good riddance.
GwinnettDawg
July 24th, 2009
4:34 pm
Slight clarification needed re: Nick Esasky: His career was derailed by persistent vertigo, which makes even simple day-to-day tasks nigh impossible. Not really fair to say he “didn’t pan out” when his problems were medically-related.
chbeyer
July 29th, 2009
9:36 am
Most of you are idiot Frenchy haters….Frenchy is batting 350+ and is a RBI machine for the Mets game after game. Many felt the problem was Pendleton not Frenchy. The Braves got a mediocre player (30 years old) in place of a guy (25) who has enormous upside. Jeff’s hitting talents are really showing up again…game after game. He has had RBI’s in all but about one game out of the Mets last 10. The coaching staff, fan base got down on this guy and never let up. He bacame the poster child for what was wrong with the Braves. Lets see at the end of the year how his replacement stacks up.
37YrBravesFan
July 29th, 2009
11:22 am
Wow, you’re not TOO biased about Jeffy, are you???
Roy Hobbs
July 29th, 2009
2:35 pm
Nice story Mr Bisher. I hope things work out for Jeff in NY.
chbeyer
July 30th, 2009
8:47 am
Resonse…read my last statement. “Let’s see how this trade works out at the end of they year.” Then lets decide who is objective about Frenchy.
Don
July 30th, 2009
10:41 am
It is difficult to say what is more disgusting – watching Bobby Cox’s continous display of incompetency or the Baseball Writers refusal to report or challenge this. Don’t you understand the first simple necessity for offensive management – teaching/emphasizing/developing/demanding that your hitters work the count and make the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches. The multiple advantages of this are so obvious that I will not take the space to list them again. It is absoulutely unbelievable that a manager could manage for 20 plus years and not understand the necessity for this and implement this. It is even more absurd that Baseball Writers either do not understand this or refust to question or challenge Cox relating to this. The Braves are next to last in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat which guarantees that they will not have consistantly good run production and guarantees that we will not compete. It is an absolue shame that with our Pitching that this is happening and we are not now in first place. (Just in case this is not undestood – this enables your hitters to see what the pitcher has, adust to him, get better pitches to hit, make him make mistakes, wears him down both within innings and for the game, gets you into the team’s weak middle relief, gets you more walks and of course creats much better hitting opportunites).
Skeezix
July 30th, 2009
1:50 pm
Re: Going to Texas for hitting advice. He’s a professional, he did it to improve his game and he did it on his time and nickel, so what’s the big deal? Chipper only listens to his dad and Brian stills works with his dad when it comes to batting. So if that was part of the reason why he was dealt, then there is a clear double standard going on. Trading Frenchy was premature and trading him to the Mets was idiocy (a Wren trademark). Frenchy has shown that he can produce at the major league level, he is a great RF, he will work out the mechanical problems at the plate and, with age, become a more patient hitter. He will be a big time player for the Mets. I’ve said it before, this trade will turn out as bad as the decision to trade Dye. And oh, by the way, since the trade, he has been on fire.
denis menace
July 30th, 2009
8:33 pm
mets lead 1-0 tonight. 2nd game of the DH.
an RBI by frenchy…
for you guys to hate on him is dumb. your only doing it because it’s the mets he was traded to.
oh by the way… 16 games with the mets…17 rbi’s
carolina brave
July 31st, 2009
5:15 pm
The Braves let Glavine go to NYM and he didn’t exactly win the Cy Young there. If JF fails to improve at NY then Mr. Wren and Mr. Cox will look good I think. Certainly as a team they have been coming around since the break. Hope it isn’t just too little too late.
Mike Rico in Mex
August 2nd, 2009
6:10 pm
Long time no see, granpa
Wade Stinson
August 3rd, 2009
3:49 pm
Everyone’s had their say, so let’s look at the stats. Frenchy is hitting .301 with the Mets; Church is at .222. And I’ll mention that no one is afraid to test Church’s arm.
This Sorry Government NOT working for Americans
August 5th, 2009
4:12 pm
Its not about Jeff Francoeur or Tom Glavine. This is about the Braves TEAM and they are not going to let this team go down because of two players who cant get the job done.
joop
August 9th, 2009
11:26 pm
This has not been a poor season. It’s been a blast to watch, and if the Braves can make the playoffs they have a real shot. Overall Wren has made some great trades.
It doesn’t matter what Frenchy is doing for the Mets. What was he doing for the Braves? And do you still wish we had kept Smoltz? Oh, and which starting pitcher would you give up to keep Glavine?
Henry V111
August 10th, 2009
3:51 pm
The Braves are interested in winning games and if Jeff Cold help he would still be a Brave. Bobby and Frank are not hired to stroke anybody’s ego so it is good that Smoltz and Jeff take their huge ego elsewhere. Jeff going to Texas has nothing to do with the trade, it is what have you done for me lately,and he was given plenty of oppurtunity. I wish him well.
Furman you are a clown to think his going to Texas resulted in the trade, and so are those others contributing to this blog.
Braves_Hero_Zero
August 11th, 2009
8:49 am
That Pendleton sure is holding the rest of the team back..
They are really struggling now..lol
This article seemed to become less about Francouer, and more about getting Pendleton fired.. What a shame.
Don Baylor was fried because he probably had his own way of doing things (as a former manager), but Chipper Jones could hit well before Baylor came to town. Chipper’s problem was defense, and remaining healthy.
I truly believe that Francouer is gone because of some things that the said in certain interviews last season about “never forgetting” how The Braves treated him. The Braves get rid of people who speak-out against them. I am surprised that he remained on the roster as long as he did this season. If you talk about keeping grudges against this organization, you will be gone.
I’m glad that Cox is not listening. Pendleton is doing what Cox wants him too. If you want Pendleton fired, you will have to begin to smear Bobby Cox.
The Braves are winning again, so that will be difficult to do now.
Go Braves!!!
August 12th, 2009
8:33 am
Does anyone understand the word “prosperity”???
chbeyer
August 12th, 2009
8:36 am
In spite of the Mets slide, Frenchy continues to shine. Another home run and a triple in his most recent game. He is consistently getting hits in nearly every game. HR, RBI and hit production are way up and he is batting 300+ for the mets. He hasn’t been a few game wonder but rather is getting it done game after game. Ryan Church is no JF. Dumb trade that will haunt the Braves. Frenchy haters are still in stupid denial.
Main Street Mafia
August 12th, 2009
6:42 pm
chbeyer, it doesn’t matter what JF does with any other team in his career because he wasn’t doing it with us. He could have a HoF career and I still say we did the right thing letting him go. Maybe he’s doing so good because he HAS been traded. Ryan Church is better than JF by a mile. JF had so much potential, but it will always only be potential.
bvillebaron
August 18th, 2009
5:13 pm
JeffFrancouerFan:
Frank Wren is an idiot and a snake? Why, because he traded your beloved Frenchie and gave him an opporunity to salvage his career elsewhere when it was clear he wasn’t going to get things straightend out here? Because he replaced Glavine and Smoltz with guys who actually could stay healthy and could still pitch (did you notice that the Braves have one of if not the best starting staffs in the NL?) Give me a break!
Paul Lentz
August 19th, 2009
3:56 am
I LOVE men. lol!lol!
ann lewis
August 24th, 2009
9:46 am
once again it is time for wren and cox to go. they have ruined this wonderful team.
who wants to play for these two when one day your okay the next day your gone.
what kind of life is that? NONE THE TIME HAS COME FOR THEM TO GO
Marie
August 25th, 2009
6:41 pm
HOW MUCH LONGER IS THIS STORY GOING TO BE HERE??????????????
Christopher
August 26th, 2009
10:51 am
Unfortunately, Francoeur was never that good to begin with. At his very best he was a league-average hitter, and that was three seasons ago. It’s nice to be loyal to your players but not to the detriment of the team as a whole. It was time to move on.
chbeyer
August 26th, 2009
12:36 pm
Christopher…. JF an average hitter? Two years 100+RBI’s one with 29HRs. WIth the Mets he is batting .310, six homers, 20+RBI’s many doubles and some triples. Yes, he had a off season for sure but that is not unusual. Tell the Mets he is an average hitter. YOu are one of the Frenchy haters who has no degree of objectivity. JF is a far better athlete with a lot more potential than Church.
Self Life
August 28th, 2009
6:27 pm
Time for a new blog. Jeff F. is old news….
Rufus
August 31st, 2009
1:06 pm
A change to go to the play-off is fading fast and if they want, to go, a few moves will have to be made, at least two moves need to make right away, one is to put McLouth, and Ryan Church, on the disable list, two, don’t play Anderson every day, his days as an effective outfielder are over, excellent hitter, but he neutralizes, his hitting, with inability to get to fly balls, he would be great in the American league. 3- Chipper, has lost his self confidents, is starting to question his ability to help the team. 4- What good is Norton ? Reality is Bobby is not helping Chipper by playing him everyday. Enough with the announcers use that the braves are playing with a short bench.
Fans get tired with the Braves excuses, They should have replace the dead weight on the team, long ago. As the season comes to an end it gets more clear, Bobby, like Chipper have their days coming to an end.
Luke
August 31st, 2009
10:48 pm
To the dude right above me:
1. McLouth is the best centerfielder we’ve got. And he *is* on the DL. The problem with putting Church on the DL is that we won’t get him back for half our remaining games if we do that. This leads directly into 2. Garret Anderson has to play every day at the moment, he’s the best option we’ve got in left while Diaz plays in right. And I disagree that he neutralizes his bat with his defense. His defense isn’t great, but nobody else would be a real upgrade, either. Certainly not Blanco or B. Jones. Anderson won’t beat himself, which is saying something.
3. Chipper needs at-bats to get his stuff back, we need him to make the play-offs, and I don’t care if he’s slumping, he still scares the crap out of pitchers. He can still work an AB and get on base for McCann.
4. Norton is a pretty big fail when it comes to hitting as part of the lineup or when fielding. But he’s like the Wizard of Oz pinch hitting with RISP, from both sides of the plate. Plus, again, who’s better? Brooks Conrad?
You talk about dead weight but the fact is the Braves are getting production from every position with the exception of Gorecki in CF. Where’s the dead weight? We don’t have a payroll like the Yankees, we can’t pay stars to sit on the bench.
Personally, I like the trade. People talk about Frenchy’s production in NY, but again, the Mets are in a death spiral and he wasn’t getting that production here, regardless of *why* he wasn’t getting that production. For all those saying Church is a defensive downgrade, try this on for size: Church doesn’t have mental lapses during the play like Jeff. Oh, and about that arm, yes, it was a cannon. But it had no targeting software. I’ve been watching the Braves religiously since Frenchy came up, he airmailed Mac far more often than he put it on target. He was going to get the multi-million dollar catcher hurt. Finally, we traded French for Church, Church got hurt and now we can play Diaz and Anderson in the same lineup. Both are an upgrade from French.
Go Braves!
Donald Day
September 6th, 2009
10:50 pm
Braves Reflections
by Donald L. Day
donald.l.day@gmail.com
It was an exceptional game, really. The home team struggled to fend off the out of town challengers, who had a (relatively) worse record of wins and losses. The local crowd, as always partisan, berated attempts by the challengers’ pitcher to limit their team’s losses, by holding a player to his base, repeatedly. (Yes, the “boos” were audible.)
It was very late in an extra-inning match. Both professional teams had made their share of mistakes. Honestly, the home team had made more, despite their stellar defenses.
Very late in the game (as in another major league baseball game, recently) the opposing pitcher was at bat. Pitchers typically are less than no threat, in baseball. There was no reason, in terms of game tactics, to intimidate the opposing pitcher. Yet, by accident (truly), the Braves pitcher in Sunday’s game fired a 90+ mile per hour fast ball directly at the opposing pitcher’s brain.
The home pitcher “beaned” the opposing pitcher. Intentionally or not, the contest could not have been more stark: One antagonist attacked the other, directly (or, so it seemed). The response of both sports teams and of the spectators is the point of this essay.
On Sunday, the fans in the stands arose as a mass, one, to express their sympathies for the stricken pitcher – even (or maybe because) he was a player from the “other” side. As in the earlier incident in anther game, they obviously were concerned genuinely for the health of the stricken player – and it mattered not that he played for the ‘other’ side.
The concern was palpable. The tears were real. It mattered NOT that the player was competing with local players.
In God’s grace, this person (the competing pitcher) will be made whole, again – as all others who compete in similar spirits. The point is this: We all need to accept the spirit of competition as improvement, not as competition or destruction. .
I certainly hope above all else that the opposing pitcher has a complete and speedy recovery. That is the least that we can hope for.
Donald Day
Poppa Francouer
September 16th, 2009
12:03 pm
Look, it’s obvious Jeff was hated on here in Atlanta. He was hitting better than Lou Gehrig until people started getting on him too much. I remember one afternoon after he was done helping little old ladies cross the road, I said to him “Jeff, why don’t you just walk across the Chattahoochie & get the hell out of here?” but he wouldn’t do it. He said he still wanted to stay because if he left he would be ruining the lives of countless 9-13 yr old girls. He said that since he was the only player on the team worthy of their worship, he must stay. I made him promise that he’d at least spend more time to himself & stop spending so much time rescuing orphans from burning buildings, etc. Then the Braves went & strung him up on a cross. I knew he was better than this town so when he rose 3 days later in NY, I knew that everything would be ok & that he forgave Frank Wren for renouncing him 3 times before he was traded. We had fish that night & the next day we knelt before him prior to the opening pitch. All is right in the world now!
Hitting Aint Easy
September 18th, 2009
10:57 am
Just wanted to say that when you can’t hit, you can’t hit, and Francouer was a joke of an offensive player. What did he have this year 5 doubles and 5 homers before he was traded? You either better slug or hit for average, neither of which he could do. Sad because I like his competitiveness and fire. Whether he will ever master the strike zone and learn to get on base, not the Braves problem anymore. I highly doubt he will learn the skills this late in his development but I wish him the best. If his comment about OBP is true, then his attitude may forever hold him back. Let’s catch the Rockies.
larry e. day
September 18th, 2009
7:52 pm
Enter your comments her GO BRAVES !!!!!!!!!!!
fred dre
September 20th, 2009
12:15 pm
Enter your comments hereopposing managers have always taken advantage of b.c and his lefty righty righty lefty decisions over the years. they would put in a hitter knowing that he would remove a pitcher to face that hitter,a pitcher the opposing manager wanted out anyway. to be honest,bobby haven’t managed the braves in years,opposing managers have.
PMC
September 28th, 2009
8:57 am
He cried his way out of town upset he got sent to the minors. He made it clear he hated life here and played poorly all the way out of town. HE DIDN’T PLAY HARD here. He Quit.
He mentally checked out. If that’s not the case then he wouldn’t have performed better after the move. He never really adjusted here because he hated it here and he made that obvious. There was too much pressure for him to succeede locally and they weren’t going to pay him what he thought he was worth because he’s not “the natural” He’s a great defensive player and an average hitter.
BartBuzz
September 28th, 2009
10:13 am
I’m glad to see that Jeff has redeemed himself to some degree since the trade. He seems like a nice kid. Too bad he didn’t live up to his press clippings. At least we have Tommy Hanson! That guy can pitch.
chbeyer
October 5th, 2009
7:28 am
Finished the season batting over 300 (as a Met), hit 10 home runs with the Mets and had 78 RBI’s. What did his replacement do? It was a dumb trade. Pendleton isnt a good batting coach.
welikebaseball2
October 6th, 2009
4:36 pm
chbeyer: LOL. Are you saying we should have waited for Frenchy to shake his horrendous slump…in spite of the fact that we were sinking in the standings & he was showing no signs of coming out of it? Yeah, he hit much better in NY but sometimes a change of scenery is the only thing to shake such a funk. Who says he would’ve “found his swing” in Atlanta? Pendleton’s to blame for Frenchy forgetting how to hit like a major-leager? If so, you going to give Pendleton credit for Escobar, Prado, & Diaz hitting 300? Based on your take on Pendleton, I guess you’d label the Texas guru as a poor hitting coach too, right? Guess that makes Chipper a poor hitting mentor too right? Remember, he was a bit of an on-the-side instructor for Frenchy. Come on, can’t we go a bit far with the loyalty to the “hometown” guys?
John A.
October 9th, 2009
9:36 am
JF doesn’t understand why the OBP isn’t put on the scoreboard, well Jeff for the same reason they don’t put how much you make each time at bat. Would you like for the fans to know how much you just made to strike out?
Don
October 15th, 2009
9:28 am
Bobby Cox’s complete failure to teach/ emphasize/ demand that hitters make the opposing pitcher throw some pitches/ work the count/ be selective is unbelievable. This has multiple advantages, and failure to do this guarantees inconsistant run production. Francoeur is a good example of the results of this – the difference between becomming a great hitter and what he became with the Braves. Andruw Jones is an even better example – with his talent, should have been one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. The way he overswung, it was amazing that he could make contact at all. You did not have to have average intelligence to see this. Just more of the results of Cox’s like of management/ direction. And it is not just a few extreme cases, this effects the entire team.
ltdbrave
October 16th, 2009
6:10 am
The Braves have a habit of shipping players off to another team for stepping on their toes. I guess it is easier than trying to help and set them on a straight path. I am very happy for Jeff but sad for Atlanta. It gave him a chance to get away and turn over a new leaf. It was evident that Pendelton did not know what he was doing. As I have said before, when someone is they say that this is just a business decision, but let them really love a player/coach and that player/coach is not performing, you will never see them pull the trigger. So much for business decisions. Unless the Braves clean house, and this includes Schuerholz and Wren, it will be a long time before they return to the top.