All-Trade Friday: Should the Braves deal Jeff Francoeur?
I thought it would work. I thought Jeff Francoeur would remember how to hit and the masses would forget he’d forgotten and all would be bliss for the hometown kid and the team of his dreams. But it’s not working, and I’ve come to believe it won’t.
Too much has happened. He got too big too fast. It wasn’t his fault. He was great from the moment of his big-league arrival in July 2005 and we — meaning the fans and the media and the Braves themselves — loved him and reveled in every detail of his charmed young life. But then, after two mostly solid full seasons, he stopped hitting. And everything changed.
Francoeur was upset when the Braves sent him to Class AA on the Fourth of July. “I don’t think there’s any way I can [feel as warmly toward the organization] 100 percent,” he said in February. “I want to play here forever; I’ve said that all along. But the business part of it is different.”
The Braves weren’t thrilled when Francoeur went to Texas to work with Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. Said Terry Pendleton, the Braves’ hitting coach: “I asked Jeff, ‘Why didn’t you come to me?’ Obviously he felt the need to go elsewhere. It’s his winter. [But] it bugged me at first. Not hearing it from him, that got me more than anything. I told him, ‘I thought our relationship was better than that.’ ”
Loading ...Where once there was sunshine, there’s distrust and frustration. The Braves wonder if Francoeur can be coached. Francoeur wonders if the Braves have his best interests at heart. He tries too hard and falls back on bad habits. The Braves drop him in the order and struggle to be patient. And here he is, batting. 245 with a microscopic on-base percentage of .280. He’s on pace to finish with 11 homers and 71 RBIs — same as he did last year.
I thought it would work, but it isn’t working and I don’t believe it will again. Francoeur and the Braves need fresh starts. He needs to go somewhere where every swing and miss doesn’t stir civic angst. The Braves need a right fielder whose persona doesn’t outstrip production. Both parties need to breathe deeply again.
I would hate it if Francoeur played elsewhere. I’ve known him since he was a junior at Parkview — he remains the greatest high school football player I’ve seen in 25 years at the AJC — and he’s a fine fellow who tries to accommodate everyone. But I’d hate it more to see this psychodrama drag into August and beyond. It’s time for both sides to cut their losses. It’s time to trade Frenchy.
What could the Braves get for him? Probably not all that much, but that’s not really the point . They’d be better off without him, and he without them. He could slip into another uniform and be someone other than the homegrown Golden Child. He could relax. He could just go play ball again, as opposed to feeling compelled to sign every autograph and pose for every picture.
I am, as we know, wrong about everything, and I wouldn’t mind being wrong about this. I’d love to see Francoeur become the Francoeur we all thought he’d be, but the time for that seems past. I don’t see a happy ending for this player in this city with this team. Wish I did, but I don’t.
Other installments: Should the Thrashers trade Ilya Kovalchuk? And also: Should the Hawks trade Josh Smith?
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476 comments Add your comment
Steve
June 12th, 2009
10:05 am
I have always been a huge fan of Jeff’s but a change of scenery would probably do him good. The Braves rushed him to the majors too soon even though they thought they needed him at the time. It would have done him good to get a full season of AAA under his belt. He is cleary trying to hard and I think it has become more mental for him then anything. He might need to go see Smoltzy old head doctor?
BRAD KOMMINSK
June 12th, 2009
10:06 am
CHANGE HIS NUMBER TO 7, WORKED WELL FOR ME…..
Cameron
June 12th, 2009
10:06 am
I grew up playing baseball, basketball, and football with Jeff. He was head and shoulders better than everyone else in baseball. He was good in basketball, but didn’t have a future. He was great in football, but I don’t think he was an NFL player. However, baseball was his ticket to the big time.
I believe in Jeff and still think that he can have an All-Star career. I am the eternal Jeff defender. I know he outworks everyone. I know he cares. I know he wants to win and not let the team down. When the rest of us were out partying and chasing women, he was at the park or working out, trying to get better. And, it showed during games.
Unfortunately, I think that he would benefit froma change of scenery. He would be out fo the hometown spotlight. He would be away from hometown friends and hometown media. The only problem is that the Braves would not benefit in the least from letting him move on. He is the best fit for RF in their organization for the next two or three years. He has more potential then Brandon Jones, Cody Johnson, Matt Diaz, Gregor Blanco, Jordan Schafer, or anyone other remotely close to being ready for the big league OF’s we have. I know there comes a point where potential doesn’t meet production and you just have to cut your losses. But, I think the Braves will regret doing so.
If you could trade him for someone that will make your team better for the next two or three years, until Heyward is ready to take over RF, then I would do it. But, the fact of the matter is that you aren’t going to get any value for him. Best thing to do is to try to get him right. If TP is upset that Jeff didn’t come to him, if Bobby says TP is doing a great job, then TP needs to get Jeff right. If he does that, this whole organization will benefit. Of course, the bloggers will still blame it on someone else.
Sadly, the best option might be to endure the season with him. Hopefully, he produces and we make it to the playoffs. If we don’t and he shows no signs of improvement, then we should just not offer arbitration. Let him sign with whomever he pleases and receive compensatory draft picks.
Outside Robber
June 12th, 2009
10:06 am
The best thing Francoeur has going for him from a skills standpoint is his arm. That said, what’s there to lose by sending him down to Class A ball with the strategy of having him learn how to pitch? If a former pitcher can turn himself into an outfielder like that guy in St Louis (Can’t remember his name at present), why not see if Francoeur can make the reverse transition?
Who knows? The experiment just might jump start something in Jeff. I have to think Francoeur has the ability to ‘bring it’ with a blazing fastball. It’s a start.
ASR
June 12th, 2009
10:06 am
Sad to say, but true: he needs to be traded. He seems to waffle between “I’m willing to learn a new approach” and “I just need to go back to being me.” He appears to be a great kid but either his talent is lacking or the stress of playing in his hometown is too much.
As for a trade, the Braves should look to Oakland. They have a certain 29 year old (Matt Holliday) that could be the Braves’ answer for outfield production. After Medlen’s fine long relief a few nights ago, coupled with his quality start before his move to the bullpen, perhaps a package deal should be offered to Oakland.
The Braves have the pitching – this is arguably their best all around staff in 10 to 15 years, but the offense is terrible. Look at last night’s box score for proof: starter goes 8 innings of 1 run ball and we score . . . 1 run as well. These scores are becoming too common. Make a trade: use Frenchy and top pitcher.
Jack G.
June 12th, 2009
10:07 am
Jack Daniels
I’ll drink to that
SimpleDawg
June 12th, 2009
10:08 am
Does anyone think all of those “upset” Pirate fans would like to have McLouth back in center field and McCutcheon back in the minors….or how about in the Braves trade.
I think we acquired the wrong guy….that Pittsburgh GM might be about as dumb as a fox.
Scoob...
June 12th, 2009
10:08 am
every year KJ ends up around 265-270, giving him the career 269, French, after having forgotten how to hit, has gone from high 290’s down to 240’s giving him the same career b.a. BTW, I’m all for trading Kelly, even though he is a legitimate 265-270 hitter, not bad for a 2nd baseman. He just seems lost in the field at times, at least to my eyes. Ah, what the heck, until Blank comes in and buys the team in a few years nothing’ll change and besides, the Falcons crank up camp in a month or so.
Kevin McGlinchy
June 12th, 2009
10:10 am
Mark — do you think Frenchy’s temper tantrum at the time of his brief demotion last summer (and his subsequent whining this February) are a factor in the Braves’ decision not to send him to Gwinnett to work out his problems this season?
Larry
June 12th, 2009
10:10 am
Well, if you sports types would stop writing these stupid columns 3 times a week the analyze every at bat and every game then he would not need a change of scenery. If he needs to be traded it’s because YOU won’t leave him be. The fans are not on his case.
IGivUp
June 12th, 2009
10:11 am
The reason he went to another hitting coach is clear to everyone but the Braves management and can be seen clearly in the way the Braves fail to hit consistantly.
Tami
June 12th, 2009
10:14 am
This is a tough one. We all know that if Jeff is traded, he’ll relax (which is probably what he needs) and actually begin to play to his potential and beyond. Which, at that point, we’d all be dying to have him back here. However, if the Braves don’t do something (whatever that is), we’ll continue to watch our team lose. The guys have no problem getting on base these days. But, they have PLENTY of problems with runners in scoring position (aka-RSP). And it just seems like Jeff is a victim of this more than the other guys. It’s probably even among them in reality. But, it just SEEMS like Jeff always strikes out, grounds out or flies out with RSP. I have no idea what the solution should be — maybe what Steve @ 10:05 suggests – see Smoltzie’s old head doc?? Otherwise, I guess I’d have to go with….uhhh…trading him. Ouch. That hurt.
?
June 12th, 2009
10:14 am
It all started when they fired Nock-A-Homa.
Swaga1
June 12th, 2009
10:14 am
I totally agree with you greg
Mark, i don’t even think he will be close to that if he doesn’t develop any discipline at the plate. Everyone is talking about firing Pendleton but Jeff is the one who has to Man Up and take responsibility.
Supes
June 12th, 2009
10:16 am
A resounding HELL YEAH trade him. He should have been traded last year, during the off-season, this spring (when he supposedly had worked out all the problems with his swing).
At this point a trade is MORE than necessary. It’ll benefit the Braves and Jeff. Jeff needs to get out of here and start fresh elsewhere. Braves need to move on from this ridiculous “love affair” with the home town hero.
Of course you won’t get much for Jeff straight up, however, should you package him with another player, say a bullpen guy or Jo-Jo Reyes you should be able to get at least something decent in return.
It is what it is. What else is there to do. Just outright release him next year he’ll be arbitration elligible and want 5 or more million!
So long Jeff FRANCINE!
Wren should fraking look at the poll numbers. The Fans have spoken!
Out Machine should be on his way out of town soon!
Brad Fisher
June 12th, 2009
10:16 am
Keep Francour, SEND PENDLETON DOWN to the farm system to learn how to succefully teach how to hit. Yesterday the pitcher threw 13 stike outs and he only was supported by 1 run?
cphizzle
June 12th, 2009
10:16 am
its sad a day after going 2-3 with a rbi and a walk all you morons are doggin him but that is what it has come to and its sad his struggles have a lot to do with idiots like all of you
DHD
June 12th, 2009
10:19 am
Wow…another original thought. We’ve been talking about this since last season. Glad the AJC could join the discussion.
RK
June 12th, 2009
10:19 am
cphizzle, if you are happy with a 280 OBP and 621 OPS, then I hope you are happy with a team that won’t go anywhere.
Tony Cloninger
June 12th, 2009
10:21 am
I coudn’t pitch worth a flip, but I loved to hit when the bases were loaded.
Corliss
June 12th, 2009
10:22 am
Frenchy=Brad Kommisk. Nuff Said.
Mike
June 12th, 2009
10:22 am
Trade G. Anderson before Jeff or package both of them for a hitting coach.
raiderguy
June 12th, 2009
10:23 am
At least let Diaz play full time until we get rid of Frenchy….
Atlanta Cowards
June 12th, 2009
10:24 am
All of you morons who say to give him more time are the reason this is a problem. The dude just isnt good, get it through your heads (even though its probably just his dad blogging under multiple names). Nobody in baseball has had more time to “correct” his issues than he has and he has done absolutely nothing with the opportunities provided him. No other team would give someone such a long leash and Bobby and the Braves should be ashamed that they do. He single handedly kills rallys. He cant advance runners, he can’t drive them in. He is a strikeout and double play machine. So he had a decent game yesterday. 1. If I had 1 good day out of every 50 at my job, yeah, that woudl fly.
Who cares what you can get for him. The problem is he brings the team down and everyone in the clubhouse knows it. He comes up to bat in a crucial situation and everyone goes “oh crap”. The point is to get him as far away from this team as possible to releive the strain on himself and more importantly the strain he is placing on the rest of this team. His failure speaks for itself. But all of you apologists are the same morons who don’t believe OBP is important because its not the scoreboard.
LT- A Blogger
June 12th, 2009
10:24 am
Yes.
Also, KJ deserves to be equally trashed. I don’t care if his OPS is 100 pts higher. He makes that up with all the ground balls that go by him that decent 2nd basement would field. RF/LF/2nd base are the reasons this team will not be playing in Oct.
cphizzle
June 12th, 2009
10:25 am
good grief RK how many of the other starters drove in runs yesterday or more got more than one hit. now there are the times that it is the other way around but my point is is that everything he does is under a microscope whether its good or bad. when he it the homer to send the cubs game into extras everybody was like oh just wait till tomorrow he will suck again, quite frankly he cant win and its people like everyone on this blog who have a big part in it
GT Falcon
June 12th, 2009
10:27 am
MB,
Well said. Can’t agree more. Bmac is our homegrown Golden Child. I’ve said that since day one.
Turtsnap
June 12th, 2009
10:28 am
I was talking with my baseball buds just yesterday. I have been on the “trade Frenchy” bus since last year and until recently, they had been reluctant to climb aboard. But the bus is full now :O)
When talking though, one of my buddies had a good point. About the time things went south for Frenchy was about the time he got married. I’m just saying……
Also, seems things started going south for Frenchy when he got his panties in a wad because the Braves gave the longterm contract to his buddy McCann.
Anyways…. it is time to turn the page in RF, and for that matter, it is time to fire the hitting coach as well!!
RK
June 12th, 2009
10:30 am
cphizzle, who cares what happened in one game? Talk about a small sample size…
Corliss
June 12th, 2009
10:30 am
Can Lemke still play? Seriously, KJ needs to be picking this guy’s brain every day.
Jeff R
June 12th, 2009
10:32 am
Relucantly, I agree with Mark. Francoeur would benefit from a change, and the Braves would benefit from a RF upgrade.
I think there’s a 50-50 chance that Heyward could make the team in ‘10. Schafer should be back, and McLouth could swing to RF.
cphizzle
June 12th, 2009
10:32 am
not talkin about one game. that one game is example of how it is everytime for him, everytime he produces, which believe it or not he has with 26 rbis this year, he still is bashed. go look at every blog on this website for this whole season and you will see what im talkin about. it is a francouer bashing everyday no matter how he does on the field.
Supes
June 12th, 2009
10:33 am
At some point when does it “stop being a slump”? When is the reality going to set in, that maybe that’s just who Jeff really is now. A .260 singles hitter, with marginal power at times. When? Is a season and a half not enough evidence to convince some of you or would you rather he continue to hurt the team by his mediocre at best play.
Look, we all know Jeff cares. We know he wants to succeed. It just ISN’T happening! It’ll benefit both parties to go their seperate way. It’s like staying in a marriage for the kids. Doesn’t work. People see right throught it. Everyone in baseball knows that Jeff is NOT going to be a Brave next year, so why prolong the inevitable.
PLEASE TRADE JEFF ASAP (package him with Reyes) for whatever you can get.
Karl Childers
June 12th, 2009
10:33 am
If they can get some potted meat and biscuist with Mustard for this Frenchy boy then they should do it….
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm……….
Keeping It Real
June 12th, 2009
10:33 am
SimpleDawg,
I have been thinking the same thing. McCutcheon impresses me more than McClouth. He reminds me of Sanders, Butler, Nixon, Garr and Lofton when they ran the bases for the Braves. The triple is the most exciting play in baseball when you have a burner kicking up dust as he accelerates between first and third. Maybe McLouth can do it and bring back the excitement. How many games have the Braves been in this year where speed could have made the diference between losing and winning? I wonder if the Pirates offered McCutcheon to the Braves.
Stan
June 12th, 2009
10:33 am
Well in famous words “half of this game is 90% mental”. If Frenchy doesn’t believe in Atlanta, and it appears he doesn’t then it will affect his ability to produce. Pressing is the greatest average killer in the game. I have to agree with this column 100% it is time for a young guy who has the ability to be a pretty good player to find a place where he can be himself and relax so he can let the game come to him. We all like to think that the pressure of expectation is minimal, but millons of dollars and the television audience is a very big stage. Pressure bursts pipes and makes diamonds. He is a pipe in Atlanta, but I think he can become a diamond somewhere else.
AJC
June 12th, 2009
10:33 am
I say we trade Mark Bradley to a Northern League team for a bucket of balls and some baseball bats.
BT
June 12th, 2009
10:35 am
Mark, you probably just ravaged the DOB blog for the day.
Is anyone with the Braves speaking on or off the record to you guys (DOB, You, Schultz)? Has their been any discussion of a few weeks in Lawrenceville? Ironic that this comes up today after he has two hits in one day. Also, how does Frenchy’s morale seem?
ncbravesgirl
June 12th, 2009
10:35 am
Yes. I barely had to read the article to answer that question. I am not sure where he could go and not be under some sort of spotlight since he is “The Natural” and all. Actually, I think he needs to go to AAA and build up some of his value. His ego and head are in the way. He is a person that has never failed. Let him fail and give him a chance to rebound. He is not getting that at the major league level.
ERich42
June 12th, 2009
10:38 am
It was time to part ways with the Great White hope the year after he was drafted or even the day his cocky spoiled a** refused to go to the minors. All his life he has been feed with a silver spoon now he can’t find his way out of sunlight. I hear the sports talk show host here in Atlanta rip players and suggest trades to such players like Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Mike Vick all of which are far better than Frenchy and have done much more for thier respective teams. That clown Steak Shapiro even had the nerves to say Frenchy was the most popular player in Atlanta. If he was anywhere else he would be bagging groceries.
cphizzle
June 12th, 2009
10:38 am
stan how can he not press when he looks in the paper and see articles like this…no win situation
Sandy Springs 6 Pack
June 12th, 2009
10:39 am
Sad to say, but its time to go. I have been a big Frenchy fan since he was the Parkview hero. I think so much of ATL looks at him and sees the kid who used to cut your grass and now he’s all grown up. Only problem is we also see all that ability and so little strategy. If you could attach Julio Franco’s head to Frenchy’s body, we’d have a .400 hitter. It turns out the quiet kid from Duluth with a little paunch and a scruffy beard is the one with all the intangibles (and a lot of the tangibles, but they’re not as obvious).
Bangkapi Ajarn
June 12th, 2009
10:40 am
I think the AAA option is great (with a huge caveat, below), there are other outfielders that could be tossed in to see how they deal with the boiling pot of pressure that the big leagues (including VERY public comments on everything and anything). What is best for the Braves, what helps win games, in surely the prime motivator for any actions by Wren. BUT—, a very close second should be what is best for Jeff, to allow him time away from the spotlight to regain his confidence, his Mojo if you will.
Jeff himself, not the GM, not AJC writers, not bloggers, will need to decide how much he effort he wants to invest to rescue a career that appears to be floundering (in an industry where there is always some young phenom coming down the pipeline). IF he puts a sufficient amount of critical self-analysis into identifying the problem and finding a potential solution (such as his seeking out another hitting coach in the offseason),
In that case, he may determine that his scenarios may appear to be
A) trade to another team / hitting coach- BUT he tried that in the offseason with no measurable improvement after the first few weeks. What are the odds that a third coach and different environment will measurably improve the situation (same pitchers pitching to him the same way).
B) Go to AAA or even AA. He tried this once, but his attitude seemed to doom any possibility of success, he may not have completely embraced the idea that such a fundamental effort and change of mindset was required. Without such a change of attitude, going down to the farm again would have the same result.
C) On the likely chance the physical tools are still the same, consider that the problem is mental and go the route that Smoltz went early in his career, and get help from a sports psychiatrist.
From my distant perspective, not knowing the people personally, I think options B and C together would be best for JEFF, for his long term career, for his happiness 10 years from now. Even if the Braves decide to trade him (give up on him), which is a possibility if the situation remains stagnant.
It appears unlikely that the situation, as it exists, will change without something new factored into the equation. And, ultimately, that will need to come from Jeff himself, hopefully in his hometown where he still has a reservoir of goodwill waiting to be tapped, if he proactively works on it. Like embracing options B and C above.
Just a thought, from the perspective of what is best for the person first, and team second.
Bill
June 12th, 2009
10:40 am
Enter your comments here
DMac
June 12th, 2009
10:40 am
Most people seem to be missing a very important factor that was revealed in Bradley’s article. When Franceour was struggling with his hitting, he chose NOT to consult with Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton. Rather, he sought out the Ranger’s hitting coach during last off-season. This strongly suggests a lack of trust and/or respect on Franceour’s part for Pendleton’s ability to help him. The question now becomes, “why would the Braves retain a hitting coach that is so mistrusted and or disrespected by the players?”
I do not intend to ignore the original question, “should the Braves trade Franceour?” Logically, because they can get nothing in return for him at this time, the answer must be- No the Braves should NOT trade him. An EXTENDED stay in the minors should be the course of action. There Franceour could work on his hitting, away from the microscope and accompanying pressure of the major leagues. In any case, the minors are in Jeff Franceour’s future and he needs to face that fact. Even if he is traded, no major league team will plug him into their lineup. They too would insist on a minor league stay.
Brett
June 12th, 2009
10:42 am
Has anybody’s swing ever been talked about so much?
Scoob
June 12th, 2009
10:42 am
DAP — Francouer has 200 more career ABs. Adjusted to their career avgs. of:
Francouer – 1 HR/30 ABs; 1 RBI/6.8 ABs; 1 K/5.1 ABs
Johnson – 1 HR/ 37 ABs; 1 RBI/8 ABs; 1 K/4.5 ABs
This would put their relative stats(since 2007) at:
Francouer – Career avg at .266; 34 HR, 201 RBI, 273 K
Johnson – Career Avg. at .269; 38 HR, 181 RBI, 309 K
Still not so different. If anything with 200 more ABs Kelly’s career avg. will drop. So…..still too much unfair bias towards Francouer.
beau vighn
June 12th, 2009
10:43 am
Does it not bother anyone else to see the lackadasical approach that Garrett Anderson brings to the game. The other night a ball to left center turns into a triple because of his lack of hustle. He has this ho hum expression on his face and just saunters back to his postion. He actually looks bored. At least Diaz hustles. No wonder we are mired in 4th place, 6 1/2 back. This team needs some spark, from somebody, anybody.
Carl
June 12th, 2009
10:43 am
Mostly agree, but this team has other issues that are perhaps bigger than Francoeur. A .250 hitting 2b who isn’t great shakes on defense either. A .250 hitting retread LF who sleepwalks his way through games. A supposed all-world new CF who, you got it, hits .250 but we are told is the Next Coming.
61 year Braves Fan
June 12th, 2009
10:45 am
It is a shame to waste good starting pitching such as we have the last two days. Here in New England, we get to see the Red Sox on a regular basis. There approach to hitting is very different
than that of most Brave”s hitters. They are patient, know the strike zone, have long at bats which
wears down the opposing pitchers. Escobar, and particularly Francoeur swing to often at the first
pitch and get themselves out. A new hitting coach is definetly needed as Pendelton is horrible.
Also the Braves play fundementaly bad baseball which is a reflection of Cox and his coaching staff.
They should also be canned. Why did he intentionally walk Adam Laroche yesterday to pitch to
Adam Laroche who is a better hitter? Another one of Bobby’s goofs and he makes many everyday.