He’s Frenchy, as in benchy, and he could soon be gone
When Job got fed up, as Job would periodically, he’d head up to Adairsville and stop by the farm, and he’d say to Bobby Cox, “I’m at wit’s end — what should I do?”
And Bobby Cox would say, “Joby [as we know, Cox loves his nicknames], just be patient.”
OK, I embellish. But I do it to make a point: When you’ve exhausted Bobby Cox’s legendary patience, you’re probably not long for these Braves. Last week Kelly Johnson went from being the everyday second baseman to being benched to being placed on the disabled list, and Jeff Francoeur was held out of the lineup three games running before being reinserted Tuesday night. (He went 1-for-4 with an infield single.) And the sound you heard was of two homegrown players who’ve been Atlanta Braves since 2005 going, “Gulp.”
Kenny Lofton didn’t fit in here, and he was gone after one season. Same with Bret Boone. Dan Kolb was brought here to be the closer, couldn’t do the job and was gone the next year. John Rocker lasted 18 months after his Sports Illustrated rant appeared, and the only reason he stayed so long was the Braves couldn’t find anyone to take him. Cox never rips a guy publicly — and almost never does he resort to managerial privilege and trash a guy to reporters off the record — but you can tell when he’s fed up.
And this is a different sort of getting-fed-up than Cox demonstrated when he pulled Yunel Escobar — or, long ago, Andruw Jones — from a game. Those upbraidings were designed to get a young player’s wandering attention. Benching a guy over a longer haul is something far more serious. It’s not a move Cox ever makes in haste, or in anger. It’s a move he undertakes only when he has reached a conclusion he has labored long not to reach.
Loading ...It takes Cox a lot longer to lose faith than it does, say, Lou Piniella. Cox believes until he’s given reason to stop believing, but when he stops … well, that’s about all she wrote. Johnson was afforded every opportunity and hit .216. Francoeur was extended an even longer grace period — we’re now going on a second calendar year of his laboriously documented flailings — but has simply ceased being a competent big-league hitter. And now both have been benched.
The Francoeur breach has been coming for a while. The Braves loved his enthusiasm — he is, as you’ve heard, a great guy — but couldn’t understand why he never made the necessary adjustments in technique. And they were mightily miffed when he took off for Texas to consult hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. As Terry Pendleton, the Braves’ hitting coach, has said: “It bugged me at first.” And as much as Cox loves his players, he loves his coaches even more.
This spring Francoeur told me, “As long as Six has my back, I don’t care about anything else.” Well, Bobby Cox wears No. 6, and he no longer stands in Francoeur’s corner.
And Francoeur, who’s no fool, already seems to have one eye on the exit. He told Dave O’Brien: “[I] just have to be patient and wait my turn, whether it’s here or somewhere else.”
At this moment, I’d bet on the “somewhere else.” When you’re a Brave and you’ve lost Bobby Cox, you’ve lost everything.
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553 comments Add your comment
joe
July 7th, 2009
11:14 am
Yeah, those ESPN analysts covering the game were mightily defending Bobby Cox, as if they read some of these blogs. They said there was “a lot of talk in Atlanta” about replacing Bobby Cox
PappyHappy
July 7th, 2009
11:14 am
In the beginning, Francouer had the skill and apparently, the self motivation and determination. WHAT HAPPENED??
Bobby Cox
July 7th, 2009
11:16 am
Bank, your right you can’t compare the two evenly because Jeff has had much more of an oppurtunity. It was the cloest comparison I could make though for this situation. Like I said before I’m not saying Jeff hasnt been givin for than a fair shake here. My main point was I think its ridiculous when people question whether or not he is willing to try and make changes to win. Somebody said that they did like that he said he wasnt happy about sitting….ANYBODY who has ever competeted knows you shouldnt happy about sitting. I’m sure he understands why he is sitting, but I dont want him to be happy about it. Also I have to disagree again with you GT I do not believe he has superstar ability. Alot of kids burst into the majors with a bang and then turn into just ok ball players.
Rufus
July 7th, 2009
11:17 am
Jeff Francoeur, will do better somewhere else, as for Kelly, he’s not a second baseman, nor can he hit, so it’s time he either moves to the outfield or gets out of baseball. Be patient, year in, year out be patient, going on 4 years and nothing happening, at best third or fourth place. So far a copy of last year
Bobby Cox, cares for his players, and his coach’s, what he really should be caring for, is the fans that pay his salary.
It’s ridicules to be keep blaming players after players, for not winning.
What’s needed, is to start cleaning house, beginning with the manager, and than the coaching staff.
Reprogram the players, and hope the damage by the manager won’t last long.
Mark in Woodstock
July 7th, 2009
11:17 am
This has been the car wreck on the interstate happenining over and over for the past two years…..I wonder if it’s Jeff or coaching or a combination of the two. Obviously for Jeff to head to Texas he didn’t trust or have a close relationship with the coaching staff. Maybe he can sign a minor league contract with Texas in the off season and Rudy J can straigten him out. As a Clemson and Braves fan I looked back on the first season and the “Natural” cover shot with excitement but he never could adjust his “wild” swing to big league pitching.
niremetal
July 7th, 2009
11:18 am
We need a tennis blog. Just sayin.
Alan
July 7th, 2009
11:18 am
You can’t blame the Braves or Cox for holding onto Francoeur, hoping he would resume his form of his first two years. It’s a lot like owning stock; when to buy or sell. You see big league ball players hit their stride after being traded (i.e. Maddux). Let him go now while there’s still some trade value. That’s fair to the Braves and Jeff. I think Frenchy sees the writing on the wall. It would have been a nice hometown story like McCann, but it just isn’t working. You gotta figure Frenchy would always like to be a Brave, I hope he has the maturity to accept a trade and not act childish like he did last year when he was sent to the minors.
brave1
July 7th, 2009
11:19 am
A change of scenery is sometimes the best medicine.
But please spare me all the apologists that say he has ‘extra’ pressure here because he’s the hometown guy.
He’s had more support and the extra rope BECAUSE he’s the local guy.
StingerSplash
July 7th, 2009
11:19 am
I saw Frenchy play in high school too. I remember vividly his vivisection of Lassiter in the 2002 state finals, including a titantic, game-winning home run on a 1-0 pitch that was about 3 inches off the dirt.
I still think there is some value in Francoeur, and some value for the Braves in Francoeur and I don’t mean as trade bait. Yes, he runs the risk of turning into a faster version of Glenn Wilson at this point (another strong armed right fielder that nobody ever ran on either but whose hitting, well, didn’t match his throwing prowess from the far reaches of the outfield).
Maybe Frenchy needs a little “disabled list” time with an “unspecified” injury. Couldn’t “hurt”, could it?
francoeuristheman
July 7th, 2009
11:19 am
gt not a chance you pitched against either of them, and if somehow you did u prob came in late in the game becuase phs was up big and francoeur had already hit 3 homeruns and then prob proceeded to take you deep
the hopes of the braves nation rests in your hands mr. hanson
July 7th, 2009
11:21 am
im with joe…
i think bobby is going to throw him back in there today. i think that matty not getting a hit yesterday will be his excuse. thanks matty.
francoeuristheman
July 7th, 2009
11:22 am
seriously mark how have you not been fired yet, there cant be anybody that likes you
GT, where nerds get shot and robbed everyday
July 7th, 2009
11:23 am
ok francoueristheman you’re right, I made it all up lol. Get a life, I have better things to do than lie on a blog.
JeanE
July 7th, 2009
11:25 am
Francoeur is never going to get any better in ATL. He MAY improve with a change of scenery but it’s played out here. Trouble is, what can you get for him? Some balls? Diaz should be platooning with both Anderson & Franceour or playing the rest of the reason in right. Jeffy can never seem to wrap his golden boy head around the fact that he is not as good as his best bud Mac. I know he’s a nice guy but frankly, he seems to be a bit of a lunkhead. Let him flail at bad pitches somewhere else. He’s done here. End of Story.
GT, where nerds get shot and robbed everyday
July 7th, 2009
11:26 am
Bank Walker, I NEVER felt safe when Brian was up. The only thing worse was pitching AT Duluth, they’re field was a crackerbox
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 7th, 2009
11:26 am
There’s too much water under the bridge here. The best chance for Francouer to salvage his career is to go somewhere and start anew. I don’t see where arbitration eligibility would hold up a trade. What leverage is he going to have in an arbitration hearing?
Josh
July 7th, 2009
11:26 am
If he plays out the season and isn’t offered arbirtration, would he take a minor league deal to stay with the Braves? KC is the only place he could get a major league deal, maybe San Diego, San Francisco, or Oakland but they haven’t really shown any interest when he was being shopped. Jeff still has talent he needs to get his head screwed on straight.
Larry
July 7th, 2009
11:26 am
Give it a rest, for crying out loud. The manager starts playing a hot bat with a team that is struggling to score runs, that does not spell the end for a struggling player. You all are worse than a bunch of gossipy old hens.
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 7th, 2009
11:28 am
GT:
Given that hindsight is 20-20, maybe you should have plunked McCann and let him take his base.
The ghost of Moose Granger
July 7th, 2009
11:29 am
Other Braves who didn’t fit:
Deion Sanders – traded for Roberto Kelly (and for running his mouth)
Tim Spooneybarger – key for Marlins in the Mike Hampton deal (whined publicly after Leo hurt his widdle feewings)
Albie Lopez ($4 million mop-up man)
Danys Baez (refused a set-up role and sat out the final month of season on DL with no apparent injury)
Bob Wickman (but only after his super-powers from his inital half-season wore off)
Andre "Pulpwood" Smith
July 7th, 2009
11:29 am
I love the idea of a deal with Milwaukee involving Fielder, but does anyone know when Big Prince becomes a free agent?
B
July 7th, 2009
11:29 am
Maybe, The Braves need a new hitting coach.
ppaddy123
July 7th, 2009
11:30 am
Well, I guess the grandma’s all across Braves’ Nation must have had it with Frenchy, too! He was safe as long as there was a CHANCE he would put fans in the seats. He had a “glimmer of hope” earlier this year, but as we’ve all seen, nothing has really changed in his hitting mindset. A .290 OBP!!!!! Are you kidding me? Hey……maybe we can trade him to the Rangers (and Rudy Jaramillo) to get some of our talent from the Texiera trade back
RHR
July 7th, 2009
11:30 am
As annoyed as your blog yesterday made me this is redemption.
You know, I already made a big long post in DOB’s comments yesterday about the difference in Kelly’s comments/reaction to being benched, Prado’s comments about playing time, and Jeff’s comments to DOB yesterday about being benched. In short, Kelly and Prado were all about “where ever I’m needed” “I’m not doing well right now (KJ)” and “whats best for the team” … Jeff on the other hand was all “I don’t make out the lineup” “I know I can play” “I don’t like it”.
The boy just doesn’t get it. He still believes he’s The Natural and that the Braves are crazy for not giving him a “david wright type contract”. I absolutely cannot wait until he is no longer a Brave. I am certain that if anyone else would take him that day would’ve already come. At worst, we’ll have to put up with him for the rest of this season but I would be stunned if he’s back next year.
GT, where nerds get shot and robbed everyday
July 7th, 2009
11:30 am
NC Braves Fan, it was amazing. If you ever get a chance to go to NHS, Look at the baseball field and the retaining wall is in right field. Ball went almost to the wooden fence above the retaining wall. I am trying to find a picture of the field but seeing is believing.
LoveTPbut...
July 7th, 2009
11:30 am
How many excellent hitters have come to Atlanta only to get much, much, much, much worse? Maybe Bobby ought to take a close look at the staff.
paul
July 7th, 2009
11:30 am
some goofy comments on here… Now i agree that our hitting stinks. maybe some of it due to pendleton, who knows. but look at texas overall hitting stats. got a lot of hackers over there, just have more power guys than the braves. francouer would be a role player on an average team. average range with a good arm and no bat and no speed. his mechanics are brutal, he is locking up his front forearm and elbow on every swing, you can’t hit that way. he is also over swinging at everything, meaning he isn’t picking up the ball very well, it looks like he has ZERO pitch recognition.
to say an american league team will trade for jeff to be a bat off the bench is stupidity. HE CAN’T HIT!!!! he has 15 home runs in his last 1000 at bats and almost as few walks.
i will say… to not play prado because of his ‘defense’ has to be grounds for firing someone. He is your best pure hitter, and HELLO has anyone seen kelly turn a double play this year. how bout catch a foul ball pop up, what about backhand a ball… kelly has easily been the worst 2b the braves have had since the 70’s.
Lifetime Braves Fan
July 7th, 2009
11:31 am
Why not try a new hitting coach. I know that Terry P. is the chosen one being the next manager. Put him in the front office and let someone else try to get the braves bats hot. One 10 run game a month and everyone is drooling all over themselves. If no changes are going to be made lets start looking toward next year. Be sellers and not pretenders.
mendoza line
July 7th, 2009
11:31 am
Has anyone suggested that Frenchy stop swinging at the first pitch EVERY time he comes to the plate?…
Jeff R
July 7th, 2009
11:31 am
Francouer is all but gone. The question is: “Can Wren get anything of value in return for him?”
PMC
July 7th, 2009
11:31 am
I bet he plays tonight after Diaz went 0-4 last night.
Don
July 7th, 2009
11:31 am
It is good to give players, especially young players, a reasonable opportunity. But you make Bobby Cox’s approach seem good. It takes him longer to make obvious need adjustments than it would any good manager. How many games has he already lost this season by not going to Prado several weeks ago. How many games has he lost this season by not replacing Francoeur weeks ago. And this is nothing new; he has lost many games over many seasons because he did not make obvious moves. He won’t even adjust the batting order to take advantage of hot hitters or move down slumping hitters.
Bravo
July 7th, 2009
11:32 am
The best thing the Braves could do at this time is move Lowe to the Angels for a return of Brandon Wood and William Smith. Both of these guys would be great additions plus would free up the 15mil going to Lowe. At that point we could move Escobar to the BoSox for lugo (having the sox pick up his salary) and Buchholz. Then move Kotchman, Francouer and possibly Johnson and JoJo for the likes of a Berkman or Dunn. This would fix our lack of power and also deepen our pitching prospects. Wood would be a Chipper backup and possibly could LF until he took 3rd permenantly.
LSU
July 7th, 2009
11:32 am
Mark,
Questions???
You think Prado can be a productive everyday player over a long period of time? I hope your answer is yes.
We’re not going to get much for Frenchy, are we?
Diaz/Anderson in left are not horrible. You agree?
When are Chipper & McCann going to take some responsibility for letting the team down in clutch situations as often as they do?
You think Javy Lopez juiced in his great $$$ year?
Please tell me that Juan Pierre won’t be a Brave?
Kotchman seems to be flying under the ridicule radar. He’d be a decent pinch hitter & late inning defensive player, but definitely doesn’t need to be our starting 1st baseman after this season. Your thoughts on that?
PMC
July 7th, 2009
11:32 am
Hey he’s still got eligibility and Clemson is going to need all the help they can get…. just saying.
francoeuristheman
July 7th, 2009
11:33 am
i have a life man, im not the one making up stories on an ajc blog telling everyone i struck francoeur and mcann in hish school
RHR
July 7th, 2009
11:33 am
Frenchy’s just Andrew revisited. Adjust or leave.
Uh. Wrong. ANDRUW gave us 10 great years before he started to struggle in his last season as a Brave. Jeff gave us what? A great 5 months? Please.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 7th, 2009
11:33 am
Yeah, Duluth was 280 down the left line. It was a joke. Although it didn’t seem to help or hurt McCann or the Greens.
Don
July 7th, 2009
11:33 am
As long as Bobby Cox’s approach to managing the offense or lack thereof has the Braves next to last in all of baseball in average number of pitches seen per at bat, our run production will have to be terrible.
Ralph
July 7th, 2009
11:35 am
Mark, you are so much in the tank for Cox, anyone but the die-hard Cox supporters would tell us that patience is not always a virtue especially when there is only 162 games in a season and it took Cox half a season to do what everyone eles new he should have done 2 months ago, were it not for Cox’s patients (or as I call it “stupitity”) the braves could have been in 1st place now.
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
11:35 am
For all those saying this is Terry Pendelton’s fault … didn’t Jeff Francoeur also spend time with Rudy Jaramillo? And how much of an effect has that had?
RHR
July 7th, 2009
11:37 am
And I cannot believe that some people are so clueless they are still blaming Francants troubles on TP. Jeff is uncoachable! Either he is a complete idiot or he thinks he already knows it all! How do you people not see that?
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
11:38 am
Some thoughts, LSU: I wouldn’t think the market for Francoeur is at its apex, no. I don’t think the Braves will trade for Pierre. Diaz and Anderson are adequate in left. Kotchman is adequate at first base.
Bravo
July 7th, 2009
11:38 am
The payroll would have a lot of flexiblity if we proposed my trades allowing flexiblity in the offseason plus upgrading our offense. Don’t think trading Lowe and gaining William Smith and Clay Buchholz would hurt our starting rotation much.
Ryan
July 7th, 2009
11:39 am
I would agree that Frenchy should stop flailing at the first pitch every time. This would perhaps help a lot of people in the lineup if we could get opposing pitchers into deeper counts. I suggest that we not even allow Francoeur to have a bat until the second pitch.
coachdawg 2000
July 7th, 2009
11:40 am
my 8 year old nephew has more discipline at the plate than franceour. The posterboy for daddy-ball brats everywhere. He doesn’t listen to a guy who won mvp’s. Get him on the next plane to washington or kansas city.
coachdawg 2000
July 7th, 2009
11:40 am
my 8 year old nephew has more discipline at the plate than franceour. The posterboy for daddy-ball brats everywhere. He doesn’t listen to a guy who won mvp’s. Get him on the next plane to washington or kansas city.
Bobby Cox
July 7th, 2009
11:40 am
Did someone just suggest we get Julio Lugo? in the words of Lloyd Christmas “ok kill him”
Chief Ground Out
July 7th, 2009
11:40 am
Home Town Bust.
Bravo
July 7th, 2009
11:41 am
Mark,
Whats your thoughts on my proposals? I know Houston loves Berkman but I also know they are building for the future. Wouldn’t they consider a Berkman for Kotchman, Johnson, and/or JoJo/francouer?