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
Hotrod
July 7th, 2009
12:57 pm
Every time I cuss frenchy he goes 3 for 5.
Then I get back on the fan train again and the
next game he stikes out with the bases loaded.
Just an enigma I guess.
AlabamaBrave
July 7th, 2009
12:59 pm
Best thing for Frenchy is a change of scenery. If you can’t trade him, send him down.
Guy
July 7th, 2009
1:01 pm
Cox needs to go! They need a change in manager!!
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
1:02 pm
Sorry to be out of touch, but I had to drive downtown for a little Digital meeting/workshop. But let me address a few questions that popped up:
No GM is going to trade Ryan Braun. Every good catcher eventually moves to first base for a game or so a week to prolong his career. And Francoeur could not go to college and play baseball because he has played professionally in that sport, but he might be able to play, say, football.
Supes
July 7th, 2009
1:02 pm
Mark,
Thanks for pointing out the obvious!
Weren’t you the one with the “famous” WHAT’S WITH THE VITROL AGAINST FRENCHY piece last year? Yeah, you went OUT OF YOUR WAY sir to defend this bum Jeff FRANCINE.
I called you out then, and here I am now, smiling proven VINDICATED that JEFF should have been traded last year or this off-season.
Frank Wren made a BIG MISTAKE by hitching his wagon to Kelly and Jeff this year. He calculated that due to Kelly’s hot finish (in 08) that we’d be OK at 2B, and that Jeff’s horrible 2008 was a “fluke”. Well, Wrong on both accounts. Meaning the reason why the Braves are where they are at.
Lack of production from LF (until recently), CF (until Nate was acquired), RF (pretty much all year long), 2B (when Kelly was in there), and 1B (when Casey struggled early on in April, and then had to go on the DL) killed this Braves team offensively.
We have the 3rd BEST STARTERS ERA and look at us…can’t even get to .500 record!
Mark, your article should be focused on the FAILURE that is FRANK WREN, not on Jeff. Jeff is old news.
After one and a half seasons of below average performance…IT STOPS BEING A SLUMP. It’s WHO YOU ARE. Jeff is who we thougth he was last year. Diminished power, failure to drive the ball and an easy out (when the pitcher he’s facing knows what the throw in the count).
Most of all, Jeff has proven that he is the most UN-intelligent BRAVES hitter on the team. His failure to adjust at the plate, and learn the Chipper Jones like plate discipline and situational hitting is not being stubborn…(not after 1 and half seasons)…it’s being STUPID.
The lowest of the low was facing the Phillies last week, when the pitcher missed with 2 off-speed pitches, fell behind, but then said you know what, I’m not “walking that bum”…I’ll make him hit his way on. He then proceeded to throw him 3 straight MIDDLE of the plate AVERAGE fastballs and STRUCK HIM OUT.
That is the AB that finished JEFF’s career as an Atlanta Brave no matter what happens next. After that Bobby finally PINCH hit for Jeff and Garret Anderson (who can still FRAKING turn on a mistake pitch), drove one out for a 2 run HR to seal the win for the braves.
JF McNamara
July 7th, 2009
1:03 pm
TP is not the problem. Chipper and McCann are much better hitters not because their father is their hitting coach now (they aren’t), but because their Dads taught them the proper APPROACH to the hitting at a young age. They are patient, cerebral hitters.
Frenchy is not. He hacks at the first pitch and never seems to be looking for anything. I’m sure TP has tried to teach him, but he hasn’t responded. He’s still got a little league approach to hitting and a hard head and thats costing him his career, not TP.
Good Luck to him wherever he lands. I hope he gets it before it’s too late. Either way, he’s a rich man who should be able to support his family for his lifetime, so it doesn’t matter that much.
Lifetime Braves Fan
July 7th, 2009
1:04 pm
I agree that right now Frenchy is not as good at the plate as Diaz but is still better Right Fielder. I wonder who will start tonight. Bradley when you start working again please let us know what you hear.
The A Bomb
July 7th, 2009
1:04 pm
This Francouer saga is starting to border on Mark Fidrych stuff.
Very, very sad to see.
wawel78
July 7th, 2009
1:05 pm
Thank you Dennis Green for saying what needed to be said.
Paul
July 7th, 2009
1:06 pm
Frenchy probably needs to go, but there are other problems with this team. Terry Pendleton is not getting the job done. This lineup cannot get a walk or a hit at crucial times. Undisciplined and sloppy at the plate. It’s also time for bobby cox to go – too much of a player’s manager. He will not get another team to the playoffs.
STRETCH
July 7th, 2009
1:06 pm
Thank you MARK BRADLEY for sticking up for TP. Frenchy did get pitching help from that guy in Texas and is that TP’s fault??? NO.
Last night you could have given Matt Diaz a 2×4 and he still wouldnt have been able to hit the pitches he was swinging at. After he struck out and walked away…who was he yelling at?? HIMSELF…NOT TP, cause TP cant go up there and bat for these guys!
And that pitching staff is overrated. Night in and night out they are constantly trying to play catch up after the first couple of innings!
Chipper, Yunel, McCann, McClouth…you keep them. Everyone else is expendable. And why the heck was McClouth bunting with a runner on first and nobody out when he (McClouth) was the only guy hitting worth a darn?!!!
rlinaug
July 7th, 2009
1:07 pm
Francoeur could have helpe his cause, and the Braves’, by ceasing to swing at balls out of the strike zone. He’s fully unaware of any situation–he’s up there to hack. Many times, I’ve seen him watch a couple guys get walked, then swing at the first pitch. With a man on second, he never even tried to hit behind the runner. The thing is, Cox let this go on for much too long. Braves hitters have a history of being poor situational hitters. I blame the manager. Back in the glory days, Schuerholz followed any trade with this statement. “we’ll do whatever we have to do to make our team better.” He should have dumped Cox and hired LaRussa, Leyland, Torre, etc.
They need to make Chipper the batting coach–make him the coach now.
Supes
July 7th, 2009
1:07 pm
Jeff – FINISHED as an Atlanta Brave.
It’s just a matter of time now to end this misery and get his butt out of town!
BTW…his attitude stinks, always has since last year. What did Schafer say after being sent down to AAA. It’s all about the team. I want to see them win and I wasn’t doing the job. What did KJ say? He wants to see the team win, he’s been stinking it up and understands. NO COMPLAINING.
What does Jeff say? “Oh well, I don’t make the lineup, blah, blah blah”.
Dude, there is a FRAKING reason why you are NOT PLAYING. YOU STINK right now. You have let this team down, other than the LUCKY HR against Kevin Gregg a few weeks ago, what have you done to contribute offensively? Jeff “not slumping” these days include him going .300 for the week, with 2 EXTRA BASE HITS. That’s it. That’s how the “mighty have fallen”.
JEFF FRANCINE = FINISHED in ATL.
nycbravesfan
July 7th, 2009
1:08 pm
He is Brad Komminsk – at age 24 Komminsk ops in 300 abs was 640 and Francouer is the exact same over his last 900 abs at the age of 24 and 25 with a declining trend line. At least Komminsk improved from 23 to 24. Just to close the loop Komminsk had 360 more abs in his career of which only 5 came with the braves.
Bravelee
July 7th, 2009
1:09 pm
Why not let Francouer go work his swing out in Triple A, he has no value to other clubs, they might take him on, but they are not going to give us anything, he is so popular, why not see if he is willing to accept a minor league stint, or would that make him eligible for a rule 5 draft or something
Ray Pugh
July 7th, 2009
1:09 pm
Bravo, for every blunder he makes, he gets to a ball/makes a throw that most other SSs wouldn’t couldn’t by virtue of his superior atheleticsm. if you care to put in 5 minutes worth of research, you will see that the more sophisticated defensive metrics show that he is better than most other shortstops in baseball. appearances can be deceiving.
that’s the kind of stuff that keep you from “lossing”…
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
1:10 pm
To go back to a question on Page 1 of the comments: I don’t think Houston would trade Berkman for any package involving Kotchman. Unless it also contains Hanson and Escobar.
Right field bleachers
July 7th, 2009
1:11 pm
Francouer has a terrible glove and spends more time running to the wall on missed balls… I think he just likes to look up in the bleachers at my “niece”…
Ray Pugh
July 7th, 2009
1:11 pm
hey MB what do you think of my vazquez + kotchman + $6 mil for prince fielder idea?
N17317
July 7th, 2009
1:12 pm
I just want to point out that Francoeur (not Francouer) is untradable, not that the Braves haven’t been trying. From Jayson Stark over at ESPN:
“Here’s how one front-office man describes the Braves’ efforts to export Jeff Francoeur: ‘They’re trying to peddle him everywhere. They’re calling people all over baseball. But nobody’s biting. Right now, he’s about as ugly as he can get offensively. He’s the kind of guy we’d think about taking a gamble on over the winter — if he gets non-tendered and you could take him for a very low base. But right now, I think they’re stuck with him.’”
Also, just for the record, it’s not a 2-year slump he’s in, Mark Bradley, it’s a 4-year slump. Despite the 29 HRs in 2006 he was gawdawful that year. 2007 was better but not acceptable when you consider that he’s a RF. You simply have to get offense out of your corner outfielders. I don’t know what “potential” some of you are talking about. Yes, he was a first round pick, but most MLB 1st round draft picks turn out to be busts and Frenchy is just another one. He just happens to have gotten more of a chance to prove that he stinks than most of those others did.
Jfreak
July 7th, 2009
1:13 pm
It’s seem all but certain that Frenchy will be moving on and I for one am not happy about that. However, at some point something has to be done for both parties. I don’t know if Frenchy doesn’t trust the coaching staff “Pendelton” or if the coaching stafff just isn’t any good but it seems clear that either side wont budge and that means break up!
The Braves can’t get much for Frenchy but could possibly package him in a deal for a BIG bat I suppose. I don’t see this team making the playoffs even with a trade or two but I’ve been wrong before.
Good luck Frenchy.
Braves Fan
July 7th, 2009
1:13 pm
I’d send him to AAA & do what I had to to get JF straight. I don’t think he is done. Why give him away for virtually nothing? You can always get nothing for a player. Take a look, I don’t see a real force at any postion in the OF. Diaz looks better than the other 2. CF is hitting .260 or .270 with no a lot of power. Great, that is really going to get you to the WS. Anderson is just a fill in guy. The LAST thing I want to see is a 38 or 39 year old power hitter coming to Atlanta to save us. This team has many more problems than JF & KJ. If it was just him, get the elderly power hitter. Be realistic, this is just not a Championship team until many moves are made & that may include an Ownership change. Don’t give up on JF & KJ yet.
KennyP
July 7th, 2009
1:14 pm
The weekly “Get to know your Braves” is so much happier than Bradley’s weekly “Should we trade this Brave” article.
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
1:17 pm
Why would the Brewers make that trade, Ray? From the Braves’ standpoint, I’d do it. Just not sure Milwaukee would.
ryan
July 7th, 2009
1:18 pm
can he seriously go back to clemson and play football ala powlus?
francoeuristheman
July 7th, 2009
1:20 pm
im number 34 youre a dueche…did u go to parkview
Barks Madley
July 7th, 2009
1:20 pm
July 7. An apropo day to write this article, Mark. 4 yrs ago to the day. It’s a crying damn shame it hasn’t worked out for him.
Ray Pugh
July 7th, 2009
1:22 pm
1) b/c they need a top-tier starter;
2) they have plenty of offense w/ braun/cameron/hardy/hart/etc.;
3) they’d be getting a cost-controlled gold-glover for the next 1.5 seasons, + cold hard cash to balance out the books; AND
4) they have an excellent young 1st-sacker in the system named Matt Gamels who will be ready by that time (b/c PF would walk anyway once he became a free agent in 2010).
How’s that? If we lose him in 2010, we’d have Freeman ready to take over in 2011. Make the deal FW!
NEW CARS
July 7th, 2009
1:22 pm
How about Vazquez and Francouer for Corey Hart and Matt Gamels….If Gamels can play first, send Kotchmann and Soriano to California for Brandon Wood, Terry Evans and a pitching prospect (hopefully a little better than Marek…..You have Wood as a sub behind Chipper and Yunel (who does get hurt a little) and as insurance in case you make a well thought out trade of Escobar in the offseason…Evans can compete for time in the outfield…Hart is a slight upgrade of Frenchie, sometimes referred to as a challenge trade..and Gamels has a much higher upside than Casey at the bat does….Any thoughts on this deal
Joe
July 7th, 2009
1:23 pm
What about Chipppper Jones???????? We keep that idiot and get rid of Jeff? At least he doesnt blame the fans for the teams downfall. I bet he is ready with a nice list of excuses for this year. I would be happy to see the Braves lose the rest as long as this jerk is on the team…..Smoltz, Jeff….and Chiipy stays? geez what idiots they have in the front office. Glad to say I am not a Braves fans anymore…not till they get their act together and quit blaming everyone else (ala chippy’s way) for everything
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
1:25 pm
Great point, Barks. I’m usually pretty good on dates, and I hadn’t thought of that.
BeachGaBulldog
July 7th, 2009
1:26 pm
I can’t stand to watch him at bat because its the same old garbage. He will just continue to suck until he changes his approach. I said at the beginning of the season that if he didn’t do anything this year, to get rid of him. Well, since the FIRST WEEK of the season, I have been wanting him to be sent packing. The sooner the Braves get rid of him the better.
Matt Brill
July 7th, 2009
1:28 pm
GT, your crazy, everyone knows the longest home run hit at a Norcross High School was hit by Jim Hess, that guy was a legend, too bad he burnt out after his freshman year.
Marc
July 7th, 2009
1:30 pm
Bleh, you people always want someone to blame. Jeff isn’t hitting cause of Jeff. He’s had 30 hitting coaches and has go to play with one of baseball’s most consistent hitters since he got called up. It’s his own damn fault if he hasn’t figured it out yet.
Lets Go Bravo's
July 7th, 2009
1:30 pm
I think it is time to blow up this team. We are and will remain at best a mediocre team. I say that we need to trade a few pieces like Vazquez, etc. for multiple young players to replenish the farm system. Waiting on one player to come up is disaster in waiting, like Shafer at the start of this year. Our outfield is horrible on corners in future and we need several options for the future to go with Heyward. Maybe one will pan out. IMO no team is going to give us a quality hitter for a one or two year pitcher like Vazquez, so I think the young players in return is probably best option for future to build around JJ and Hanson and maybe Huddy will be back next year.
joe
July 7th, 2009
1:31 pm
I am not “Joe” @ 1:23. Dude, your hatred for Chipper is totally unwarranted, naive, stupid, and makes no sense at all. Unless you are a fan of the stupid Mets or Phillies, that is. If so, all is forgiven and you have my sympathies.
Beach Dawg
July 7th, 2009
1:32 pm
Well Mark, I disagree with you about TP — Frenchy is not the first and only Brave to get help from other than TP — Chipper and McCann are the most notable. Also, Frenchy did appear to be on the right road in Spring Training but could not sustain the progress — is that because maybe TP wasn’t helping. Finally, tell me one player who has publically espoused the benefits of having TP’s help??
Marc
July 7th, 2009
1:32 pm
We’re not getting Fielder either, the Brewers are in the thick of it, it’d just be stupid to part with him right now. If they get pitching they’ll do it by trading some prospects.
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
1:34 pm
I think the last thing that should happen is for Frank Wren to blow up this team. A strong rotation, a good catcher, a good shortstop, a center fielder under contract for four years more — there’s a foundation here.
woody
July 7th, 2009
1:36 pm
Read and weep ladies. Yes Pennsylvania walks the walk why you just talk and talk.
http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=436380&page=NewsPage&service=page
UGA 75
July 7th, 2009
1:37 pm
Mark
You aren’t usually such a jerk. Defending our hitting coach is like defending the designer of the Titanic. I’ve asked the question repeatedly, name 1 single player who credits TP of helping him with his swing. Andruw was okay, then TP and he can’t hit a road sign. Frenchy hits okay out of the minors, now he can’t hit a ball off the tee. Frenchy was okay out of Spring Training, but TP has continually undermined what RJ taught. Andruw isn’t all the way back but he’s closer than Frenchy.
Pendleton is a cancer, a coach who takes something and makes nothing out of it. I wish Frank Wren would fire him, then bury him somewhere where he couldn’t mess up anymore hitters.
woody
July 7th, 2009
1:38 pm
Read it and weep ladies. Yes Pennsylvania walks the walk why you just talk and talk.
http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=436380&page=NewsPage&service=page
Pretend Hero
July 7th, 2009
1:41 pm
UGA 75 – 100% correct. TP is magical at destroying young hitters.
smf011@aol.com
July 7th, 2009
1:41 pm
Other teams figured him out. He has a hole in his swing. The other issue here is when does Atlanta finally give up on Bobby Cox. Show me where he’s outmanaged anyone. He’s been blessed with Hall of Fame talent. He rode that to 14 division titles. When he had to manage (playoffs) he lost. Now the talent is gone and he’s sub .500.
pinoy110
July 7th, 2009
1:41 pm
You can’t expect Prado and Diaz to be messed up overnight. It took time for TP to screw up Andrew and Francoeur. Though he can do it quicker now that he has gotten inside their heads. I wish they would trade Francoeur to Texas and Rudy straighten him out but even then all you experts would make excuses for TP. And Rudy is already starting to straighten out Andruw Jones. It will take time though.
Kevin
July 7th, 2009
1:42 pm
I hear the famous San diego chicken is retirein this year maybe Jeff (who lucky underwear not help)Francouer can replace him!
Marc
July 7th, 2009
1:43 pm
UGA – consider the possibility that our prospects just aren’t as amazing as we were lead to believe. You need talent or coaching isn’t going to matter anyway. Maybe TP helped Jeff and KJ look like good hitters before the rest of the league realized how bad they were and exploited them to death.
Kevin
July 7th, 2009
1:44 pm
But he be fine new team better Hittin coach who will kick his ass to better swings….and are old frenchy will be a 300 hitter n 40 hr guy and 114 rbi man with cubs!
joe
July 7th, 2009
1:44 pm
woody: whoa………pennsylvania! i’m shaking in philthy undies.
N17317
July 7th, 2009
1:45 pm
1-The addition of Frenchy in any trade package is meaningless. He has 0 value around the bigs.
2-Frenchy hit well in spring training. Also, meaningless. Spring training stats don’t matter and have no predictive power. Do you also look at spring training standings to predict which teams will play well?
3-The 0-3 record since Frenchy got benched is meaningless. I can’t believe some of the commenters have mentioned that one. Come on.
4-In the minors, Frenchy hit (UGA 75 at 1:37 PM)? Actually, no, not really, he didn’t. He hit well in an 18-game stint the first time he came up in Rookie ball in 2002. But that’s all.