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
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
4:03 pm
Thanks for clarifying for me, Superhoo. I don’t believe Wren needs to raze anything. He has a rotation and a shortstop and a center fielder and a catcher and a closer plus a third baseman who’s still one of the best hitters in the game. That’s a foundation.
Coach (Moon Pie, Anyone?)
July 7th, 2009
4:04 pm
Bobby Cox’s overall post season record is 66-66. He has lost more post season games than any other manager in ML History. Bobby’s 1-4 WS record speaks for itself, not to mention the back to back WS losses in 1991-1992.
Not coincidently, Cox has a 1-4 record as the manager in his five all-star games.
He is a legendary players manager and just about everybody loves the man. Cox has spent the better part of the last fifty years in ML Baseball. The 14 straight years of winning his division speaks to the man’s consistency in the regular season. Five pennants and one WS title add to his Hall of Fame resume. He will be elected into Cooperstown on the first ballot. I just wish that Bobby would retire because the longer he manages, the more he tarnishes his past legacy.
Hell Yeah
July 7th, 2009
4:05 pm
Ben Nicholson-Smith said he had to put something up about Vasquez on mlbtraderumors.com
Im excited to read it.
ITP Brave
July 7th, 2009
4:06 pm
Mark – Clemson can actually use a Safety this year…
I remember a “Fanfest” day at Turner Field a few years ago when JF signed my ball. As a Clemson alum, I joked with him that he could always take the Chris Wenkie route and come back as a Safety in his mid-20’s. At the time, I was clearly joking. Now, I wonder if that’s his best option.
big dawg
July 7th, 2009
4:06 pm
just made a phone call, bravos are trying to strike a deal with colorado, sending frenchy and a pitcher for an outfielder…
Sid Bream's Legs
July 7th, 2009
4:06 pm
For anyone who pays attention to the farm system, 2 words are the answer to the Frenchy Problem: Jason Heyward. He’ll be here by late August/early September. And he’s a beast at the plate. Take it to the bank.
Chuck
July 7th, 2009
4:07 pm
what pitcher would ever want to pitch for the sorry hitters on the braves ? they pitch their butts off and get no run support.
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
4:08 pm
Talk about a football player: Francoeur at Parkview was fabulous. His junior year he averaged a touchdown receiving (as a wideout) and an interception (as a defensive back) a game.
Joe
July 7th, 2009
4:10 pm
Hey other Joe…..no, not a mets or phillies fan. Just not a Braves fan anymore till Chippy leaves- the day he blamed fans for a loss to STL in the playoffs was it for me- never mind his errors at 3rd. Just tired of all his crying and whining.
Supes
July 7th, 2009
4:10 pm
For anyone who pays attention to the farm system, 2 words are the answer to the Frenchy Problem: Jason Heyward. He’ll be here by late August/early September. And he’s a beast at the plate. Take it to the bank.
************************
He is NOT ready. We are looking at 2010 (July) at the earliest with Heyward. He is an exceptional talent but there is NOTHING to be gained by rushing him.
Most likely scenario is that Jeff’s playing time right now will be cut in half (one can hope so). No Team wants to trade for Jeff, or have him included in a trade…maybe with the exception of KC and Dayton Moore.
So the likely scenario is that Jeff is just released in the off-season and that’s the end of it. Then some team will give him a shot as a 4th outfielder with a minimum payscale contract.
Mark Bradley
July 7th, 2009
4:11 pm
I’m not sure Heyward will make it to the bigs this season. He just moved from Class A Myrtle Beach to Class AA Mississippi.
N17317
July 7th, 2009
4:14 pm
Arkansas Braves fan 3:55 PM “sucking on defense is just as bad as sucking on offense.”
I totally agree. What I’m saying is that at RF you have to have offense. Doesn’t matter if you have Willie Mays in RF, he has to hit. That’s because it’s not as important a defensive position as SS, 2B, CF, C, etc., which is why you sometimes see good-field no-hit players in those positions. You can’t have that in a corner outfield spot. Francoeur (or, as you call him, “Francouer”) is the biggest offensive black hole around.
To answer your specific question, I don’t care what the announcers say. Frenchy has a strong arm but is otherwise average. Who’s better in RF? Nelson Cruz is. So is Jayson Werth. Ichiro. Jay Bruce. Alex Rios. Justin Upton.
biff pocahontas, uh roba
July 7th, 2009
4:14 pm
pitching is keeping us where we are…imagine if we didn’t have what we have now. hitting is aweful so far, i’ll admit, but it’s about pitching, always has been always will be…remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint..pitching will take you a lot further. (or should that be farther?)
look at the phils, with that lineup, and that park, their hitting shouldn’t allow them to lose, right? nope, they don’t have any pitching, not even hamels is living up to his standard.
big dawg
July 7th, 2009
4:16 pm
how about brandon jones? wish we’d give him a little longer of a look at the show…
CryMeARiver-Braves new Theme Song
July 7th, 2009
4:18 pm
Braves remind me alot of the Jackettes on North Ave…..alot of talk but in the end middle of pack or dead last……
Mrs. Chanandler Bong
July 7th, 2009
4:19 pm
After listening to Frenchy whine like a toddler, it doesn’t surprise me at all he’s such good friends with John Smoltz.
thom
July 7th, 2009
4:20 pm
Send him back to Clemson where he signed to play football. He wanted out of state then, let’s get him out of state now!
Joey Buttawipeo
July 7th, 2009
4:20 pm
Its about time Cox gets rid of that cocky lil pansy, he has never been a standout player, what makes u think he will ever be? So long young buck!
Alex
July 7th, 2009
4:23 pm
What in the world would you get for Frenchy at this point? A bag of balls? Send him to Gwinnett and let him figure out his swing there.
Joey Buttawipeo
July 7th, 2009
4:24 pm
Get rid of the wanna be superstar cocky lil pansy and find some good talent! Its gettting really old watching yous guys trading players right and left. So long Young Buck, go to Clemson!
WK
July 7th, 2009
4:25 pm
Why trade Francouer now? He has little or no trade value. They might get a Mark Teahen, but his lifetime stats are no better than Frenchy. If there must be change, send him to AAA and see if he can show enough in the next two months to increase his trade value. What have the Braves go to lose?
Pete
July 7th, 2009
4:27 pm
Mrs. Chanandler Bong: “After listening to Frenchy whine like a toddler, it doesn’t surprise me at all he’s such good friends with John Smoltz.”
Could not have said it better myself…great post!
Jeff
July 7th, 2009
4:28 pm
Hey….Braves can’t take the Nerds tune for this season. They are flying so high imagine the thud when the silly bugs from the trade school come back to earth. As for the Braves, ahh, a complete joke…a bunch of non producers and wannabes that want people to think they are professional players…hahahahahahahaha
roan st
July 7th, 2009
4:31 pm
Brandon Jones has exactly 0 home runs in the minors this year. He will add exactly 0 punch to the Braves weak offense. There was a time when Brandon Jones looked like he had a future here but how can a corner outfielder hit no home runs? The only prayer we have in our farm system is waiting on heyward and freeman to get here hopefully sometime in 2010. If you look at our AAA club there is just nothing there outside of schafer and he is banged up. But at least heyward and freeman both are progressing nicely and look to be top flight major league material. I notice that the Braves have been promoting them together at each stop. Freeman tends to get overlooked but I can tell you that his numbers at high A ball were just as good as heywards.
Outside Robber
July 7th, 2009
4:31 pm
Just wondering: Has Francouer considered or had some sessions with a sports psychologist/hypnotist to address his current plight? He’s never struck me as the brightest bulb in the light bank and yet, there’s no shame in that status as I don’t believe MLB is exactly rife with Mensa members.
Knowing you have a problem is one thing. Thinking outside the box and getting help to correct the problem is, to me, the next thing.
jerry
July 7th, 2009
4:34 pm
they should trayde COX and WREN
N17317
July 7th, 2009
4:35 pm
WK 4:25 PM, Teahen isn’t great but is a better hitter than Francoeur (or, as you call him, “Francouer”). Check the stats. Basically, Teahen over his career is about as good as Frenchy was from 2005-2007, and of course we all know what Frenchy’s done since then.
And, no, you will never, ever get Teahen for Francoeur in a trade. You were right when you said he has no trade value.
Arkansas Braves fan
July 7th, 2009
4:35 pm
N17317, Of those players u listed I would say 1 is better..Ichiro!..others may be just as good..Remember Werth kicking the ball all over the place against the Braves, Rios signed a nice deal with the Blue Jays, has a whopping .320 OBP! Jay Bruce plays in a babe ruth field, no ground to cover! My question is, if u sit Frenchy and your corner OF is Diaz and Anderson, are the Braves better? I don’t think so!
Joey Buttawipeo
July 7th, 2009
4:35 pm
About time for Cox to say “umm, yes, get outta here ya loser!” So long ya cocky lil pansy boy!
Pascal Perez
July 7th, 2009
4:38 pm
Come on folks, lets get it together, this kid does not belong in the major leagues, we all know THAT. So Cox needs to put his size 10 boot up Frenchy’s but and get rid of him aSAP!
Larvell "Sugar Bear" Blanks
July 7th, 2009
4:45 pm
Outside Robber – I’ve wondered myself about Frenchy trying something on the mental side – Smoltz was famous for it. Even so, I also wonder about the beaning and orbital bone injuries. Having seen several hockey players have this injury and how it changes them and their play(I would suspect it’s more pronounced trying to hit a 90+ mph fastball than looking at a hockey puck and having good lateral vision to see checks coming), I can’t help but wonder about JF and his injuries. Could it be that simple? Hmmmmmm.
WK
July 7th, 2009
4:46 pm
N17317- If we agree that he has no trade value, why not try sending him down?
What have the Braves got to lose?
N17317
July 7th, 2009
4:47 pm
Ahahahahaha, you are great Arkansas Braves. So, let’s look at this. Check out Frenchy’s VORP. That’s his offensive prowess over a “replacement player.” Frenchy is at -8.1, meaning he’s worse than your average AAA replacement player. That puts him 819th (819th!) out of 826 major leaguers. (Brian Giles is last).
Does ANYONE’s fielding in RF (right field!) make up for that? No, of course not. Again … RF is not a position in which unbelievable defense can make up for horrible, horrible offense. So even if Frenchy was the best RF of all time, he’s hurting the Braves by being out there. We have a difference of opinion about his defense. I think he’s average, you think he’s great. (You have a lot of faith in GG voters and baseball announcers, and I don’t – that’s one possible source of disagreement.) Either way, we’d both agree that overall he’s costing the Braves runs and wins. Right?
Ed Glennon
July 7th, 2009
4:48 pm
We have had three duds in the lineup most of the year. We sent one dud to AAA, another to the bench, and the third still plays first base.
Poor Frenchy can at least make a strong throw from the outfield. Kotchman hits a soft .270. When your first baseman hits eighth with three home rums then things are really bad.
Ed Glennon
July 7th, 2009
4:52 pm
The one guy we can afford to trade who might bring us some value is Gonzalas. How anyone can think of trading Escobar and Vasquez is beyond me.
Greek Dawg
July 7th, 2009
4:53 pm
As much as I hate to say it, 2009 is history. I did not expect to make it to the top of the East this year after last year. We are much, much better this season with McClouth, Hanson, Vasquez and even Lowe, who will turn it around. Wren got the right pieces.
I have thought and still think 2010 is the year to point to. Put Heyward in right if he can make the change from left, or put him left and let Garrett/Matt play right. Put Freeman at 1st and keep Kotchman for late defense and pinch hitting. The notion of trading for a first baseman or another outfield “bat” is ludicrous. We have the talent in our own system. No more rent-a-players.
As for Fenchy, he remiinds me of Jason Marquis: stubborn, hard-headed and a know-it-all. Marquis has travelled around and finally is settled at Colorado and won his 12th game last night. Who’d have thunk? Maybe Frenchy needs to get away from home cooking and the big-head life at home and go earn a living elsewhere.
Ben
July 7th, 2009
4:55 pm
Frenchy and Kelly Johnson need to be on the next bus out of town. Only problem, who wants a non hitting outfielder and what is probably a good AAA 2nd baseman. Good luck to both as they move on.
N17317
July 7th, 2009
4:57 pm
WK, you’re right. Sorry, I was nit picking about a tiny comment you made about Teahen. My apologies. I completely agree with you about sending him to the minors. I personally don’t think he’ll get it turned around there, or with another big league team, or in another minor league system. But might as well give it a shot. What’s the downside? Nothing.
Sam Si
July 7th, 2009
5:03 pm
The Bobby Cox era is over. How many players must we get rid of to realize this?
stew
July 7th, 2009
5:04 pm
As much as I want the Frenchman to go, Diaz is not the answer in right field. Right now we have 2 corner outfielders that are defensive liabilities. I’m not sure Diaz can throw anybody out going from first to third on a single to right. Pendleton and McDowell should both be dismissed. Bring back Leo.
richard
July 7th, 2009
5:06 pm
so i guess solid defensive play and a great arm mean nothing anymore. it’s all about hitting.
Volman
July 7th, 2009
5:08 pm
GT, looks like you are a little BITTER because those guys are in the bigs making the dough and you are sitting around posting on the AJC blogs. Give me a break.
Get a life, loser.
richard
July 7th, 2009
5:09 pm
stew you said it!! bring back leo!
Wow
July 7th, 2009
5:14 pm
This might be the first article I’ve read by you that didn’t end with me thinking you’re a complete idiot.
Coach (Moon Pie, Anyone?)
July 7th, 2009
5:15 pm
Retard O’Brien wrote:
Have we mentioned the Braves could sure use another big bat? Or even a medium-sized bat?
GM Frank Wren told me this morning that while they continue to explore possibilities, he doesn’t see them adding “significant payroll” this season, and the Braves — like most teams these days — are very reluctant to trade premium prospects.
_______________
OK, the first part can easily be answered: One big bat won’t solve the worst Braves offensive unit that we have seen in the past twenty years. I mean, Nate McLouth was added and what kind of impact has he had?
The second part is painfully obvious. The Braves payroll is tapped out. Frank Wren was forced to dump Glavine just so he could apply the needed cash to pay McLouth’s remaining prorated salary for the rest of the 2009 season.
We are sellers, period. Javier Vazquez is history as his trade value is at an all time high. Personally, I would throw Vazquez and Gonzo at the Phillies for OF Michael Taylor and four or five of their other top prospects. such as SS Jason Donald, SP Kyle Drabek, SP Joe Savery, OF Dominic Brown, SP Andrew Carpenter, OF Anthony Gose or anybody else we can rip from the Phillies farm.
This accomplishes several things. We dump payroll, rebuild our farm system, reconstitute all of the pitching depth we have lost, address the needs of the outfield as Micheal Taylor is a monster talent stymied by the Phillies outfield depth, and add the youth needed to put this Braves team over the top.
bruce
July 7th, 2009
5:15 pm
Mark, Do you believe that Kelly will be helped by the cortisone shots in his wrists and then spend a week or so in Gwinet getting his swing back and then be back on the 25 man roster? Since Prado is so versatile, I could see Prado playing multiple places in the lineup everyday and Kelly getting his ABs at 2nd. Maybe Kelly even takes a few rounds in left and right field to refresh there a bit so that when he comes in on double switches he can go back out in OF or 2B. Do you really believe that Bobby has given up on him? I hope Bobby has not. Thanks, Bruce
Coach (Moon Pie, Anyone?)
July 7th, 2009
5:16 pm
Retard O’Brain wrote:
Have we mentioned the Braves could sure use another big bat? Or even a medium-sized bat?
GM Frank Wren told me this morning that while they continue to explore possibilities, he doesn’t see them adding “significant payroll” this season, and the Braves — like most teams these days — are very reluctant to trade premium prospects.
*********************
OK, the first part can easily be answered: One big bat won’t solve the worst Braves offensive unit that we have seen in the past twenty years. I mean, Nate McLouth was added and what kind of impact has he had?
The second part is painfully obvious. The Braves payroll is tapped out. Frank Wren was forced to dump Glavine just so he could apply the needed cash to pay McLouth’s remaining prorated salary for the rest of the 2009 season.
We are sellers, period. Javier Vazquez is history as his trade value is at an all time high. Personally, I would throw Vazquez and Gonzo at the Phillies for OF Michael Taylor and four or five of their other top prospects. such as SS Jason Donald, SP Kyle Drabek, SP Joe Savery, OF Dominic Brown, SP Andrew Carpenter, OF Anthony Gose or anybody else we can rip from the Phillies farm.
This accomplishes several things. We dump payroll, rebuild our farm system, reconstitute all of the pitching depth we have lost, address the needs of the outfield as Micheal Taylor is a monster talent stymied by the Phillies outfield depth, and add the youth needed to put this Braves team over the top.
JDO
July 7th, 2009
5:17 pm
Mark,
Why cant we just keep the team we have, play certain guys more and others less and see what happens. We can fix the offense in the offseason if we must but I dont what to rebuild or trade the future. I like the boys we have now we just have to do it. Sure I would like a right handed bat but there is not one we can have. No one on here can come up with a serious name. I have been through every roster there is not one we can have without giving up something you should never give up like a young cheap and good shortstop or an ace type pitcher or a top prospect(HAyward, Freeman).
JDO
July 7th, 2009
5:22 pm
DONT TRADE JAVIER OR ANY ACE TYPE PITCHER HOW QUICKLY PEOPLE FORGET LAST YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOOK AT BOSTON EVERY GOOD TEAM NEEDS 6 GOOD PITCHERS BECAUSE THERE IS NEVER A YEAR THAT ALL 5 PITCHERS PITCH ALL YEAR> PEOPLE GET HURT AND BANGED UP.
N17317
July 7th, 2009
5:28 pm
richard 5:06 PM, defense means a lot. Frenchy is about average in RF, although he has a strong arm. But he’s just historically bad at the plate. And he plays a corner outfield position: defense doesn’t mean as much there as it does at other positions (e.g. SS, 2B, CF, C, 3B) so even if Frenchy were above average defensively (he’s not) it wouldn’t make up for his unbelievably poor offense.