Braves option Francoeur to AA

by SackMan on Jul 4, 2008 10:31 AM CDT

What an odd year... Dontrelle Willis, Brett Myers, and now Jeff Francoeur. Apparently the Braves were real hesitent to do this, because of the possible backlash from their fan base, who adore Francoeur (an Atlanta home town boy). He and Brian McCann have been best friends and teammates since they were 12 years old.

He's struggling pretty darn bad at the plate, batting just .234... but at least he has 41 RBI. To put that in perspective, Ken Griffey Jr is batting .237 with 36 RBI.

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Not to mention...

Rich Hill.

by John Q Freejazz on Jul 4, 2008 10:44 AM CDT reply actions

Francoeur

I would have thought that he was one of the untouchable guys on Atlanta, but with his struggles could he become available. The cubs would most likely not be interested, but his power numbers would definitely go up in a better hitters park like Wrigley

by cubs on Jul 4, 2008 10:47 AM CDT reply actions

Not a chance...

The Braves would have to be blown away with an offer for them to trade that stud. It would be sick to see him in a Cubs uniform, but the Cubs “trading pieces” need to be saved, I think, for pitching help.

by socalicubsfan on Jul 4, 2008 10:50 AM CDT reply actions

I think the lesson of the year comes from Tampa

The message is: Don’t hang onto players with “name value.”

Cut bait. Here’s a good rule of thumb.

If Tony Kornheiser has heard of him, he’s probably too old to play for you any longer

Think of how stupid the average person is, and remember, half of them are stupider than that!

by DaBard on Jul 4, 2008 11:17 AM CDT reply actions

He's only 24 years old!

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 4, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Good point...

But why trade him when his stock is so low? I would play wait and see with Francoeur (that’s a lot of vowels by the way!). He has the options, so use them.
So using that logic, there’s a lot of players out there with “name value.” Pujols, Lee, Berkman… do you get rid of them? I know your response, just trying to buy time til game time!

by socalicubsfan on Jul 4, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

That's stunning.

Who are they going to replace him with?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 4, 2008 11:38 AM CDT reply actions

Don't know... and haven't ready who they called up in his place

I’m amazed they sent him down… it’s not like he was batting under .200.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 4, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Jason Perry

27 year old organizational soldier. He’s the Braves’ Micah Hoffpauir.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 4, 2008 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

He actually

just came over from Oakland. He was an organizational soldier, but in Oakland.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 4, 2008 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

They probably have the worst outfield in all of major league baseball

Frenchie needs the minor league work to develop a good approach at the plate. The man couldn’t draw a walk if you gave him a pen and paper. He’s been riding on the success of his first month in the majors; since then he’s been a pretty mediocre player, but he sells a lot of t-shirts.

by Wreckard on Jul 4, 2008 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow.

It has been amazing how some players career have changed so fast. Francoeur is so young, I doubt his career is anywhere from over and he’ll be a force once again soon.

by TheHawkRules on Jul 4, 2008 12:28 PM CDT reply actions

Wow

Jeff Francouer has really struggled this year. But there is no denying his multiple tools and ability. I’d take him in a nano-second. The best right fielder in baseball and 100 RBI potential. Sounds like he needed a severe wake-up call. I’m sure Frank Wren and Bobby Cox thought long and hard about this manuever. Sometimes a player needs a cold slap in the face.

Pitching is KING. We don't add a frontline starting pitcher and a quality bullpen arm then this season will have yet another sad conclusion.

by MDBNIU on Jul 4, 2008 12:37 PM CDT reply actions

Francouer is the best RF in all of baseball?!?!?

You’ve said some crazy, baseless things that have made me laugh out loud, but that takes the cake. Francouer is the kind of player who could strike out during an intentional walk – he has the worst plate discipline of any regular player in the majors, and isn’t a very good bad ball hitter.

In other words, he’s a guess hack hitter. I know how you love those.

He has tools but not skills. The Braves messed up his development by rushing him to the majors, and he only stayed there for this long because he had one torrid month. Defensively he’s fantastic but he’s such a liability at the plate that if he was a Cub you’d be calling for his head.

Honestly, I would rather have Fukudome or Victorino. Roughly as good defensively and much better on the other side of the ball.

by Wreckard on Jul 4, 2008 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Reading is fundamental

Jeff Francouer is the best right fielder in baseball. There is nobody in his class defensively. Nobody. Not even Kosuke Fukudome.

Pitching is KING. We don't add a frontline starting pitcher and a quality bullpen arm then this season will have yet another sad conclusion.

by MDBNIU on Jul 4, 2008 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Writing is fundamental

If one wanted to express that thought and have people understand it, they would say “The best defensive right fielder in all of baseball.”

by Wreckard on Jul 4, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Alex, I'm going to take...

...”Things That Still Aren’t True” for $500.

The answer: Jeff Francouer.

The question?

“Who is the best defensive right fielder in baseball?”

Correct!

I has a blog.

by cwyers on Jul 4, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

well played

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on Jul 4, 2008 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Try running on Francoeur and see how skilled he is.

"Whoo, boy! Next time around, bring me back my stomach!" -Jack Brickhouse

by Goodie1969 on Jul 4, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Not disputing his defensive talents

by Wreckard on Jul 4, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I would hope not.

Though I completely agree with you on his offense. He put on weight in an effort to improve his
home run power, which indicates to me a free-swinging mentality and a complete abandonment of
any pretense of base stealing. And this gem from an interview with Ken Rosenthal: “I would love to
walk about 80 times a year.” (He’s at 20 BB on the season so far.) I guess his rationale is that if he
hits enough homers, he will be intentionally walked 80 times.

"Whoo, boy! Next time around, bring me back my stomach!" -Jack Brickhouse

by Goodie1969 on Jul 4, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions

he meant

best right fielder in all of double A baseball.

Dear SBnation, We need our own server here at BCB seeing how its became very slow due to enormous amounts of traffic. P.S. Impeach Bud Selig!!!

by cubsluver22 on Jul 4, 2008 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Another employee?

http://tinyurl.com/6jymqo

Not too happy as with the move which is understandable, but he might want to have a better attitude. Sounds like it is only going to last until after the ASB.

by LT on Jul 4, 2008 1:26 PM CDT reply actions

This kind of quote:

“This has really put a damper on my relationship with the Atlanta Braves,” Francoeur told the AJC.

...cannot sit real well with the Atlanta front office. He’s a major league baseball player. You don’t get playing time by being a nice guy or a homegrown local chip off the old block or anything like that. This is a performance based league, period. If he isn’t willing to acknowledge the degree to which he’s struggled this year, then I’d be awfully concerned about his dedication towards improving the things he needs to shore up. That kind of quote makes it sound like he doesn’t think he needs to work on anything major anyways…like he’s being unjustly persecuted or something. Not good for the Braves.

by OmahaCub on Jul 4, 2008 2:40 PM CDT reply actions