Time running out for Frenchy to turn things around
By Bud L. Ellis
budmansbravesbeat.mlblogs.com
The path from Parkview High to Braves all-time great took a disastrous turn in 2008, as the Golden One was anything but sterling. Coming off a season in which he hit .239 with just 11 homers - and a Fourth of July weekend sidetrip to Double-A Mississippi - Francoeur spent this offseason reshaping his swing and rebuilding his confidence.
The results? All too familiar.
Following an 0-for-3 in Wednesday night's 3-2 loss to
Stop me if you've heard this before: A strong April, followed by a maddening downward spiral where Francoeur swings too early, too often, and at too many pitches out of the strike zone.
Every time we've seen a glimmer of hope - his two-run game-tying homer last Tuesday against the Cubs, for example - it's been followed by more struggles. As Francoeur's average drops, the howls from Braves Nation grow.
It's already reached a deafening level. Given the injuries
to Casey Kotchman and Martin Prado, and the recent slumps of Kelly Johnson
(three hits in his past 24 at-bats) and Garret Anderson (four for his past 20),
the bottom half of the
But Francoeur remains the flash point for Braves' fans criticism. After two and a half stellar seasons, we've seen a season and a third of mostly offensive ineptitude from the right fielder.
So I ask: has the time come to do what was once unthinkable, yet is mentioned over and over again on blogs and talk shows - trade Jeff Francoeur? The sheer thought of even mouthing or writing those words in the same sentence was laughable just 15 months ago. But now?
The Braves are in a tough spot. The offense is better with Nate McLouth, but still could use one more consistent bat. Francoeur's trade value never has been lower. Despite his struggles the past two seasons, this is still a player who won a Gold Glove, drove in 100 runs twice and hit 29 homers one season.
Do the Braves deal Francoeur and risk seeing him blossom in another team's uniform, knowing they won't get much in return? Given the way the fan base has turned on him, it may be time for Atlanta to send the once-untouchable player elsewhere, given him - and the team he grew up cheering for - a fresh start.
Staying the course, no matter how hopeful one may be of emerging from the bewildering fall of Jeff Francoeur, may not be an option much longer.
Aw the ultimate query for Braves fans has been asked once again? To trade or not to trade Jeff Francouer?
The once rumblings have become a loud roar as Braves fans ask for the head of Jeff Francour. But I caution you braves fans carful what you wish for? Is Francouer talented? Yes but the Braves will get nothing in return for Jeff but a lame duck player who may be a cancer in the club house or a disasterous contract whom they want to dump on someone.
We have heard the grumblings and read the blogs of Jeff stop swing at the 1st pitch. Its pointless. Until he reaches rock bottom he won't change. I've heard fire Terry Pendelton, thats not the solution. Terry can't make Jeff or Kelly Johnson better than what the will allow themselves to be. Let's look at the numbers. The braves have been in the top 5 in the national league in batting average since Pendeltons arrival. Escobar/Renertia/McCann/Teixieria/Kotchman/Prado/ and Infante all got better or maintained under TP. I don't put Chipper Jones in this category b/c of his history and is a hall of famer. Yes I know McCann uses his dad but his dad doesn't go on road trips. So blaming TP is not the answer.
Jeff can't hit because he is not selective. Plain and simple.
His value is zero. Fans want to trade Jeff Francour/Buddie Carlyle and Jo-Jo Reyes to anyone who will take them. Some fans want Holliday. FOR FRANCOEUR are you crazy. The A's want talent in return the hasn't been wrecked and is a head case. Other rumors are Jeff for Brad Hawpe. Why would the Rockies entertain this idea? Jeff makes 3.5m for a .239 hitter with 11 homers and 71 rbi and no stolen bases. Hawpe hit .283 25hr and 85rbi. Why would the Rockies make that trade? Then there is Brad Penny for Francouer. And the more I read it even from credible sources without a 3rd team involved it makes no sense.
The main team the is in love with Francouer's ability is Kansas City. And they would want to give us wait stop the presses JOSE GULLIEN. Yes that Jose Gullien who hit .264 20hr and 97rbi's but that was primarly hitting 3rd in the lineup. In Atl he would probably bat 6th decreasing his RBI production. At least with Francouer he can get better, Guillen is on the downside of his career. Jeff is just 25.
And all the problems can't be blamed on him. Atlanta's outfield hit just 27 homeruns last yr. The other 15 NL outfield avg 66. YES 66. Jeff could have to hit 50 homeruns and we would still been short of the NL avg. Frank Wren new what problems we had and tried to address them within the budget. Pitching remember(tried for Peavy) and got Lowe and Vazquez. Tried to add speed with Furcal but ended up adding that with Nate McLouth. But for 3 plus yrs now left field has added nothing to our team. Garret Anderson gives you desecnt avg but no power. Even after last nights homerun. Diaz has been injured during that time and has about as much power as Anderson. Even before them there was Ryan Langerhans and Willie Harris. Before that was Raul Mondesi and Brian Jordan. No matter what you say about Francoeur he has more talent and produced better that those guys combined. Between a lack of production in left field and no power at 1st base ( a traditional offensive position) that makes Francouer problems magnified.
So Brave fan if you want to give him away for a bag of balls or field equipment so be it. Just be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.
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Lamar: That's a big part of the problem for the Braves, in that if you trade Frenchy, unless you're getting a right fielder in return -- and who in their right mind is going to trade a productive right fielder for Francoeur -- who in the world is going to play right?
Blanco? Brandon Jones (who has missed some time lately with a knee injury, I believe)? Barton? Not exactly exciting the masses or jump-starting the offense with that move.
Fans like to think they can cherry-pick who they want off somebody else's roster without giving up fair value. That's the nature of the beast and always will be ... but a realistic viewpoint is while the Braves and Frenchy probably need to part company (a mutually beneficial deal for both the player and the team), it's not going to be easy to get much in return for him given his lack of production since last May.
Bud.
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