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Home > Mark Bradley > Archives > 2008 > July > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFrancoeur’s not the first to lose his grip on Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Each hit town with a splash. Each dazzled us with deeds and flair. We loved them for a time, and then, for varying reasons, we stopped loving them.
In light of Jeff Francoeur’s sudden fall, we look back on four former toasts of the town, and we assess the career of Frenchy, the local boy who’d made good but who unaccountably went bad.
PETE MARAVICH
• RISE: Was the Hawks’ No. 1 pick (third overall) in the 1970 draft. So excited was ABC about the advent of the all-time collegiate scoring leader that the network aired his regular-season debut on a college football Saturday. Alexander Memorial Coliseum was sold out for the occasion, and Pistol Pete was suddenly the hottest sporting figure in Hotlanta.
• FALL: Played here for four seasons, averaging 24.3 points on teams that posted one winning record (46-36 in 1972-73) and never won a playoff series. Clashed with teammates over his reluctance to share the ball, and in 1978, Sports Illustrated quoted Lou Hudson as saying, “He will be a loser, always, no matter what he does. That’s his legacy.”
• DEPARTURE: Was traded to the New Orleans Jazz on May 3, 1974, for Dean Meminger, Bob Kauffman and future draft picks. Led the NBA in scoring in 1976-77. Retired in 1980.
• DENOUEMENT: Died of a heart attack at the age of 40 playing pickup basketball on Jan. 5, 1988. Was named one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players in 1996.
DEION SANDERS
• RISE: Was the Falcons’ No. 1 pick (fifth overall) in the 1989 draft. Missed all of training camp while playing for the New York Yankees but returned a punt for a touchdown in his first game as a Falcon. Signed with the Braves as a free agent in 1991 and shuttled via helicopter between football practice and baseball games during the epic pennant race that fall. Scored 10 touchdowns over five NFL seasons here. Led the Braves in hitting during the 1992 World Series.
• FALL: Enraged the Braves by leaving the team during the 1992 NLCS and flying via Nike-funded jet to Miami for a Falcons game. (He returned to Pittsburgh and sat in the dugout that night.) Enraged the Falcons, who fined him $68,000, by skipping the first three games of the 1992 season while off with the Braves.
• DEPARTURE: Was traded by the Braves to Cincinnati for Roberto Kelly in May 1994. Left the Falcons to sign with San Francisco as a free agent in 1994.
• DENOUEMENT: Remains the only man to play in both a World Series and a Super Bowl (winning it in his one season with the 49ers). Played for 10 organizations in two sports, most recently for the Ravens in 2005. Is a commentator for the NFL Network.
STEVE BARTKOWSKI
• RISE: Was the Falcons’ No. 1 pick (first overall) in the 1975 draft. Named NFC rookie of the year by Sporting News. Led them to their first playoff victory in 1978. Passed for an NFL-leading 31 touchdowns — still the team’s single-season best — in 1980 as the Falcons went 12-4. Dated Jan Stephenson, the LPGA pin-up.
• FALL: Limited mobility due to bad knees — “I wouldn’t want to pass-block for me,” Bartkowski once said — led to an inordinate number of sacks (51 in 1983 and 40 in 1984). From 1980 on, the Falcons had only one winning season with Bartkowski as quarterback. Was benched in favor of David Archer in October 1985 when the Falcons were 0-5.
• DEPARTURE: After the benching, the Falcons sought to waive Bartkowski even though he was hurt, which isn’t allowed. Started six games for the L.A. Rams in 1986, after which he retired.
• DENOUEMENT: Lives in Atlanta; has had double knee-replacement surgery and has undergone treatment for colon cancer; sits on the Falcons’ board of directors; is playing in the American Century Championship golf tournament in Lake Tahoe this weekend.
MICHAEL VICK
• RISE: Was the Falcons’ No. 1 pick (first overall) in the 2001 draft. Excitement over his selection led to a traffic jam on a Saturday morning outside the team’s Flowery Branch headquarters. Led the Falcons to the playoffs and a famous postseason victory in Green Bay in 2002, his first season as a starter, and to the NFC title game in 2004. Made the Pro Bowl three times. Signed a 10-year, $130 million contract extension Dec. 23, 2004.
• FALL: Falcons failed to have winning seasons in 2005 and 2006, and Vick’s passing numbers slid. Also began to make unsavory news: an ugly lawsuit by a former girlfriend; the impolite gesture to Georgia Dome fans after a loss to New Orleans in 2006; the water-bottle incident in the Miami airport in 2007. And then …
• DEPARTURE: Was indicted on dogfighting charges last July; pleaded guilty in August; was sentenced to 23 months in prison in December. Filed for bankruptcy protection this week.
• DENOUEMENT: Remains on the Falcons’ roster while incarcerated in Leavenworth, Kan., but is unlikely to play for them again.
JEFF FRANCOEUR
• RISE: Was the Braves’ No. 1 pick (23rd overall) in 2002. Joined the big-league team July 7, 2005, and hit a home run that night. Batted .300 with 48 RBIs and 14 homers in helping the Braves to their 14th consecutive division title. Finished third in voting for NL rookie of the year. Drove in 100-plus runs each of the next two seasons. Came to personify the latest wave of young and gifted Braves.
• FALL: Saw his average dip from .269 to .234 in six weeks this season. Went 12 games without an RBI. Went 14 games without an extra-base hit. On-base percentage plunged to .287. Began to hear boos at Turner Field. Was 1-for-23 over a six-game stretch and seemed utterly helpless, which led the Braves to …
• DEPARTURE: Send him to Class AA Mississippi, where he stayed for three games, going 7-for-13 with two RBIs. Was recalled to the majors Monday. Hit a home run, his first in 27 days, in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
• PROGNOSIS: Good if he starts to hit; less good if he doesn’t. If local history teaches us anything, it’s that one year’s toast of the town can become next year’s ghost.
Permalink | Comments (67) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves/MLB, Falcons/NFL, Hawks/NBA
Comments
By Max Sizemore
July 11, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
Grady Sizemore leads the AL in home runs with 22.
By Gene
July 11, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
Bartkowski had some ups and downs with the Falcons, but that game against the Cowboys was a classic. I think that Steve grew up while getting knocked around as a Falcon, and he turned into a fine person and asset to the Atlanta community. I would have left Bart off this list and replaced him with Bob Horner.
By TheAntiMe
July 12, 2008 12:08 AM | Link to this
Ryan Klesko also comes to mind. Klesko was hailed as the next Babe Ruth for the Braves when he was at AAA Richmond. He was a decent power hitter but the less heralded guy that was a rookie the same year wound up being a future Hall-Of-Fame player and the face of the Atlanta Braves for his generation of players. A guy who goes by the name of Chipper Jones.
By Almost Speechless
July 12, 2008 1:27 AM | Link to this
Bradley, are you kidding? Francoeur has had one rough half-season, and you’re ready to write him off in the same breath as a convicted felon. Why is he the only player in baseball who’s not allowed to go into a slump? Most guys his age are just starting to emerge from AAA — give him a fair shake. He deserves time to work this out, especially since the season appears headed nowhere. Francoeur will be one of the best hitters in Braves history by the time he’s done here.
By Joe
July 12, 2008 2:17 AM | Link to this
I hate to say it but I think it’s time for Jeff to be traded elsewhere cause he not helping the team and plus the braves need to rebuild the whole team.
By Legend of Len Barker
July 12, 2008 2:30 AM | Link to this
Maravich was more a victim of circumstance than any of the above listed. He was never given a shot in Atlanta. His teammates weren’t the most cooperative individuals in the world and the fans wanted him to score 70 per game.
When Maravich made assists, he was chastised for not scoring. When he scored, he was called a ballhog. No win situation.
Everybody else - excluding Bartkowski - had a chance to be legendary, but messed it up for themselves. Sanders was never a team player, Vick was Vick, and Frenchy just seems stubborn about his approach to the game. Not to the extent of Andruw Jones, but at the rate both are going right now, their averages will be the same at the end of August - about .212 .
By Dr. Warren
July 12, 2008 2:45 AM | Link to this
What about Steve Avery, Mark. Talk about promise gone awry…
By The_Future
July 12, 2008 3:16 AM | Link to this
The problem with our city’s fans and sports organizations is that it seems there too much of an emphasis put on finding some kinda fan favorite instead of a putting a legit WINNING PRODUCT on the field. Too many people are giving passes to players and coaches that haven’t done SH*T to help the cause recently.
I’m a native Atlantan and I’m sic of this crap and all the excuses made for clowns like Francoeur who don’t wanna get their feeling hurt when they’re CLEARLY ILLING THE TEAM and the baby soft management that doesn’t wanna hold any coach or player’s feet to the d*mn fire when the losing starts.
Where Gen. Sherman when you need him? Oh yeah….that’s right.
By Lee
July 12, 2008 4:20 AM | Link to this
The_Future….
..Really… Where Gen. Sherman when you need him? Oh yeah….that’s right. Sounds like the past to me you native Atlantan A* Clown, and by the way, its Atlantian for one, sick number two, and three, take your carpet-bagging a* back up north if you don’t like the way things are being run here… It’s the kid’s third year in the pro’s, and I’m sure he feels so bad for setting the bar so high for himself that you are ready to run him out of town faster than the Sherman fires through a field laid with gasoline. Get real you joke… if you think that Francoeur or any other one of the young guys playing for the Braves are hurting this team, then go and support the Yankees and their abundance of “veterans,” and have fun being a walking, contradicting, a* clown. Nobody in this town wants some fan favorites, we want winners, so figure that out while you are on the first car out of town you ignorant fool.
By TheAntiMe
July 12, 2008 4:48 AM | Link to this
@ The_Future
Lucky for you that you’re not a native of Tampa.
By Algonquin J. Calhoun
July 12, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this
Francouer has been identified by the fans as ‘the problem.’ He’s not solely responsible for the fate of the Braves but he’s the one being blamed. He’s going to be run out of town. It’s that simple. Sooner, rather than later, will be to his benefit. He’s very talented but he’s beginning to suffer from self-doubt and a person can not excel when carrying that around. He will do very well somewhere else. The Braves are headed, and quickly at that, toward becoming a very bad team. The Braves rose, in 1991, on the strength of good, young pitching. Now, they are falling back into the abyss because of a dearth of it. It’s time for fans to accept that the championship history is becoming ancient history.
By Roswell Ed
July 12, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
How about Brad Komminsk he was supposed to be the next Dale Murphy?
He was a beast at AAA but sucked in the majors!
What about Andre Bruce?
The last job you want is this guys pizza delivery guy.
Nick Esasky was a real *wiener wasn’t he? *
Last I heard he was driving limos for a living.
You can’t really call Jim Craig a bust with the Flames but when he was drafted there was a lot of buzz around him.
How about Reggie Ball?
He played 2 games against AU that were just lights out.
The rest of the time he played like the lights were literally out.
How about the Falcons #3 pick in 1991 Bruce ‘ens?
He doesn’t deserve the word Pick in his name.
Nice column Mark. Very good job!
By Roswell Ed
July 12, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
How about Brad Komminsk he was supposed to be the next Dale Murphy?
He was a beast at AAA but sucked in the majors!
What about Andre Bruce?
The last job you want is this guys pizza delivery guy.
Nick Esasky was a real *wiener wasn’t he? *
Last I heard he was driving limos for a living.
You can’t really call Jim Craig a bust with the Flames but when he was drafted there was a lot of buzz around him.
How about Reggie Ball?
He played 2 games against AU that were just lights out.
The rest of the time he played like the lights were literally out.
How about the Falcons #3 pick in 1991 Bruce ‘ens?
He doesn’t deserve the word Pick in his name.
Nice column Mark. Very good job!
By Roswell Ed
July 12, 2008 7:05 AM | Link to this
How about Brad Komminsk he was supposed to be the next Dale Murphy?
He was a beast at AAA but sucked in the majors!
What about Andre Bruce?
The last job you want is this guys pizza delivery guy.
Nick Esasky was a real *wiener wasn’t he? *
Last I heard he was driving limos for a living.
You can’t really call Jim Craig a bust with the Flames but when he was drafted there was a lot of buzz around him.
How about Reggie Ball?
He played 2 games against AU that were just lights out.
The rest of the time he played like the lights were literally out.
How about the Falcons #3 pick in 1991 Bruce ‘ens?
He doesn’t deserve the word Pick in his name.
Nice column Mark. Very good job!
By Roswell Ed
July 12, 2008 7:15 AM | Link to this
Sorry about the reposts.
I kept getting an area that my post could not be submitted at this time.
It was wrong!!!!!
By Raleigh Dog
July 12, 2008 7:40 AM | Link to this
Dont’ forget Buzz Capra
By roman 88
July 12, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this
jeff’s not as good as any of these guys, probably never will, so who cares what path his future in atl leads. kinda grasping for story ideas aren’t ya mark
By ut96
July 12, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
Bruce Sutter comes to mind. A great relief pitcher until he gets to Atlanta and he turned into jello arm.
Nick Esasky, Brad Komminsk, etc-the list is endless
By Charlie
July 12, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
The real (current) bust is the entire offensive unit of the 2008 Braves. What a collection of LOSERS. With 2 exceptions (Chipper and McCann), they are the most ineffective batting order in the major leagues. They are no talent chokers. I’m sick and tired of hearing BOZO BOBBY “tipping his cap” to every opposing pitcher the Braves face. The 2008 Braves make EVERY opposing pitcher an ace. What a collection of minor league caliber clowns. Now even Chipper has joined this brigade of LOSERS. I’ll be glad when Tex is gone. I’m sick of seeing him lumbering toward first, on his way to another out. And hey, Frenchy whined about AA Mississippi, and stated how he was “just about there” in finding his hitting stroke. Good one. As far as the numbers show, he is still looking for it. Time to sell. Dump the whole broken down bunch of LOSERS. Hampton is almost ready. Ya, how often in the past 3 years have we heard that? Norton is a journeyman bum. Wren built this team on a collect of old broken down arms and backs. It didn’t take long for Frank’s decisions to come home to roost. Bobby’s decisions on the field have been poor. Corky Miller is a real beauty of a major leaguer. Great choice. Lillibridge, I can’t figure out how he got to the AA level. We used to have a beavy of middle infielders. We’re left with Lillibridge, who hits like he looks (about age 12). All season long the Braves have put a poor baseball product on the field. Sell the entire collection of losers now. Get rid of BOZO BOBBY. The game has passed him by. Bring up Richmond (send Lillibridge to Rome). Watching the Braves is such a joke. I’m glad I don’t have to pay their salary. If they were in a normal, actual line of work, they would have lost their jobs long ago. I’m out the cost of MLB Extra Innings. At least with MLB Extra Innings, with a single click of the remote, I can tune into REAL MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL on another channel. As the Braves continue their slide to the bottom of the league, like water and LOSERS, they seek their own level.
By Ron Cook
July 12, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
Your comment “the local boy who’d made good but who unaccountably went bad” is some of the worst journalism I’ve witnessed since moving to Atlanta 10 years ago. It implies Francoeur chose a life of crime instead of merely experiencing a slump playing a “game”. I now rank you right up there with Terrence Moore whom I don’t read anymore.
By Sam
July 12, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Well written Charlie. I agree with 99% of what you have stated. I still would like to see Tex at 1st base though. The sickening feeling you get when Cox praises the other team’s pitchers is just unreal!!
By Dean
July 12, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Watched Frenchy swing at three straight balls last night in the 9th to kill a rally. He needs to go down graciously to the minors to work out his swing. I don’t think he is done for. Just needs to grow up and learn to think at the plate. He really is nowhere near the level of some of thepeople mentioned in the article. Bartkowski was great for several seasons. It’s a bit unfair to list him as a loser. Now Brad Kommisk, yes indeed. Remember we refused a trade for Jim Rice to keep him. How about Bruce Sutter! What a bust. Nick Essasky, Mike Hampton, Reggie Sanders, Danny Manning, Len Barker, I could go on and on but I think I’ll go throw up now.
By Sports Fan
July 12, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Terrible comparisons.
By Bravesfan
July 12, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Way too early to put Francoeur in with the other “fallen stars.” Ron Cook is dead on: Jeff isn’t a criminal - he’s having a bad season. His being 235 lbs is a real detriment to his game altogether. He needs to get back down to 210 or so and become a doubles hitter with good pop instead of being strictly a home run guy.
Also…
Pendleton must go.
By Bobby Cocks
July 12, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Leave Frenchy and Tex alone we will be okay we always make a run in the second half. we got rid of 300lbs of dead weight last year in andruw, he was a cancer in the lockeroom. we got rid of renteria for the same reason. Chipper,mcCann,kotsay,tex,and frenchy will turn this thing around. dont forget glavine and smoltzies leadership from the disabled list. I see the playoffs in our future
Bobby
p.s. I am sober
By Easy
July 12, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Nothing new. The Braves time to shine was the 90’s and they blew it- Smoltz will tell you this too. They have been heading south since getting swept in the 99’ WS. It could take 10+ years before they get into serious contention again. Just relax and enjoy the Braves for who they are. Look at the brightside, you can go to TF and have plenty of room around you to stretch out.
By MrWrestling#2
July 12, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
Bob Hoerner by far was the biggest hero to turn goat in Atlanta—oh no I hurt my wrist just typing his name.
By jay
July 12, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Of course there was Pat Sullivan.
By Realist
July 12, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
How in the world could this list not include David Justice?
By Realist
July 12, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
…and Andruw Jones.
By Mark Fratello
July 12, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
How about every Hawks first round draft pick in the last 15 years……trade Tex before the deadline. End of season the following contracts will expire: Glavine, Hampton, Kotsay, Tex (via trade), Smoltz, Ohman, Infante, and Diaz….thats over 60 million dollars for young free agent talent
By Gotigers
July 12, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
Talk about losers how about every UGA football team since 1980!!!!!!!
By Gotigers
July 12, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
Talk about losers, how about every UGA football team since 1980!!!!!!!!!
By zinoDawg
July 12, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
Neon Deion and Bartkowski on this list? They are both legends in this town.
By marie
July 12, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Wow…one bad half of a season.
By Gene
July 12, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
The cover of Sports Illustrated is always the kiss of death for athletes and teams. Francoeur certainly behaved like a baby when they sent him down for two days, and that short trip did not help his hitting. He lost me with his whining.
By Joe
July 12, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Fire Bobby Cox And Hire Terry Pendleton as The Coach of The Braves.
By Hillbilly Deluxe
July 12, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Steve Bartkowski had bad knees because he played behind the Falcon’s line. It’s a shame Pete Maravich never got to play for a contending team. Think what might have happened. Steve Avery was quite a pitcher until he hurt his arm. A man can’t help that. Bruce Sutter was done before he came here. Why else would Whitey Herzog let him go? Jeff Francoeur is like many other young hitters. He comes up as an unknown quantity and has success. Scouting catches up to him and they learn how to pitch him. Then he struggles. Now it’s time for him to adjust. As Steve Stone said baseball is a game of constant adjustment and to succeed hitters have to adjust to how they are pitched. Time will tell how he does. You can’t fire Bobby Cox and hire Terry Pendleton as coach of the Braves because Bobby Cox is the Manager of the Braves. This is baseball.
By Mark Bradley
July 12, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Please understand that the four examples fit a specific profile: They were the biggest names in Atlanta sports — Brad Komminsk was never the biggest name in Atlanta sports, and neither was Bruce Pickens — and they seemed to disappear from the scene without a lot of comment one way or another.
Dominique Wilkins was different. His trade to the Clippers was widely decried at the time (and since). He never lost his hold on the city.
And what I wrote in no way claimed that Francoeur’s slippage is an irrevocable thing. It isn’t. He can still turn this around.
By Drew
July 12, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
I’d like to echo the comments of almost speechless:
Bradley
please think the next time you choose to write. Give me a break.
By T
July 12, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Wow! This is a little harsh. I do agree that Frenchy is struggling and needed to be sent down and rest. But, to put him, Bart, Deion, Maravich in the same classification as VICK? *Sorry, can’t buy that one. *
MV7: is in a class all his own= criminal.
Deion: HOF talent. Unfortunately just bad mouthed two organizations that gave paid him well and gave him the freedom to do whatever he wanted.
Bart: Very good player w/ bad knees and poor offensive line.
Francoeur: Struggling right now, but the story is not complete. If he adjusts and starts playing well this article is completely wrong.
By Gene
July 12, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
I don’t think that Atlanta ever turned on Steve Bartkowski. He gave a bad organization some great moments, then retired and continued to contribute to the community. I remember my son attending a football camp with Bart in the early 80’s at a Baptist Church where Steve was active. I certainly wouldn’t put Bart on any list with Sanders.
By Kodi Burns
July 12, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
Charlie, I don’t think it could have been written any better. I was laughing the whole time while reading your post, in fact the only reason I even watch this “tee-ball brigade” that we call the 2008 Braves is to laugh. Tex is a joke and needs to leaves, even if he is outstanding the second half he won’t have any help from the rest of the losers on this team. The fact that anybody can even stick up for Francouer is rediculous. It’s not just his numbers that are bad, he is the worst rally killer I HAVE EVER SEEN. Kotsay is broken down. Blano is no better than a 4th outfielder. No need for Diaz to come back, he looks like Paul Bunyon swinging and ax rather than a bseball player. Kelly Johnson is mediocre. Escobar should not have ever been in the lead off spot. I don’t know how lilibridge even made in to majors, his minor league numbers where awful. If anybody says Mike Hampton is coming back they should be shot immediately. Even if he does he has not pitched the major leagues in 3 years, so don’t expect much. I’m better he tears his ACL walking up the dugout steps. Corky Miller is by far the biggest joke of them all. Cox is senile. You have to assume his mind is deteriorating the way he is running the team this year and anybosy that tries to blame injuries or give other excuses is lying to themselves. Face it, WE SUCK.
By Kodi Burns
July 12, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Charlie, I don’t think it could have been written any better. I was laughing the whole time while reading your post, in fact the only reason I even watch this “tee-ball brigade” that we call the 2008 Braves is to laugh. Tex is a joke and needs to leaves, even if he is outstanding the second half he won’t have any help from the rest of the losers on this team. The fact that anybody can even stick up for Francouer is rediculous. It’s not just his numbers that are bad, he is the worst rally killer I HAVE EVER SEEN. Kotsay is broken down. Blano is no better than a 4th outfielder. No need for Diaz to come back, he looks like Paul Bunyon swinging and ax rather than a bseball player. Kelly Johnson is mediocre. Escobar should not have ever been in the lead off spot. I don’t know how lilibridge even made in to majors, his minor league numbers where awful. If anybody says Mike Hampton is coming back they should be shot immediately. Even if he does he has not pitched the major leagues in 3 years, so don’t expect much. I’m betting he tears his ACL walking up the dugout steps. Corky Miller is by far the biggest joke of them all. Cox is senile. You have to assume his mind is deteriorating the way he is running the team this year and anybosy that tries to blame injuries or give other excuses is lying to themselves. Face it, WE SUCK.
By Kodi Burns
July 12, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Charlie, I don’t think it could have been written any better. I was laughing the whole time while reading your post, in fact the only reason I even watch this “tee-ball brigade” that we call the 2008 Braves is to laugh. Tex is a joke and needs to leaves, even if he is outstanding the second half he won’t have any help from the rest of the losers on this team. The fact that anybody can even stick up for Francouer is rediculous. It’s not just his numbers that are bad, he is the worst rally killer I HAVE EVER SEEN. Kotsay is broken down. Blano is no better than a 4th outfielder. No need for Diaz to come back, he looks like Paul Bunyon swinging and ax rather than a bseball player. Kelly Johnson is mediocre. Escobar should not have ever been in the lead off spot. I don’t know how lilibridge even made in to majors, his minor league numbers where awful. If anybody says Mike Hampton is coming back they should be shot immediately. Even if he does he has not pitched the major leagues in 3 years, so don’t expect much. I’m betting he tears his ACL walking up the dugout steps. Corky Miller is by far the biggest joke of them all. Cox is senile. You have to assume his mind is deteriorating the way he is running the team this year and anybosy that tries to blame injuries or give other excuses is lying to themselves. Face it, WE SUCK.
By Greg
July 12, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
How about the Hawks 1st round draft picks for the last twenty years?
By The Truth
July 12, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
Can’t believe i’m going to say this but I actually agree with most of your blog M.Bradley. Frenchy is a cancer to the Braves this year. He’s the rotten apple of the bunch. He goes down to the AA and Braves suddenly look like a different team. They played with energy, they played with some passion for the three games he was done. As soon as he comes back what happens? We’ve lost 3 out of 4. He’s still falling over the plate to knock a ball out the park which he finally did…hope it made him feel better because we’re still losing.
By Atlanta Sports Fan
July 12, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Atlanta never was big on Jeff Fancoeur. It was the AJC that forced him down the Atlanta sports fans’ throats. There were pictures of him in the paper every other day and there were articles galore right as he was leaving Parkview.
Some bloggers joked that an AJC columnist or an AJC sports editor was obviously either smitten with the guy or a relative of the family.
He would have done better to have gone to Clemson, played some football and baseball there, filled out, toughened up and got some more experience before going into mlb.
I am sure he is a nice guy, but it was the AJC that fell in love with him and not the average Atlanta sports fan.
And now you are throwing him under the bus with this column?
By Joe Dawg Alumni
July 12, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
How about pioneer Falcon, Randy Johnson, anyone remember him?
By Geezer
July 12, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
I remember the first time the Falcons ever broke the huddle to play in their first game. Randy Johnson (a rookie) lined up behind the right guard and the guard had to turn around and tell him to move over behind the center.
It was a fitting start for the franchise. I knew right there and then that the Falcons were going to suck for eternity.
The Falcons had also drafted Steve Sloan and I wondered why they didn’t start him instead of Randy. I understood when they finally put him in a game. He was a deer in the headlights.
I liked Randy though. I wonder what happened to him.
By lowcountrydawg
July 12, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
Ahh…Growing up in Atlanta…here’s the three that come to my mind…
Gotta love our pro teams!!
By Billy Campbell
July 12, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
I see you managed to leave Dan Heatley off your list. Former first round pick (2nd overall) of the Atlanta Thrashers. You know the rest!
By Tomy Fournier
July 12, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
HEY…MR. CHARLIE…THAT WHAT I WAS SAYING BEFORE YOU WROTE THIS ARTICLE…AND IT’S WRIGHT…ATLANTA SUCK AND I HOPE THAT MR. MORON COX WILL BE OUT FOR THE NEXT SEASON…I HOOOOOOOPE!!!!
By sad brother
July 12, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget Bob Horner of the Braves and Julius Erving of the Hawks!
By Dan Johnson
July 12, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
Andy Messersmith was the worst disappointment. In fact, he never had a rise—My generation’s Hampton. As for Francoeur, he is the best thing to happen to the Braves in the last 5 years, and the best thing still happening. He’s fighting a slump, which is a reminder of just how important he is to the organization, but baseball is about improving tomorrow, and he will. He is a friendly, fan-loving and loved-by-fans, good-hearted ball-player with special talent, and I expect he will get back whatever part of his mojo that he has misplaced. If he does so this season, the team’s fortunes will instantly change for the better. It is too early to announce his demise.
By Marie
July 13, 2008 1:23 AM | Link to this
Nice game, Jeff. Stupied article, Mark…Give me a break!
By double deuce
July 13, 2008 2:14 AM | Link to this
To list Jeff Francouer with that group of people who have finished their careers is assinine. You have no idea how Jeff’s career will turn out, but I’ll bet its a hell of a lot better than yours. Shame on you for dumping on a 24 year old kid in the beginning of his career.
By Deion Sanders
July 13, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
Mark, I won a Super Bowl with Dallas too!
By GT76
July 13, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
This article makes little sense. Pete Maravich is a top 50 all time NBA hall of famer. He went on to play fairly well with the Celtics. He was ahead of his time, that was one of his biggest problems.
Steve Bartkowski did not really fall all that far from grace. Granted he never got his team to the Super Bowl, but came close.
Deion Sanders was very different than any of the others. How can you say a guy who played in a World Series and a Super Bowl “fell”?
Michael Vick?
Francouer? The guy may turn out to take a big fall but that will be up to him. So far his attitude suggests he will.
By michaelgee
July 13, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Actualy the ajc was the first to lose the entire Georgia Fan Base.
Frenchy has a cold streak isn’t the problem, the TOTAL FAILURE of the ajc to support any Professional Sports team in Atlanta is the problem.
Michael Vick is gone, has been gone, ain’t EVER coming back and the ajc is mired in showing up any WHITE or BLACK Sports figure. Regardless of Vick’s disappearance, the ajc continues to play Vick as a headline story.
WHY?
The ajc employs such poor writers who have nothing but TUNNELVISION for Atlanta Sports Team.
What Atlants Soprts Fand, Sports TEAMS and actually the ajc need is to have sportswriters who work vs the once a weel attacks we read.
Hey MB, TM, and the rest of the ajc guys, Have youi heard that we have a fesh new start with the Falcons? Why not work a bit and cover what wil be the future successes. Have you read the MLB standings? The Braves could not have had any WORSE first half, the one run losses etc. Do you think that so much bad luck will remain that way? Even the Braves fortunes fal under the LAW of Averages Rule, nothing is all bad, nothing is all good. The second half doesn’t seem so bleak to anyone except the ajc writers.
You guys go weeks and weeks without writing anything with ANY kind of insight, get off your tails and do something.
By Deion Sanders
July 13, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this
I just need to know ONE thing. Where McCarver? Huh? Where McCarver? WHERE MCCARVER!
By Bravesfan101
July 14, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Why would you say that lillibridge isnt producing in the last couple of games lillibridge has been leading the braves offense and jeff francoeur is only 24 and will have a hell of a second half just like last year when he put up 87 hits after the break.
By Dorian Faust
July 16, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
Atlanta Falcons rise 1980 playoff game vs. Cowboys
fall Franchise gives up on Coach Leeman Bennett after losing to Cardinals
departure Replacing old logo with hideous video game looking, childish logo they now wear in shame.
denouncement The Matt Ryan era…5 wins each seasons for the next 12 years.
By Dorian Faust
July 16, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Atlanta Falcons rise 1980 playoff game vs. Cowboys
fall Franchise gives up on Coach Leeman Bennett after losing to Cardinals
departure Replacing old logo with hideous video game looking, childish logo they now wear in shame.
denouncement The Matt Ryan era…5 wins each season for the next 12 years until they are purchased by Paul Allen and reclocated to Portand Oregon
By SHA
July 17, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
Couldn’t you think of something else to write about in your column. Or, are you in a creativity SLUMP? Maybe we should write you off, and find a younger, more interesting reporter who writes newsworthy columns…not the old rehashed stuff we keep reading over and over.
By SHA
July 17, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Who in the heck suggested in this blog that we hire Terry Pendleton as coach of the Braves? Please, wake up! TP can’t even teach our young players how to hit. Show me a success story where TP helped somebody here become a good hitter. None of the players even give him credit. They talk to one another to get tips or they talk to Chipper. They know where the best advice is, and it’s definitely not from Terry Pendleton. I’ve said it before, and here again….”Get rid of TP and hire a good hitting coach. Don’t ever consider him for manager of the Braves. Send him down to the minors and let him prove himself with a Class A team first. He hasn’t shown us anything thus far.
By Peter
July 23, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
Last night Frenchy strikeout with a pitch around his eyes with the bases loaded……….it was so bad that he failed to even take one bat during that at bat where he looked horrible !
That at bat, is enough to see why he needs to leave and get a fresh start in another town, on another club, and I will wish him all the best !
This is business, and he has failed to close the deal for quite some time.
Last night the announcer really hit the nail on the head………… the BIG three we have all walked, then came Frenchy, and of course, he didn’t move the runner, he didn’t fly out, he just whiffed !
The entire team has a hand full of major league guys, and a bunch of role players as starters, no leadership, and definitely ZERO Fire in the bellies.
Look at the Mets, they fired the manager, and they are now competing for first place in the division.
They had better talent then us all along, but they have the desire to make themselves better, no matter who had to go !
We are living in the past with a dinosaur coach.