Braves

By Stephen

July 4, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Wish Frenchy the best! Here’s hoping he breaks out of this quickly and is back up and tearing it up in The Show the 2nd half!

By Andre

July 4, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

FIRST!

By Rowland Office

July 4, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Jeff is a good kid with great character and faith. He also has a great family who is very supportive. He will be fine.

By Bill in VA

July 4, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Here’s hoping he will make the best of it & come back strong. Some others have.

By Robin

July 4, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

Great move! It’ll be good for him and the Braves. A chance for him to get straightened out not at the expense of the big club. Kinda wish it’d been done sooner but, better late than never. He’ll be a better player for it. I think he’ll be OK and be back up here before you know it. Everybody slumps, only a few can come out of it. He’s taking the right steps to do so.

Good for you Jeff and good luck to ya!

By Marty

July 4, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

I don’t know whether this was the right move or not, but I do think that it makes sense to allow Jeff some time away from the spotlight to work on his swing.

Jeff is such a talented, committed, and mentally strong guy that I am sure that he will get things straightened out in short order. Jeff, I wish you all the best, and I hope that you get the kinks worked out and make it back up here in a few weeks.

By Varoadrunner

July 4, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Well I’ve been on Frenchy for the last month or so, now, I can only hope him all the best of luck in recovering his swing. I’m not so sure this is the answer. I still think a Psychiatrist is the answer. His problems seem to be between his ears. He feels as if he must hit home runs every time at bat. But agin, I wish him all the best of luck.

By TommyP

July 4, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Just posted this on the other blog and then Carroll pulls out a fresh one straight from the oven. (Hot stove???…maybe not)

So we send down Frenchy for another local product from Jonesboro? Always thinking public relations, eh?

All jokes aside…it’s obvious why we chose Perry over Anderson. We already have 2 light hitting centerfield guys on the squad (Kotsay has a little pop) and don’t see the need for a 3rd. Perry has been tearing it up at AA and AAA and I’m sure the Braves are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, a la Charles Thomas, Willie Harris, Matt Diaz, all of which were never considered prospects but gave the Braves a surprising jolt with their play.

Watching Frenchy has been sad as of late, real sad. I’m not going to say it’s been as sad as the Wohlers Saga years ago because that’s the saddest thing I’ve ever seen on a baseball diamond night after night.

You know Jeff has been working tirelessly to break out of this funk but it’s getting worse and worse. One night he rests the bat on his shoulder and the next night it’s held up. He’s simply throwing darts at a board blindfolded.

*Interesting for the bloggers here to see Jeff get sent to the minors and Andruw get called up on the same day. *

As we listen to some on here call for the replacement of Bobby Cox and the fact that he’s aging and it’s any year now, I got to thinking whom would I want to replace him. Then I thought a little deeper and wondered which other coaches I’d want alongside the new hire.

Off the top of my head, I can’t think of anyone in particular but instead I’ll take the top candidate in the Minnesota Twins organization to steer the ship. Year after year after year they work on a small budget and end up either in first or competing for the lead. And they do all of that by playing the game the right way. We definitely need that.

My pitching coach would be Mike Maddux who has worked wonders with several pitchers for Milwaukee over the past several years.

And somewhere on my staff be it 1st base or 3rd base coach, I’d find a spot for Davey Lopes, the greatest baserunning coach I’ve ever seen. Just look at the unparralleled success of the Phillies’ baserunners over the past few years with him teaching the art of the steal.

Signing those two coaches alone would make a bigger impact on a team than any high salary free agent acquisition.

By Section 412

July 4, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

We all want nothing more than for him to work it out and come back stronger. I don’t think those that “bash” him do it for personal reasons, it’s just that he is hurting the team right now. I think we all want him to get some work in, figure out what’s wrong, and then come back as a productive player. Good luck and best wishes to him.

By NCBravesFan

July 4, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

I think it will help both the player and the team focus on the immediate future, and getting back to where they need to be. For the Braves, I have to believe this will help them relax a little and actually start stringing some hits and runs together.

For Jeff, I hope it helps him regroup and get back to where he needs to be.

By Braves Fan

July 4, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

Best of luck to Jeff! Too many critics here in Atlanta to cast any positive vibes, out of the spot light in Miss. he’ll get it all back together!! We’ll be looking for that “lucky 7” real soon!!!

By flange1

July 4, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Carroll,

Thanks for the information.

Good luck Frenchy, work hard and we will see you soon!

By Ryan

July 4, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

gotta do something to keep up with the Phillies or wake up and be 10 games back..

By Michael in Decatur

July 4, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

Good luck Jeff…wishing you the best. Trust your God-given talent. Be patient.

By ByteMan

July 4, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

I think it’s a few weeks later than it should have been. The moment TP realized he had to totally reconstruct Francoeur’s swing was the moment they should have sent him down to take care of business out of the spotlight and let another minor leaguer get a chance in the spotlight. Love Francoeur, but he needs to find his groove again and you can’t do that having to play night after night in front of impatient fans.

Jeff, you’ll be back home soon. We’ll keep the light on for you.

By Ralph

July 4, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

Right move, he’ll be back better than before, just keep him away from Pendleton.

By Stephen Frazier

July 4, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

At the risk of sounding off-topic, I propose that Frenchy’s MAIN problem is due to a lack of energy around him.

Bobby Cox’s unimaginative managerial style causes EVERY player’s at-bat to be a potential game breaker.

The hitter must produce the run. Period. Everything is on the BATTER’s shoulders, and a guy in a small funk will lapse progressively lower every time he fails in that spot.

If Cox would spread the offensive responsibilities (steal, hit and run, squeeze, etc) instead of just clapping his hands and shouting “C’mon, kid!” then the hitters wouldn’t feel all the responsibility for the game.

The Braves had a little bad streak before Chipper went down. Chipper’s average started to slip. Focus..Teixeira. Same story. Focus McCann. Ditto. Focus Frenchy. so the story goes.

If the other guys, through hitting, running, and generally doing all they can to create runs when the team is drooping, were taking th e pressure off certain individuals, then Frenchy and others would be doing a lot better, in my opinion.

Seems like every time Francoeur goes to bat the bases are loaded or runner(s) in scoring position at a critical point in the qame. Only the BEST hitters can weather that kind of pressure day after day, let alone a 24 year old with two-plus years experience.

I think it would have been better to sit him for a couple of days and let him watch other hitters. Better yet, give him two days with Joe Simpson, who day after day gives a brilliant analysis of every Francoeur at-bat and points out why the kid is not hitting these days. Simpson has it exactly right as far as mechanics.

In my opinion I have it right as far as mentality. Now, if only Bobby Cox could get it right as to tactics.

By Berg

July 4, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

It’s kind of unfair to boo a guy who is busting his butt to get better, so I think this is probably in his best interest. Who is taking his roster spot?

By Connie

July 4, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

I think this is best for Jeff @ this point and I truly hope he can get back here for the second half. Thanks Braves management!

By nativebird

July 4, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

Like re-arrainging the deck-chairs on the Titanic. What a smoke screen. one of the FEW bright spots of the future and your MLB team coaches punt on the ability to HELP HIM thru a slump?

It’s sad. the continuted “grasping” of this “brilliant” brain trust (wren-scheruholz) is a joke. you pin your future to the past and this is what you get (the over 40 crowd starting pitching and a multi-millionaire who has pitched in 3 years, plus a hall of fame 3rd baseman who keeps pulling hammy’s!). time to deal, rebuild, new everyting, INCLUDING your head coach.

so you keep Andrew Jones who hit like oh for a lifetime in the lineup for TEN years, yet you send your young best prospect out for Pysch treatment in the minors as SOON as he hits below .250? (mind you STILL better than Andrew ever thought about hitting).

what a JOKE!

By whynot

July 4, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

Glad to see the Braves finally woke up. Jeff had 3 very good months in 2005 and since then has been one of the worst producing regular big leaguers. And please don’t tell me about his rbi’s and how hit almost .300 one year. His OBP is pathetic and he makes more outs than just about anybody in the NL. And now this year, his SLG % is that of a light hitting 2B. He’s sported some of the worst OPS’s for a regular outfielder the last few years. The guy needs to learn to swing at good pitches or he’ll never be productive at the ML level again. Right now though, he’s a 4th OF’er at best.

Maybe if he were more concerned about baseball, and less concerned about being a world famous pitch-man he could figure out the difference between a ball, a strike, and a strike you should swing at.

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/06/02/story2.html

By Brian

July 4, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

Funny how quickly they send Frenchy down with a 234 average. Lest we forget Andrew Jones sunk to 150 land and stayed in the show.

I have long thought the problem with the Braves bats was Pendleton. Frenchy isn’t the only issue we have at the plate.

By Todd

July 4, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

Great kid, great player. One of the few bright spots - along with McCann - for the Braves over the past few years. Not sure sending him to the minors was the answer but I really hope he gets it together. Good luck Jeff!

By Greg

July 4, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

Good luck, Jeff. This is for the best. You’ll come back better; Ron Gant did. Just hang in there. You need this. We’ll be cheering you again in Turner Field next year.

By lin

July 4, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

good lot his problem his buddy brian who he trying be like i think. brian getting hits ang frenchy not then think about it best for him is trade him out of atl area away from brian. he be himself then. take him and tex together for good trade

By Jeff321

July 4, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

I guess Cox only makes a move when the press start writing about and asking questions, eh? What if this happened a little sooner? Would the Braves still be in a hole? Perhaps. Because I think we can all agree the Braves problems are a lot more than Frenchy. However, its a real shame that Cox has to get embarrassed into doing whats right for the team. Ah, and save the excuse of having no one to play right field. Unless of course you’d like to explain to me how Norton manages out there in left? Surely we have people in single A that can catch. Maybe they can’t hit, but last time I checked — Mr. Frenchy hasn’t been doing much of that.

By CONNECTICUT BRAVES FAN

July 4, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

Francoeur should have been sent down a month ago. He has to learn the strike zone, be more patient, quit moving his head, shorten his swing and stay away from T. Pendelton, a poor excuse for a hitting coach. More Braves hitters should take this advice.

With no-energy Cox as manager, watching the Braves is about as exciting as watching paint dry.

By raindawg722

July 4, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Berg, I agree with your 9:58 completely. You cannot fault a guy when he’s doing everything he can to get better. I hope Frenchy gets things turned around soon.

By GeorgiaYankeesFan

July 4, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Stephan Frazier’s got it right. Team is too lackadaisacal from front office right to skipper’s chair to the locker room. Not enough people in this organization care about winning championships. Apologists in this paper, on air, and in the organization need to stop making excuses and saying division crowns are ok and start asking for much much more. It would be much more fun to see all new talent then the collection of has been pitchers and feeble lineups. Enough is enough. The Yankees are over 500 and 5 games behind the Red Sox for wild card and they got torched last night. After the game Joe Girardi had enough and lit into his team for 31 mins. I’m not saying a clubhouse meeting by Bobby would solve anything as I don’t think the talent is there but someone needs to stand up and say it’s time for Braves to play harder. If the bats arent’ working find a way to manufacture some runs. You can’t remain scoreless for 2/3 of every game and win. It seriously is time for some new blood in the manager’s chair and clubhouse.

By Fan

July 4, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

28th!!’ ‘You people seeing who is first on a Blog.. act so queer.. It must be fun to be a real computer geek!!!

By bobby

July 4, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

I hope this works although I think a big part of his problem now is mental. That and TP messing with him. Pendleton and Cox have got to be the worst coach and manager in the majors.

By bill

July 4, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

jeff has always had a hole in his swing,since his days at rome,he has tried to correct that problem,and in so doing he has made it worse.he needs to start from scratch,and be patient,he has the ability,he will be back.

By SCDawg

July 4, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

How About sending Pendleton to the minor leagues. He killed AJ’s career and is well on his way to killing Frenchies. Cox needs to get rid of his loyalty to pendleton to TP and get a REAL hitting coach who can get these guys to situational hit with runners in scoring position, on 3rd base and less than two outs. Get rid of TP before he ruins McCann and Escobar too.

By SCDawg

July 4, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

How About sending Pendleton to the minor leagues. He killed AJ’s career and is well on his way to killing Frenchies. Cox needs to get rid of his loyalty to pendleton and get a REAL hitting coach who can get these guys to situational hit with runners in scoring position, on 3rd base and less than two outs. Get rid of TP before he ruins McCann and Escobar too.

By Jeff R

July 4, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Didn’t think that the front office would pull the trigger and send Francoeur down, but they did - to their credit and Francoeur’s benefit.

Sometimes, good players go through prolonged slumps. I think the time at Mississippi will help Francoeur work through his problems and get back on track.

By rotomeister

July 4, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

Finally! This should have been done a month ago. Perhaps he could have been straightened out by now and he could have helped us win a game or two instead of being the standard bearer for the teams ineptness offensively.

By Voice of Sanity

July 4, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Sadly, Francouer reminds me more of Brad Komminsk, the futile “great” prospect of the late Eighties, who, like Francouer, had all the tools but never did learn to hit the ball.

There is no certainty Francoeur will ever return from the minors. What happens if he hits .200 in Mississippi?

Bonjour, Frency, et biontot.

By Drixie

July 4, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

This is the right move. Jeff seems to be the type of player that will only press harder the worse things get. This is not a good thing at the major league level. He has the opportunity to work things out, and come back even better than before the slump. Best of luck Jeff!

By Robert S

July 4, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

I’m shocked frankly. I didn’t think they had the guts to do it, but lo and behold, they did.

Mississippi will be good for Jeff. No pressure, no worries about a pennant race, just a chance to clear his head and get things turned around.

Let’s hope he does…………

By Shaun

July 4, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

*I guess Cox only makes a move when the press start writing about and asking questions, eh? *

Jeff, you are aware Cox is not the GM, right? And you are aware that GM’s are primarily responsible for roster moves on major league teams, right?

Yes, managers have input but GMs have the final say on roster moves.

By Manny

July 4, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

C-ya Frenchy!

He was killing me everytime the bases were loaded and he went to the plate. I used to change the channel.

Also, this gives an opportunity for someone who can help this team come up from the minors and make a difference.

By dawn

July 4, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

i love jeff francouer for his attitude and trying to get out of his slump.i know he is trying his best.i don’t think they should have sent him down quite yet.give him a couple days off and see how he would do and then maybe send him down.

By Doug

July 4, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

They worry about the backlash, but so far its been next to nothing. Everyone understands.

text to be linked

By Marty

July 4, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

You idiots making comments about Cox and Andruw and others should probably try getting your facts straight. The level of misinformation and stupidity on this blog is as high as ever.

Good luck, Jeff.

By geauxbraves2000

July 4, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

Interesting news to wake up to. I honestly never thought this would happen, but I think it’s the best for JF right now.

I want to see him back quickly, but only after he is ready to comb back, not before.

GL JF.

Geaux Braves!!

By tvsportscaster

July 4, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

berg, in response to your post about who will take Frenchy’s roster spot. Former Georgia Tech outfielder Jason Perry has been called up from Richmond.

By rotomeister

July 4, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

17% of the people polled so far here at the AJC poll think this demotion was the wrong thing! What are you people thinking?

Look at these numbers posted at MLB.com just moments ago: “he has hit just .121 with a .183 on-base percentage and .136 slugging percentage in his last 18 games.”

Add that to his overall horrible numbers and it is clear that he was doing neither himself nor the team any good. This was long overdue.

I hope he makes it back to the 2005 level but I have my doubts. He doesn’t see the ball well. He doesn’t have a good concept of the strike zone. And his swing has some fundamental flaws that even a novice like me can see. I’m still amazed at how he was able to take the league by storm those first few weeks because he has been nothing like that since.

By prattvillenolzfan

July 4, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

3 things about Frenchy being sent down

I live 10 miles north of Montgomery Ala. The Montgomery minor league team just finished their last home series against Mississippi last night…..Talk about timing…Oh well

I wonder who made the decision, Wren/Cox et al…and if everyone was in agreement.( like did Wren do it against Bobby’s wishes)

Sometimes you need to tear someone completely down before you can build them back up….

Also heard on ESPN radio this morning that Jose Reyes & Keith Hernandez got into a “severe altercation” last night. Seems Hernandez said on the air that it is time for Minaya to “quit babying” Reyes and it is time for Reyes to “grow up”. Some of Reyes friends told him about the comments and when confronted, Hernandez did not deny it

Somehow I try to picture Skip Carey and say Franceour or Tex getting into it, and I just can’t picture that……

By T-Bone

July 4, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Playing in Pearl should be about as low-stress as you can get for him to get his stroke and thought process back. He frankly had no clue/plan in his at bats lately, less of an idea than Andruw and that is an astounding development! Well, if this doesn’t work he still has his football eligibility, right?

By Rich

July 4, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Since you have nothing to do then come to Pride. Why don’t The Braves get rid of the old ugly one’s like Chipper and Smoltz? Keep the hotties like Frankie!!

By david

July 4, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

i hope he dont hold it against the organization i like to see him here a long time with kj and b mac

By Paddy

July 4, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

I am not sure what advice he will get at AA, I am sure it will be sound advice. Henry Aaron said that in each plate appearance you should get one pitch you can hit hard somewhere. JF thinks every pitch he sees he can hit hard. It is faulty logic on his part. If they teach nothing else it should be plate patience until he gets 2 strikes. Good luck, we want you back as soon as you are ready.

By brian

July 4, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

this is the right move. Instead of saying he doesn’t agree with the move, Francoeur should just say that he wants to do everything he can to get back on track and if going to the minors to work in a less pressurized environment helps, then he is all for it. This is temporary for Francoeur and he will be back, and hopefully be back better than before. Ron Gant had to go back to single A and except for a boneheaded motor cycle ride, it worked for him

By roids?

July 4, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

i hate to say it, but is anyone thinking the difference year over year might be roids?

By NCBravesFan

July 4, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Marty I posted this on the older blog just before Carroll started this one. I think it kinda sums things up re: what a few of these folks are posting this morning …

*Yeah, I’m sure Cox, Wren & Co. didn’t give a single thought about sending Francouer out until a bunch of bloggers suggested it.

That’s because they were most likely obsessed with the asinine notion that, having closed the gap on Philly to four games and having same Phillies in their yard for three this week, that if Frenchy were to break out of his slump and the team managed to win the series, it could be something that our young slugger could latch onto heading into the rest of the season.

I’m also sure they were obsessed with the idiotic notion that a guy who drove in 100+ runs in his first two full seasons in the majors might deserve a little respect and have an ample opportunity to work through this on the ML level.

Yeah, and they probably got all hung up on the stupid notion that a guy who’s busting his a$$ on a daily basis and is a respected and well-liked member of the team should be given a break during his first prolonged slump of his career (& life).

And they probably figured out too late that all the team’s struggles revolve around him and him alone, and that every failure for a disappointing season can be laid at his doorstep.

So I am sure that they are mighty thankful that a bunch of name-calling, anonymous bloggers were able to help them see this clearly so they could for the first time understand that Frenchy could be and should be sent to the minors.

Yeap, I’m sure the Braves’ brass is mighty happy to have such a great core of fans helping them see & assess the real problems, and make the tough choices.

Because I’m sure that this option was never considered by the Braves at all until you guys started talking about it.*

By jbutler

July 4, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

JF is by all accounts a decent, stand up guy. But baseball is a business - and JF wasn’t getting it done and needs to take the punch in the gut of going to the minors as a wake up call. I think the fans will be more forgiving because the team is reeling and see that mgmt is willing to do what it takes to turn it around. Unlike a certain AJ who basically rotted at the plate last year before our eyes…

By ncgary

July 4, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

tommyp the idea of more roving instructors in mlb is probably one of the wizest investments a general manager or vice president of operations could make, and well placed bids on free agent coaches like maddux and lopes or a simmons in milwaukee would put fun and fundamentals back into some lackadasical (speeling why bother)play of late

By Eric

July 4, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

When I first heard the headline, I thought Jeff had suggested this move himself. I’m sorry he’s opposed to it, but he should look at it like someone coming off the DL going through rehab before rejoining the big league team. He’ll be fine. This is a good way to relieve the pressure and clear his head.

By joe

July 4, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Heck yes, it is a GREAT move…Brandon Jones was hitting like Chipper Jones when he was up here, while Jeff was really struggling. Now with Jones, Kotsay and Blanco in the outfield, and Chipper and our starting shortstop back in the lineup, maybe the Braves have a chance to make up some ground before they are out of it…

By Braveheart

July 4, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Also heard on ESPN radio this morning that Jose Reyes & Keith Hernandez got into a “severe altercation” last night. Seems Hernandez said on the air that it is time for Minaya to “quit babying” Reyes and it is time for Reyes to “grow up”. Some of Reyes friends told him about the comments and when confronted, Hernandez did not deny it

Keith Hernandez is so right. Instead of babying Reyes, they need to teach Reyes how to use cocaine like Hernandez did to Strawberry and Gooden. It’s a joke that Hernandez is held in such high esteem because he was friendly with the media and was on Seinfield. Hernandez was a piece of crap - just as bad as Gooden and Strawberry.

By "Skipp"

July 4, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

I believe that ultimately this will be the right move. I have great confidence in and admiration for Jeff’s athletic ability and savvy, and think that he’ll be just fine. He’ll be back better and stronger than ever, and be a great part of the pennant run in the second half. GOOD LUCK, FRENCHY !!

By Interested Observer

July 4, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

Frenchy, if you read this, best of luck to you. We are all pulling for you. I know your ego is a little bruised right now, but please take this as the opportunity it is to relax, get yourself straightened out, and come back better than ever. It is true that you weren’t the solely responsible for the offensive problems. There were plenty of people struggling particularly with RISP. But you took the brunt of it because of all those people struggling, we expect the most of you. We know you have it in you. If you keep your head up and stay focused, you won’t be gone long!

By Wellman

July 4, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

Maybe Wellman will teach Francoeur how to sneak up on the pitchers mound and toss hand grenades. And someone earlier wrote about giving him a chance to get away from the “pennant” race and clear his head. Which pennant race is that???? The Braves sure aren’t in one.

By Supes

July 4, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

All I have to say about 6-4-3 being demoted to AA ball…it’s about fraking time!

Braves management I guess does have a pair of balls still and exercised some common sense logic here.

Now all they need to do is bring up Josh Anderson, unless they plan on dealing for another OF soon.

Matty Diaz will be back next week, hopefully he comes back strong.

It’d like to keep both Diaz and Anderson on the team and send down one of these pitchers Bobby likes to use for 1 batter every 2 days.

More bench depth, more outfield depth, giving you someone who can also steal a base late in the game.

Platoon Matty Diaz and Josh Anderson in LF, keep Kotsay in CF and have Gregor Blanco play RF for the moment.

If the Braves have ever needed to “man up” and show some heart and character…it’s right now. Chipper, Tex and Mac have to carry this team.

Yunel and KJ need to step up and do their part.

Come on offense, show some signs of life. I know it was Cole Hamels last night…but he isn’t in the HOF yet! I guess studs like Hamels and Sheets just own the Braves and it puts the offense in a funk.

Well, gotta step up against Houston. Nothing less than a sweep of Houston will be acceptable.

In the meantime, I never thought I’d be hoping the NY Mets beat anyone, but playing against the Phillies…the Braves need all the help they can get.

Watching the Braves just got a whole lot easier without having to suffer through Jeff’s at bats.

Thank you Braves management for finally doing the right thing.

It’s now up to Jeff to figure things out in the minors, and I hope he does b/c this team is still counting on him to come back here at some point and produce.

By whynot

July 4, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

@Braveheart

Maybe you should learn when Keith was on his coke binge, since it wasn’t while in NY. But never let facts get in the way. If I weren’t so courteous, I’d ask you if you know whether Bobby teaches his youngster’s his wife-beating techniques. So which is worse, abusing yourself or beating up women?

By CODY

July 4, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

I see some people are blasting the Braves for sending francine down when they didn’t do it to Andrew last year when he hit 150. Well I will tell you why, Francour is making 400,000 and andruw was making aroun 14,000,000. You don’t send a man to the minors making that much money. That is why “IF” Hampton comes back HE WILL BE IN ROTATION, even if that means bye bye to Morton and Camplillo same goes for Glavine.

By Braveheart

July 4, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

227-231 over the last 458 games. 4 games under .500. It’s time for the AJC columnists and the sports radio talk show hosts in this town to do their jobs by demanding answers. Is it the owners? Is it the front office? Is it the manager? Is it the minor league developmental staff? Is it the scouts? Is it all of the above? Whatever the case may be, the opinionmakers in this town have got to start opining about it instead of continuing to excuse it. What are they afraid of?

By justin

July 4, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

I say whatever happens we are gonna learn A LOT about the character of Jeff Francoeur after this situation. Is he gonna let it bother him and turn into one of those prima donna superstars and be p** he’s in the minors, or is he gonna man up, fix whats wrong, and come back strong. I personally think the later will happen, but you never know. Hopefully he can get it pulled back together and turn it back on in Atlanta after the break.

By Drew

July 4, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

I commend the Braves for finally putting the emotions aside and using their heads to make a smart business decision. In business, which is what this is, you must think rationally and learn to put aside any feelings, which is NOT what the Braves had done in the past (Bobby Cox sticking with his players).

A standing O from this guy…hopefully Jeff can get his head on straight and come back for a monster second half. If not, Texieria is looking more and more signable.

By Carolyn Wilder

July 4, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

I know Bobby didn’t want to have to do this. Maybe it would work just as well to move him down in the lineup, and sit him down against certain pitchers. I trust that he will be back soon. Because now there is no pressure. Jeff, I hope you read this and all the positive comments. We love you and want you back!

By Mr J

July 4, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

Did Francoeur get “the O’Brien Blog Bump”? (with apologies to Steven Colbert)

By DP

July 4, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this

I agree with Rotomeister. Francouer has been an overhyped player even before his slump this year. His lack of strike zone discipline rivals Andruw Jones.

Francouer started out as a mistake hitter. I always wondered why pitchers ever threw him a fastball in the strike zone. Once the pitchers figured out how to pitch to Francouer, they have attacked his weaknesses so aggressively that it has made him defensive and now he can’t even hit the mistakes. I saw him barely foul off two hanging curves in one AB in Wednesday night’s game. He was diving in on inside hanging curves and hitting them off his fists, then stepping in the bucket and waving at outside pitches that he couldn’t even reach.

I hope I’m wrong but I think Francouer is the second coming of Brad Comminsk. How do you break a hitter of what is natural and what has always worked for him (at least through high school) and teach him a new swing? It rarely works in golf, and the golf ball is sitting on the ground, not coming in at 90 miles an hour with movement.

By Braveheart

July 4, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Maybe you should learn when Keith was on his coke binge, since it wasn’t while in NY. But never let facts get in the way.

You might want to read some baseball books sometime. In his autobiography, Strawberry said he had never seen cocaine in his life until Hernandez called him into an airplane bathroom and told him do some lines of coke.

Here’s what Tom Verducci wrote about it in 2000:

The way Strawberry remembers it, his first experience with cocaine occurred in 1983, soon after he was promoted to the major leagues. He liked to drink beer and he had smoked pot sometimes, but now two of his veteran teammates were asking him to try something new. “There’s a couple of lines in the bathroom for you, kid,” he remembers them saying. “This is the big leagues. This is what you do in the big leagues. Go ahead. It’s good for you.” Strawberry tried the cocaine. Damn, he thought, that’s good. So began a career whose trademark has been its volatility.

Verducci left Hernandez’s name out of the article because, well, like I said, Hernandez was the media’s darling and they always protected him. But if you read Strawberry’s autobiography, he names Hernandez as the guy who introduced him to cocaine.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/02/23/strawberryflashback95/

Don’t let your ignorance get in your way. Go read a book sometime

By Joseph

July 4, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Some of you folks are cry babies. IF you think sending Jeff wasn’t the right move then your half crazy. Say what you want about Andruw’s bat in the lineup, but atleast he could get on base and hit some homeruns. Jeff cannot get the ball out of the infield and K’s way too much. His OBP is where his BA should be….about .297 He needs to figure it out. All yall crying for the heads of the front office should go root for another team. This is a very logical move that needed to be done for Jeff and for the team. If he turns it around post all star, all is forgotten and we make a move on the East…..

By Larvell Blanks

July 4, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Repeat after me: “I’m Keith Hernandez!”

By prattvillenolzfan

July 4, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Braveheart

I couldn’t agree with you more….It’s amazing (no pun intended) how revered hernandez is in mets circles. While I agree 100% with what he said, why the Mets employ him is another example of a stupid and classless organization.

roids? First of all, man (or McFann) up and use your real post name…

Second of all, statements like that, is the basis of which reputations can get destroyed in a heartbeat.

David What a stupid and dumba55 statement.

Should we actually care if poor little Jeffy holds his demotion against us. If Jeff is serious about trying to improve as a player, then he’ll accept this, learn from this, and grow from it. From all indications, he is a very classy person, hard-worker, and only if he is childish and immature will he “hold” this against us…

The Braves are the employer, Jeff is the employee. Jeff is not producing up to the level that the employer decides. The employer takes steps to 1 help the business perform to a maximum level and 2 help the employee become a more productive and usefull employee.

I think the majority of us “sane” bloggers wish nothing but success for Franceour. My daughters have gotten his autograph on two seperate occasions, and by all accounts he is really a classy and stand-up guy. Hopefully he can learn from this, do what he needs to do and come back stronger than before.

Mary Pickford once wrote If you make mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down. Failure is the act of staying down.

By StrawberryRoan

July 4, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

This was an excellent move. Jeff is a very dedicated player who simply has lost his bearings. He needs to work out his problems outside of the spotlight of MLB.

I agree that Cox’s refusal to play small ball is costing this club games. He plays for the big inning and throws away chances to move runners up and steal runs. Shades of Earl Weaver at Baltimore several decades ago. But as long as he is the manager, this will continue. He can’t seem to realize he no longer has a great pitching staff and must do something to manufacture some runs for his present starters. Seems he has never heard of “get ‘em on, get ‘em over, and get ‘em in.”

Good luck, Jeff, we want you to do well and come back and be a part of the Braves team again. Use the time wisely in Mississippi and concentrate on your hitting rather than feeling sorry for yourself. It could save your career.

By walter

July 4, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

The whole team should be demoted. The braves of 1991 will have never played this way.

By Michael

July 4, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

Hi, I agree that something had to be done. My whole take on Francouer is that he simply does not know the strike zone and has an inability to not get himself out a high percentage of his plate appearances. He is going to have to change his identity as a hitter.

Free swingers flame out. They just do. I think the approach for Jeff is positive reinforcement for laying off balls out of the strike zone. Keep doing it right time after time after time. I would send him to Extended Spring training/rookie ball. A complete re-learning is required and I am not sure if that is possible in AA. Calling this season over for him is hard given his pride and competitiveness, but patience here is key. If he thinks long term, he can revive his career and make it a long and successful one.

Admitting you suck at a key part (hitting) of your profession and admitting you are at rock bottom takes courage. Also, the drive it takes to change and improve under these circumstances is immense. After seeing Andruw Jones never learn, I don’t want to see the same thing happen to another great Brave. Good luck Jeff.

By a real Braves fan!

July 4, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

I hope that this works for him and he is able to regain his swing as well as his confidence. In the meantime, I think it is a shame that in one year, he has fans cheering him on, saying he’s the man, then as soon as he gets in a slump, they boo. I was at the game last night and it was a pathetic display of support, espcecially toward someone who is busting their butt to pull out of it. I really wish these boo’ers would stay home rather than coming out to Turner Field! Best wishes to Jeff… we look forward to you getting back in ATL with that magic bat of yours!

By Mitchell

July 4, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

This is idiotic. Why didn’t they do this to Andruw last year? Jeff will figure it out, Andruw will never be able to hit again.

This team is too good to be playing like this and this franchise is too decent to do something like this. This is the kind of thing only the Mets would do.

This is pathetic. It may help Jeff but it won’t help the team.

By Efrim

July 4, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

Braveheart

227-231 over the last 458 games. 4 games under .500. It’s time for the AJC columnists and the sports radio talk show hosts in this town to do their jobs by demanding answers. Is it the owners? Is it the front office? Is it the manager? Is it the minor league developmental staff? Is it the scouts? Is it all of the above? Whatever the case may be, the opinionmakers in this town have got to start opining about it instead of continuing to excuse it. What are they afraid of?

Well said man. Well said. But people will bring up the injuries and squash it. By the way, did you hear about Mike and the Mad Dog? Looks like that show is finished.

By Danny

July 4, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

I think it will be good for him. I hope he rediscovers his swing too and starts enjoying himself a little more. Once he does that, I will welcome him back with open arms, as will every Braves fan. Good luck Jeff!

By Navigator

July 4, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

I’m sorry people, a 75 year old manager. The Yankees went through this with Casey Stengel, and his success is greater that Cox. It was hard, but they finally did it., and maybe the front office will make this decision finally. Frenchy may be the catalyst for this decision, because he never got the coaching he needed to improve. I put this squarely on the management (all) for allowing him to fall this far.

By MetsFan

July 4, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

I’m not a Braves fan- in fact, I hate the braves. but i liked francouer and think its too bad hes going to be going back to the minor leagues. keith hernandez does the mets broadcasts and talked about how embarrassing it is for a player to go back down after having played some time in the show. francouer has 70 career homers and 300 rbis! i hope this kid the best

By Joshua Barlowe

July 4, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

When is Terry Pendleton going to be held accountable??

By alan from Atlanta GA.

July 4, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

It will probably do him good to be out of the spotlight. He can work on his problems, which by this time may not be just his hitting slump. He’ll be back, hopefully the way he had been before the slump. Get used to the boos it’s part of the game. Good luck

By LivininAL

July 4, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

Gonna be a long weekend for Jeff, but I few at bats with no pressure is needed. I think every fan was tensing up with Jeff when he walked to the plate. His head was so low when returning to the dugout that I expected to see him ready to crawl next week. Well needed move, hope to see Frenchy back in future tearing the ball up and helping the Braves to a gradual return toward the top of the division.

By cathy

July 4, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

Too bad we can’t send that dinosaur Cox down to the minors-

By Hit Heap Hit

July 4, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

I agree with Drew on all points and wish nothing but the best for Frenchy. As hard as I’ve been on him I want nothing more than to see him succeed. Great kid, nobody will disagree with that, just needs some time to put it back together again. Maybe this will be a wake up call for the team and a turning point in the season.

By BraveTiger

July 4, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

Carroll, have the Braves announced who will take Frenchy’s place on the roster? I’d think Brandon Jones. And what the immediate plans are for his spot in the outfield? I would imagine a trio of Infante, Blanco and Kotsey with Jones mixed in.

By braves70

July 4, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Great news! Best of luck to Jeff. Relax and start anew. We know you can do it . Whatever does not kill you can only strengthen you. Great move Braves.

Now for step 2, remove that old man from the manager’s office and the dugout. Jeff has accepted his situation, time for Cox to face facts that he needs to step down.

By bravesfan

July 4, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Joshua Barlowe, I agree with you. If Wellman fixes Francoeur’s swing, hire him as hitting coach.

By JC FROM UT

July 4, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Very tough, although correct, decision by managment. I would’ve never thought it would actually happen. JF not only need to get his swing staightened out but needs to learn the strike zone. Hopefully JF will take this as a learning expirience that will help his career in the long run and not mope about it and blame everyone else for something he only is resposible for. So many people want to blame TP. None of us know how good or bad of a hitting instructor TP is or isn’t. It still comes downn to JF himself. He never changed his habits of trying to hit everything out of the park and never learned the strike zone. How many times has he came up swining at the first pitch when the pitcher has thrown 5-6 consecutive balls. That is not the fault of TP only JF. I wish JF the best and hope he comes back strong, but if not this is not the guy to build the franchise around just because he sells shirts and looks good. An ugly guy can sell T shirts and jerseys if he hits.

By DP

July 4, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

To Mitchell and others who can’t figure out why Francouer was sent down and Andruw wasn’t:

1. The collective bargaining agreement doesn’t allow you to send a guy with Andruw’s tenure down to the minors. I’m not sure of the specifics, but I think 5+ years in the majors means that you can’t be sent down without clearing waivers.
2. Andruw had a long history of production as a hitter with over 300 career home runs and one season with over 50. Francouer had a couple of months of good production before pitchers figured out how to get him out or turn him into a singles hitter.
3. Andruw was a perennial gold glove center fielder and the Braves couldn’t replace his glove (as you’ve probably noticed with the guys playing out there this year). Right field is an easier position to fill.

If Francouer wasn’t the local golden boy and part of the Braves marketing he would have been benched, traded or sent down long before now.

By Braveheart

July 4, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

I couldn’t agree with you more….It’s amazing (no pun intended) how revered hernandez is in mets circles. While I agree 100% with what he said, why the Mets employ him is another example of a stupid and classless organization.

Yeah, I think Hernandez was a really good player and a great on field leader and is a good analyst but it’s amazing to me how highly thought of he is as a human being while they turn their backs on most of the rest of the crazy 86 Mets. But, anyways, for the guy who told me I didn’t know what I was talking about, here is yet another quote from a different Verducci article from 1995 about Gooden, Strawberry, Hernandez and substance abuse:

The most influential player on those Met teams of the mid- to late-1980s was Hernandez, the smarmy first baseman who, during 1985 drug trials in Pittsburgh involving 23 baseball players, admitted using cocaine while he was with St. Louis in the early ’80s. Hernandez advised Strawberry on how to break out of a batting slump: Go out and get totally smashed. Strawberry remembers the time Hernandez told him he’d found the perfect drink, of which he needed only five or six in a night: “Dry martini,” Strawberry says, laughing.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/02/23/strawberryflashback95/

By Robin

July 4, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

Anyone know who’s taking Jeff’s place on the roster?

By eddie

July 4, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

Good analogy to Frenchy and Brad Komminsk. Although Brad never drove in 100 runs nor won a gold glove, he was every bit the can’t miss prospect; he also was the epitome of politeness and respect despite being a phenom and a “hunk” to the ladies. But his swing was never straightened out (chopped at the ball, greatly diminishing the time his bat was level in the striking zone). He stayed on major league payrolls (6 teams) for 8 years because there was always someone who thought that he could be fixed. Unfortunately it never happened and he currently manages in the Baltimore minor league chain.

Let’s hope Frenchy meets a better fate.

By Robert

July 4, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Why not send down Corky Miller also his avg. is .100 Don’t we have a better catcher in minors.

I thought we were suppose to have one of the best hitting coaches. Doesn’t he need to step up.

By dawgs1974

July 4, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Smart move on the Braves part,,,they need to find out if he can work his way out of these slumps before they give him a big time contract.

Furthermore, Tex needs to be gone by the trade deadline. There is no reason to keep him if we don’t have a realistic shot at signing him long term. We desperately need some more contact hitters.

By Theo

July 4, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

The true measure of a man is how he responds to failure. It’s no shame to get knocked down, but it surely is to not regain your feet and go forward.

A hard a bitter pill to take.

Wish him well

By bravesfan

July 4, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

For those who have asked, Jason Perry will take Francoeur’s spot on the roster.

By Rick in Dallas

July 4, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

That loving for George Bush has to catch up with you.

By JEB

July 4, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Sad move, but a MUCH needed move for Frenchy!

He needs to get out of the spotlight. Not just the local spotlight, but the national sports news were picking up the story of his slump and it is front page news on FOX & ESPN news. It would be REALLY hard to work out of a slump with that pressure.

Best of luck to Jeff - and I WANT to see him come back even better! I believe he will!!

Every player hits a wall in his career - some do it in the minors and improve. Jeff never has hit that wall until this year. All of the flaws came to the forefront - and he could not get past them. Every pitcher now capitalized on them. Froom High School through the minors, Jeff was ALWAYS a star.

If he has star qualities, those qualities will rise in his character and he will be back - even better!

Baseball is a humbling game - but, that’s not a bad thing!

By McFann©

July 4, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

prattvillenolzfan First of all, man (or McFann) up and use your real post name…

Are you suggesting that was me?

I am very hurt.

By MCH

July 4, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

Too bad there are so many know-it-alls at home for the holiday to make comments on things they know hardly anything about. Good luck to Jeff!

By Robin

July 4, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

Thanks bravesfan.

By Braveheart

July 4, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

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