AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2005 > August > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFrancoeur worthy of clip-and-save
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We all _ hard-core fans and sports writers _ can get a bit jaded and skeptical in this age of 24-hour sports coverage, too many televised games, and way too much hype and breathless ESPN coverage of the “next-M.J.” to come down the line.
But folks, what we’re seeing this summer at Turner Field is enough to shake even the most jaded of us to our senses and cause us to reflect, ponder and project.
I’m talking about Jeff Francoeur, of course. The kid’s first five weeks in the major leagues have been something to behold, and those who haven’t gotten a chance to see him in person might want to get out there now, while this thing is still in its early stages.
While it’s still too early to call him the next Dale Murphy or Vlad Guerrero, or to think he might become as big a star as Michael Vick or Lebron James, there is at least reason to believe anything is possible.
Now, I still wonder how long he can avoid a big slump, simply because I’ve seen too many guys start out strong _ OK, maybe not THIS strong _ and then have things even out quickly. And I still have a hard time believing someone can hit 100 points higher at the major league level than he was hitting earlier in the same season at the Double-A level.
But … but … my goodness. This dude is absolutely making us pause to reevaluate, to consider the possibilities, to ponder whether we may indeed be seeing the early stages of a true superstar talent.
I know that in 11 years of covering major league baseball, I’ve never seen anything like this from a rookie, the closest I’ve seen being Edgar Renteria with the Marlins, when he won the World Series with his 10th-inning hit against Cleveland in 1997.
Edgar was _ and is _ a solid all-around player with a flair for dramatic hits. But what Francoeur’s doing is something else entirely. I mean, nine homers and eight outfield assists in 28 games, not to mention 26 RBIs and a .382 average and .394 on-base percentagae WITHOUT A SINGLE WALK!
It’s crazy. It’s been something special to watch and chronicle. And it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out, not just the rest of the season and postseason, but of course where it goes from there.
No one can predict injuries and other obstacles that might slow a seemingly unstoppable talent, but everyone who’s gotten to know Francoeur agrees he couldn’t possibly have a better attitude, a better disposition, or a better foundation of skills, confidence and instincts to build a career on.
Stay tuned. And enjoy. If I were a fan, this is a player who’d probably motivate me to preserve newspaper clippings, photos and magazine covers, the way I used to with Ali _ and later Jordan _ Sports Illustrated covers.
They might be worth some money someday, or at least worth showing to the grandkids and telling them you were there when Frenchy hit town.
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Comments
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By Mathew
August 16, 2005 11:06 AM | Link to this
I totally agree! Seeing this guy is amazing. I was at the game Sunday (one of very many this season) when he threw from right field to make outs at the plate with McCann. If you love baseball like I do, this is a sensation you don’t want to miss!
I got an autographed ball of his, which is about a year old, with his original number (12) for my birthday. I’ll definitely hang on to it as well as my ticket stubb he signed as he was leaving Turner Field.
In a time when steroids are somewhat dominating the news, it’s refreshing to have “The Natural” come bring respect and talent back to the game.
I’ve shared my journal entry from the first game I saw Jeff play. It follows:
so there we were… tim, christine, myself and wendell. we could smell the grass. notice the chips of paint missing off the dugout. hear the cheers from the visiting team. actually see wrinkles on the face of the third base coach.
and that was just the beginning.
we were at the braves game, the last of a four game series, the second i attended and third wendell and christine had witnessed. the stormy weather forced a u-turn wednesday and a day-night double header yesterday.
there’s a new guy on the team they call jeff franceour. just an all-american gwinnett county boy. right up the road, here. he’s as handsome as tom cruise and has the body of batman. a smile that could charm him right into the hearts of anyone he so chooses.
we - meaning the thirty-four thousand people at turner field - greeted him with a standing ovation at his first-ever at bat. even after striking out, we did the same thing for his second. and on his third, christine and i worked some voodoo.
we mentioned casually how awesome it would be, especially after two tough strike-outs, it would be for our newest brave to make his debut with a homerun. i told her i’d visualize it in my head so it’d happen.
i just honestly turned around and watched the game, only a fleating moment of thought to a homerun but still the happily-ever-after thought was there.
did you see the game??? oh my baseball god! the boy - he’s a man, yet still a boy - was down in the count. worked the pitcher into a full count. then… then, he slices the ball right into center field, just above the wall. three run homer! that was right before our eyes. amazing.
this was absolutely the best game ever… so much so that i had tears in my eyes thinking about it this morning on the way to work. i have tears now. how all-american? how amazing must he feel? his family? girlfriend? neighbors? strangers like me?
growing up, i always loved baseball. i still do. i would almost sale my soul to have been able to step in his shoes for just that five minutes last night. i probably would have sold my soul if i can have been in his shoes when his dad hugged him afterwards.
By Paul
August 16, 2005 01:12 PM | Link to this
Mathew, beautifully expressed. I know how you feel. This kid is as good as it gets and what a good person on top of that. We are lucky to get to see this unfold.
By Dan
August 16, 2005 02:17 PM | Link to this
I am old enough to remember Mantle in his prime in the mid to late 50’s. Find a picture of Mantle hitting a home run right handed. Look at how low and straight, parallel to the ground, his back leg is. Now get a picture of Francouer and compare.
This kid is the real deal.
By Stone
August 16, 2005 04:23 PM | Link to this
I’m from Chattanooga,… I have been following Francoeur’s career for the last year and a 1/2,…. back in May the M-Braves came to play the Lookouts for a four game set,…. I got a handful of friends together for the opening game and Francoeur hit a double, HR, and gunned a man down @ 3rd,…. To my friends I was a baseball scouting genius,….. we hung around,… got balls and pictures signed,…. so you can imagine how much of a genius I look to them now,… dude is good
By eric berg
August 16, 2005 06:16 PM | Link to this
i love jeff and i love this article
By john brink
August 16, 2005 06:53 PM | Link to this
I have routed for the braves since 1970 when i moved to virginia (they were always on tv. I am really impressed with frenchy however i’ve not seen a bunch of kids as talented as the rookies currently on the team I would like to point out that Catching has improved w/a catcher who don’t worry who is charging down from third. he blocks the plate and catches the ball and the runner tries to run around him. I would hate to have Bobbies job to tell our other catcher that he is the backup if he gets well.
By Alex Ayres
August 16, 2005 07:11 PM | Link to this
I think Jeff is the next best thing for baseball and the braves. Braves are also gonna be good for the next 5 years at least.
By Emily
August 17, 2005 11:02 AM | Link to this
Bring back Javy Lopez. He was the best and best looking thing on the team.
By Dave
August 17, 2005 06:00 PM | Link to this
If Jeff Francouer is hitting .300 with more than 25 homeruns and 90 r.b.i.s a year from now we’ve got a very good young player. Twenty-eight games does not a career make!
By GT
August 18, 2005 10:58 AM | Link to this
Jeff Francouer is one of us so twenty eight games does make a career. In the age of Yankee jack pot baseball, divorced families, players from all corners of the world and steroids it is refreshing to see Mom and Dad sitting in the stand watching their son play the great American game.
By Braves fan
August 18, 2005 01:21 PM | Link to this
I keep watching Francouer’s at bats, and I find myself talking out loud to the opposing pitchers. “No, you don’t want to throw it there.” The last two homeruns he’s hit, I saw where the catcher was setting up and I knew they were making a mistake. He crushed both pitches. And 10 assists? Are you kidding me? They’ve been talking rookie of the year, but I’m starting to wonder what the criteria is for winning a gold glove. How many games, or chances do you need to qualify? He’s already tied for the NL lead and only 2 shy of the AL leader, Manny Ramirez. Amazing.
By Les
August 18, 2005 01:22 PM | Link to this
Man, if the Braves could just bottle that rookie enthusiasim all the way through the playoffs, who knows? It is great to see the response in the dugout!
By Jerry Holcombe
August 18, 2005 07:06 PM | Link to this
Braves Fan, if I’m not mistaken, I think the golden glove is not an award that is etched in stats. Stats are nice, but the people that vote don’t go simply by those stats.
By GT
August 22, 2005 11:30 AM | Link to this
They walked Francouer.
By Bill
August 23, 2005 02:56 PM | Link to this
I’m 75 and have followed the Braves since Boston. I do think that this rookie crew is for real. I saw them or most of them two years ago in Rome. Believe they are the right group to fill in here for a few years.Love them all, Jeff is a fine young man. Please let us be proud of you for a long time. Good luck to all of our rookies.
By jb
August 23, 2005 05:28 PM | Link to this
I have been a braves fan since 82 when Murphy won his first MVP. Right field for the braves has been a revolving door for them. Murphy, Justice, Jordan, Sheffield, Mondesi and so on. The only hope for the Braves is that, if this kid Francouer is for real, signing him after 3 years. I really don’t want to see the braves turn into this decades Montreal Expos.