Jeff Francoeur made the trip home from the World Series on Tuesday -- a 12-hour drive from Dallas to Atlanta -- with country music blaring on his XM radio and mile after mile on I-20 to reflect on his season and career.
It has been a long, strange trip for the first “Baby Brave” among 18 rookies on the Braves 2005 team to make the World Series. And he did it with the Texas Rangers, his third team in the past two seasons.
The right fielder was traded for the second time in a little more than a year when the Mets sent him to Texas on Aug. 31, just after the Mets played the Braves at Turner Field.
Francoeur hit .340 (18-for-53) in 15 regular-season games for the Rangers, playing primarily against left-handers. He drove in the Rangers’ first run of the postseason against the Rays, but hit only .125 in the postseason (3-for-24).
Ironically, Francoeur gave this interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution while approaching Pearl, Miss., where he was playing for the Double-A Braves when he got his first major league call-up in 2005 and also where he was demoted for a weekend in 2008, signaling the beginning of the end of his Braves career.
Francoeur shared his thoughts on the World Series, his playoff beard, a former President, and what’s next for his career.
Q. What was it like playing in the World Series?
A. It was awesome. I remember going to the playoffs in ‘05. Everything was so new, from playing in the big leagues, that you really didn’t get time to enjoy it. But being able to make it through the first couple rounds and go to the World Series, and playing in New York in the ALCS, it was awesome. It was probably the coolest month of my life.
Q. You realize you’re the first “Baby Brave” to make it?
A. That’s funny. Over two months ago, I was sitting in New York – or better yet Atlanta – playing the Braves. What a great opportunity. Coming into this year, I was hoping to be in the NLCS with the Mets, but obviously just a chance to play in the playoffs, much less the World Series was really neat. [His wife] Catie’s whole family and my whole family was all out there this weekend, so it made it even more special.
Q. On the day of the trade in Atlanta, didn’t you say you hoped to see the Braves in the World Series?
A. I was talking to Snit [Braves third-base coach Brian Snitker] this morning for a little bit on the way home while I was driving. We were laughing because I said at the end of the day, the Braves were one strike away from being up 2-1 on the Giants. Who knows what would have happened? But obviously I knew how good the Giants pitching was, and it showed this week. They pitched lights out.
Q. Your playoff numbers weren’t great, but Giants second baseman Freddy Sanchez robbed you pretty good in Game 4.
A. Then I missed the home run by about five feet. Obviously at that point we really didn’t have anything going so it was tough, but the experience itself was awesome.
Q. So you got to see your old friend George W. Bush? (Several Braves met President Bush on a White House visit in 2007.)
A. He remembered, said hi, and we talked for a little bit. He invited a couple of us to come play golf with him this offseason. I said, “Hey, just call me.” [Laughing.] I think I could fly out and make time.
Q. You’ve expressed interest in returning to Texas, but what are the chances you do? (Francoeur is arbitration-eligible and a candidate to be non-tendered.)
A. I don’t know. A lot depends on what they’re going to want to do, where they see Vlad [Guerrero] and DH'ing. They’ll have some decisions to make, but I’m not even worried about that right now. I’m just going to enjoy a month off and then starting Dec. 1, I’ll get with Mac [Brian McCann] and [former Brave Mark] DeRosa. DeRosa and I were talking out there in the World Series; we’re going to start hitting Dec. 1. Probably out at Chipper's [Jones'] place.
Q. A part-time role isn’t what you’re after, is it?
A. No, I want to play every day, and the Rangers know that. That’s why I said they’ll have decisions to make. If not, hopefully I’ll go somewhere else. I definitely want to go back, but that stuff will play itself out in the next couple months.
Q. What went well with the swing in Texas?
A. The one thing that [hitting coach] Clint Hurdle really worked with me was getting ready on time and looking to hit the fastball, just getting back to the basics. Sometimes you forget that. You get in a situation where you’re lost at the plate or you’re trying to do too many different things.
Q. Did you have a chance to watch some of the Bobby Cox tribute?
A. Oh yeah, I called Bobby. I talked to him two or three times. It was cool to watch. I was so happy when they made the playoffs, especially for him. He deserved to get back one more time.
Q. Didn’t you think you’d be a Brave forever?
A. It changes, man. Baseball is a sport where you never know what’s going to happen. That is the good and bad of the game. I never thought I’d get traded. Then this year I got traded to the perfect situation for me.
Q. It seems you’ve gotten more accepting of change in your career. True?
A. Honestly I have no hard feelings toward the Braves. I’ve got a chance to play in New York and then go to the World Series this year. Obviously Jason [Heyward] is doing awesome. Sometimes things don’t always work out the way you think, but I was able to get put in a great situation this year. That was fun.
Q. What’s going on with the beard?
A. I shaved it this morning. It’s done. The playoff-hockey beard. I tried it out to see what it could do. I did it in Seattle a week and a half before we clinched, and I just kept it going. I never thought it would get to where it was. It was out of control. I could have braided the thing.
Q. What are your offseason plans?
A. I’m just going to get home and enjoy my time at the house in Atlanta. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing more than anything, catching up on football. I’ve been robbed of some football this year. I’ve done enough traveling the last month. I’m ready to relax and hang out and play some golf, too.
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