Talking Chop

I don't...

…remember when the braves offered him a sweet deal to buy out his arbitration like they did with mccann?
what happened? ol’ jeffy turned it down bc the $30 mil before becoming a FA wasn’t enough. FYF!
once the mets drop him he’ll be lucky to pick up a starting job. why do we keep talking about this guy???

toppleprone - August 25, 2010 reply

FTFY...

once the mets drop him he’ll be lucky to pick up a ~~starting~~ major-league job

In spite of their production similarities, I find it so much easier to cheer for MattE over Frenchy because MattE isn’t constantly griping to the media. Frenchy’s a very nice guy, but he isn’t a superstar. The sooner he accepts that fact and appreciates the opportunities he’s been given (the way MattE has), the happier he’ll be.

Lauren T. - August 25, 2010 reply

If you look at his splits, Francoeur still hits lefties enough to justify being a platoon player. His OBP against lefties is .361. The problem is that Francoeur will not face the reality that he is not an everyday player because he is deeply flawed as a hitter. But if he is willing to just be grateful to play in the big leagues and accept a platoon role, I don’t see why he can’t stick around for years to come in that role. GMs on most teams are getting smarter all the time and paying more attention to things like OBP, defensive value, and so on. It’s partly the Braves fault and especially Cox’s fault for coddling him and never holding him responsible for his flaws until right before he was traded. But when your manager tells you that everything you do is great and won’t take you out the lineup no matter how much you suck, when your team builds a marketing campaign around you early in your career and you come into the whole mess with an inflated ego, well, I can understand why Francoeur is having problems dealing with reality, yeah.

Zontar - August 25, 2010 reply

He’s a millionaire and has a cute wife, FYF…

bwellnjonesco - August 25, 2010 reply

I have a total mancrush on Fat Mac.

I’d love to cuddle with him.

And nicer.

Lauren T. - August 26, 2010 reply

Poor Guy

He managed to parlay a rookie hot streak into getting paid over $9MM to be a really lousy baseball player …

Furthermore, he's actually a professional baseball player

Let’s think about all these kids who are LL studs, go onto be HS studs, and get drafted at 18, grow frustrated at playing in a pond full of studs, flame out, and never make it beyond AA let alone the big leagues. Francoeur was good enough to get his foot in the door, and become a player, for better or worse, capable of landing on an MLB 25-man roster. At this point, do what’s necessary to ensure that that outcome stands as long as possible.

Last time I checked, the league minimum is $475,000. Now I’m no banking wizard, but I’m fairly certain, I could parlay a few years’ worth of league minimum much less the $MM Francoeur has made into some sort of wise investment that could secure a generation or two beneath me, and live out comfortably for the rest of my life . . . y’know, until 2012. It’s hard to say whether it’s fame or fortune or both that Francoeur is seeking, but if he continues on this bullish path to play every day since playing every day equals more chances for homers and homers equals money, then he’s going to end up out of baseball sooner than his dreams will come true.

royhobbs - August 25, 2010 reply

+1

HEYJUDE - August 25, 2010 reply

I would root for him to succeed

If he didn’t think he was so much better than he was and asked to be traded or whined about every time he was benched or put into the minors. Guys like Matt Diaz who accept a part-time role and thrive on it end up being fan favorites because they are willing to help out their team however they want.

Jeff kills lefties but when put into a platoon role he goes to the media and asks for a trade, it’s just silly. Things like this make me not root or care how he ever does, because his attitude of thinking he is above his numbers is frustrating.

I root for him...

But I agree, his attitude is wearing on me.

I honestly believe that he has some ability, especially if he was willing to do whatever it took to stay in the big leagues. A platoon situation makes sense. Diaz is a great comparison, but it appears that Jeff is too proud to adopt Caveman’s approach to the game.

Jman781 - August 25, 2010 reply

Diaz...

Just looked at his splits…His OBP is decent against lefties, but he is absolutely dreadful against righties.

Jman781 - August 25, 2010 reply

Diaz is pretty much the definition of a platoon player. He shouldn’t ever bat against RHPs, but he’s a useful piece.

a5ehren - August 25, 2010 reply

So, what you are saying is Diaz is a gritty Jeff Francouer. Sounds about right.

I would like to clarify that from a hitting standpoint – from a teammate, attitude, ego standpoint – no comparison.

Uh, absolutely not. Diaz has a career OBP of .350.

He’s also hit rather well against RHP for most of his career with the Braves.

Diaz has been verifiably pretty terrible THIS year, and with the exception of one small stretch even against LHP.

Yes, it’s called a small sample size.

Yes, that’s why I CAPSd THIS. Trying to acknowledge I understand the SSS. Anyway, go Braves.

Talk about SSS. it’s an insult to compare him to JF. He’s been decent on his career against RHP, better than JF.

FitzFan - August 25, 2010 reply

The only year where the gap in his SLG% between LHP and RHP was less than 200 points was 2006, his first year with the Braves. His OBP is still pretty good against RHP (though still usually about 30-50 points lower against RHP) but it comes with absolutely no power, which is bad from your LF.

a5ehren - August 25, 2010 reply

There’s a difference, though: even including this year’s .289 OBP, Diaz has a career BA of .308 and OBP of .350, something that Francoeur has never done in a single season.

blwfish - August 25, 2010 reply

It's surprising to a lot of people

Considering I made the Failcoeur shirts, but I have nothing personal against the guy. I think he’s a good person, always looking out for his family, doing a lot of good charity and PR work, and always eager to do good deeds, but it’s Jeff Francoeur the baseball player that I just don’t really care for. Everyone else so far has hit the nail on the head about his player ego issues, excessive outspoken-ness, excuses, blamestorming, and his obtuse attitude when it comes to doing what might be better for the team, as well as the simple fact that he needs to simply get over himself if he actually wants to have a future playing professional baseball. Otherwise his dreams of becoming a high school football coach are going to be a little brighter.

Sending him to the minors seems like the best idea. Hoping to break his ego and change his attitude is one thing, but he’s too damn stubborn and obtuse to ever change his batting approach. When it comes to comparing players, it’s almost insulting to Matt Diaz to be paired up with Francoeur.

royhobbs - August 25, 2010 reply

i wish i had bought one of those failcouer shirts

kbertling353 - August 25, 2010 reply

So sweet.

You summed up how I feel – perfectly.

NCChopper - August 25, 2010 reply

This

HEYJUDE - August 25, 2010 reply

I would like to take this time to once again thank Mr. Francoeur for turning down that multi year deal from the Braves a few years ago.

10-4 - August 25, 2010 reply

This is another reason I don’t care for him at all. He thought he was better than that contract, even though it was good enough for McCann. Honestly, it was unbelievably important that he did not sign that contract in hind sight. Who knows where we would be right now if he had.

Losing

ryantex - August 25, 2010 reply

under .500

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/08/how-reasonable-are-jeff-francoeurs-demands.html

This

Who says FYF isn’t willing to what’s best for his team?

buzzdeadwax - August 25, 2010 reply

DOWN WIT OBP!

HalleyGator - August 25, 2010 reply

yeah you know me!

10-4 - August 25, 2010 reply

There was a great write-up on MLBTR a few weeks back about the general uselessness of Frenchy when he recently asked to be traded.

Oh Jeff is a Met? With all the crap outfielders the Braves have tried this year, it sometimes gets hard to remember Francoeur isn’t still here.

redwards95 - August 25, 2010 reply

I’d still take Melky any day over Frenchy.

ryantex - August 25, 2010 reply

If you took BA/ OBP/ SLG out of the six OF with regular OF time (Cabrera, Ankiel, McLouth, Heyward, Diaz, Hinske) and Francouer- Frenchy ranks 5th in BA, 6th in OBP, and 5th in SLG out of this bunch. Problem is he ranks better than Ankiel (6th, 4th, 6th)*

*only includes Braves small sample size.

I love Melky

VivaLosBravos - August 25, 2010 reply

He is still young....

He COULD get better and be a decent MLB player…but not likely.

The problem that I have always had is the guy doesn’t listen to anyone. The fact that he had a tantrum with the demotion last year is a symptom of the problem. I don’t care for TP has a hitting coach all that much…but Frency wouldn’t listen to ANYONE….and that is why is failing. He has the talent…but not the willingness to learn and adjust his approach.

A quote from my daughter…who was 4 at the time…as we are watching a Braves game on TV….“Daddy…why does that player keep swinging at that pitch…he can’t hit it?!”

We were watching Frenching swing at three straight HIGH…like the catcher is standing up from his crouch kind of high…fastballs….that was a sign that he was toast.

If he would adjust his attitude he could go to the minors and within 1/2 a year come back and possibly produce. If not he is going to have to get used to 200 ABs a year…because he is moving that direction. IF he is willing to accept that then he could be a contributor hitting only against LHP…but I think he would have a fit before that happens. He is going to have to fall down…and out…before he is willing to accept a new role..or change his ways.

calbers - August 25, 2010 reply

PA’s matter more than age, he ain’t getting any better.

Agree...

but because he got rushed to the majors he never saw the needed number of minor league ABs to learn….in at the ML level he is over his head.

Don’t get me wrong…I think he is done. But if you had asked me a 1 1/2 ago I would have told you to look at Jermaine Dye’s career numbers to find a very similiar career…..if he were to go down to AAA and have 300 successful ABs…I think he could learn…but that is a big if….and even if he did learn…I don’t think he will ever be an all star candidate.

calbers - August 25, 2010 reply

There are definitely exceptions, but it’s rare.

I think he should go into politics. Stubborn? Check. Hot wife? Check. Colorful backstory to make conversation at fundraising dinners? Check. If he’s got a firm handshake I’d say he’s set for life.

joshmaurer - August 25, 2010 reply

Actually...

Most politicians have a fairly limp handshake, because they have to give so many of them day in and day out that a knucklebuster every time would cramp up their hands after one fundraiser.

Firm handshake or not, I think you hit the nail on the head for his future. He could come back to Atlanta and run for an office, seeing as how he is still quite popular around there.

Chopaholic - August 25, 2010 reply

Sheesh!!!

Can’t believe it @!!! He’s been gone 2 yrs. and we still talk about this HASBEEN and NEVER WAS !!

ggotch - August 25, 2010 reply

Just over one, I think.

joshmaurer - August 25, 2010 reply

I have to wonder if he regrets

not accepting the scholarship offer from Clemson to play football. I’m sure he feels he would be a star in the NFL by now….

HEYJUDE - August 25, 2010 reply

Maybe Glavine can teach him how to play hockey. };0)

Chopaholic - August 25, 2010 reply

If assists are so important, why don’t they put ’em on the scoreboard?

UMDBHIK - August 25, 2010 reply

nice one!

Imagine the hate he would get from NFL fans

“He’s too big to be a safety, he’s too slow to be a wideout”
“He’s too small to be on the line.”
“He should be on special teams.”
“Too bad there’s no more NFL Europe.”
“Too bad there’s no more XFL.”
“He’s not good enough for the CFL.”

He would blame the QB for not dropping back seven steps and getting sacked by his assignment, or he would be whining about the refs for flagging him for holding or too much incidental contact, and demand to be traded when he’s ultimately benched. It would probably be different, but still kind of the same.

royhobbs - August 25, 2010 reply

I still think he should go back to the minors and learn to pitch. He’d be a pretty good hitter, for a pitcher.