Jeff Francoeur - Atlanta RF

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Prior to this thread, only two mentions of him on ILB.

21 year old localboy called up from AA about 5 weeks ago.

30 games in 2005: .373/.389/.755, 10 HRs in 110 ABs.

Seems to have speed (1 SB/10 doubles/1 triple) which incidentally verifies all claims of his phenomenal defense ("Great range, even better arm").

Some fun facts:

1st MLB AB: 3 run HR.

Led his high school team to the state championship going 6/7 with 2 doubles and 4 home runs. Winning pitcher in both games. Was out 7 weeks last year in the minors after getting hit in the head with a 4-seamer. Clemson offered him a football scholarship.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 18 August 2005 22:42 (twenty years ago)

The fact that he has not drawn a SINGLE walk in 110 at bats is starting to border on the amazing.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 18 August 2005 22:50 (twenty years ago)

A pleasure to watch, despite the strange facial tics. The triple was last night during some serious Dodger-stompage by ATL. I haven't figured out how to find current leaders for Outfield Assists, but I heard the other night that he's 2nd in the league, in just a few weeks of games. He had another one last night — Odalis Perez waddling around to 2nd, but still.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 18 August 2005 23:02 (twenty years ago)

My other favorite ATL rookie is Kelly Johnson, who's been really streaky. Last night was great -- he pushed LA pitching to full counts on his first four PA's, walked twice, walked on the 11th pitch of one of them, probably saw 35-40 of the total LA pitch count. Odalis had to be shitting bricks.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 18 August 2005 23:12 (twenty years ago)

Here's his defense stat page:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=6345&context=fielding

Are you ready?
9 outfield assists (2 double plays) in 239 innings. That's 1 every 3 games (!!!).

Currently tied for 2nd among all MLB RFs (1 more than Ichiro, 2 more than Vlad) in just a fraction of the innings played. Unbelievable.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 18 August 2005 23:16 (twenty years ago)

MLB RF defense stats:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/fielding?groupId=9&season=2005&seasonType=2&split=85&sortOrder=true&sortColumn=assists

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 18 August 2005 23:17 (twenty years ago)

Another fun fact: he lives in his parents' basement.

― scrimhaw1837 (son_of_scrimshaw), Thursday, 18 August 2005 23:22 (twenty years ago)

I think he's the real deal, even if he can't take a pitch to save his life; although his minor league SLG numbers were good, it remains to be seen whether he can keep it up. I'm not so sure he'll turn into Alfonso Soriano long-term, but I don't think he'll be Kevin Maas, either.

Here's his BP '05 blurb:

The Braves have a habit of spending high-round picks on suburban-Atlanta prep talents. Although that sounds like an awfully circumscribed draft strategy, like almost everything else over the last decade-and-a-half, it's worked for them. Francoeur's another success story. The 23rd overall pick of the 2002 draft, he's a raw and toolsy hitter with loads of ability. A move from center to right has dropped his stock a bit (particularly since many feel he was fully capable of handling center at the highest level), but he projects as a Gold Glove-caliber defender at the corners. He lacks plate discipline, but this past season he slugged .508 as a 20-year-old at high-A Myrtle Beach, which is perhaps the toughest hitting environment in the minors. Francoeur struggled badly after a promotion to Double-A Greenville, but it was only an 18-game sample. He doesn't yet merit the stratospheric prospect-ranking others have given him, but he's still got the makings of a fine future.

― d4niel coh3n (dayan), Thursday, 18 August 2005 23:35 (twenty years ago)

BP kinda got their Atlanta prospects mixed up. Andy Marte, their #1, stunk on ice (.159/.250/.250) in 16 games.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 18 August 2005 23:54 (twenty years ago)

Carlos Beltran had 16 OAs his rookie season and I remember some analysts making a huge deal about that. He also played in 1352 innings that year: .106 OA/9.

Francoeur's tracking at .338 OA/9 (which if you allow me to WRECKLESSLY extrapolate his 30 game career into a full 162 game season), he would break the all time record for OA in a season by 9.

Obviously people are going to stop running on him sooner or later but still very impressive thus far.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 19 August 2005 00:13 (twenty years ago)

I'm surprised he hasn't been mentioned more. Maybe people have been spelling his name wrong?

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 19 August 2005 00:49 (twenty years ago)

I hate him. I was considering adding him or Abraham "Simpson" Nunez, and well, dammit.

― Leeeeeeee (Leee), Friday, 19 August 2005 00:50 (twenty years ago)

I think he's only been mentioned on the fantasy baseball thread to this point.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 19 August 2005 00:51 (twenty years ago)

Since one of my best friends is a Braves fan, we talk about him more than I would like.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 19 August 2005 00:59 (twenty years ago)

I'm more impressed with Franco, who will be 47 in less than a week.

― gear (gear), Friday, 19 August 2005 01:02 (twenty years ago)

As long as there are still active MLB players older than me, I can go to bed at night without crying myself to sleep.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Friday, 19 August 2005 01:08 (twenty years ago)

he threw out Luis Gonzalez at home twice in one game a few days ago--after the second one you could almost see a little Francoeur figure capering inside Luis' head

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 19 August 2005 01:53 (twenty years ago)

Needless to say, i'm very happy I picked this dude up.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 19 August 2005 02:28 (twenty years ago)

woah i'm kinda surprised this guy isn't a big deal outside of georgia apparently, he's pretty huge down here right now. during little league ws he was (or seemed to be at least) the most often named 'favorite baseball player' by the georgia kids. he was a pretty big football prospect too, clemson fans were pissed/disappointed when he decided to go the pro baseball route instead. his nickname's "frenchie" btw.

― j blount (papa la bas), Friday, 19 August 2005 06:53 (twenty years ago)

ooh la la, zee warning-tracque poweur

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Friday, 19 August 2005 11:06 (twenty years ago)

He's inspired at least one column about rookie half-season sensations, like Bob Hazle for the Braves in 1957 and McCovey '59 (Schwarz in the NYT last Sun):

http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hazlebo01.shtml

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 19 August 2005 12:15 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, all Braves fans are nuts about this guy. I met a fellow Georgia native at a QDoba in Boston a couple weeks ago, and within a minute we were talking about Francouer. I gotta say, anybody who's capable of taking the golden boy mantle away from that redneck douchebag Chipper has my full and total support.

― Garrett Martin (Garrett Martin), Friday, 19 August 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

Bill James posted on the SABR e-list detailing some other half-season rookie phenoms: Bob Horner in '78, Steve Henderson with the Mets in '77 (65 RBI after the Seaver trade on June 15), Frank Thomas in 1990, Phil Plantier in '91.

B.J. says the most significant pennant factor 'half-rookie' was Mel Stottlemyre '64: "Stottlemyre was called up August 12--almost two weeks after McCovey, and about a month after Francoeur--and won 9 games with a 2.06 ERA, helping the Yankees to a one-game,
come-from-behind pennant victory that they quite certainly would not have won without him. He had far more impact on the pennant race than any of these other late-season callups who have been mentioned, except possibly Hurricane Hazle."

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 19 August 2005 19:43 (twenty years ago)

He finally walks! (Intentionally.)

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Monday, 22 August 2005 01:32 (twenty years ago)

Ha ha! Did he know what to do?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 22 August 2005 02:49 (twenty years ago)

There was laughter. When he got back into the dugout later after scoring, Hampton was beating him on the head like he'd hit a walk-off homer.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Monday, 22 August 2005 11:13 (twenty years ago)

He still takes this year's DiSar Award (most PA before the first walk) from Jose Reyes.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 22 August 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

[cut/paste into media player]
mms://a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2005/open/topplays/archive09/090505_nynatl_francoeur_throw_350.wmv?ct1=mlb

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 00:24 (twenty years ago)

I went to Saturday and Sunday's games while in Atlanta this weekend, and that boy will swing at some crazy-ass shit. But that 3-run taco on Saturday was exciting stuff.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 01:52 (twenty years ago)

Thx for that link, BTW. NL ROY, why the hell not?

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 6 September 2005 01:54 (twenty years ago)

Nice gun on the kid, too.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 00:59 (twenty years ago)

why the hell not? because KRUK says it's Rookie of THE YEAR!

(yes, unless he falls off the table he should win)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

Is Da Kruk voting for Tavares?

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 13:56 (twenty years ago)

ya hafta ask?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 7 September 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

three years pass...

http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009/02/13/the-francoeur-arbitration-case/

― Dr Morbius, Friday, 13 February 2009 18:22 (seventeen years ago)

Why aren't they just releasing him, again?

― Alex in SF, Friday, 13 February 2009 19:08 (seventeen years ago)

no LOLs, but an audible chuckle

― WmC, Friday, 13 February 2009 19:09 (seventeen years ago)

I wonder if "disloyalty" to a hometown golden boy would actually decrease ticket sales.

― WmC, Friday, 13 February 2009 19:10 (seventeen years ago)

BP kinda got their Atlanta prospects mixed up. Andy Marte, their #1, stunk on ice (.159/.250/.250) in 16 games.
― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, August 18, 2005 7:54 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark

And still stinking.

― Andy K, Friday, 13 February 2009 19:46 (seventeen years ago)

he's not much of a golden boy these days - he got booed plenty last year

Why aren't they just releasing him, again?
― Alex in SF, Friday, February 13, 2009 2:08 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

because that would be stupid?

― my heigl-lohan girl (who's also latina and half-jewish) (cankles), Friday, 13 February 2009 21:55 (seventeen years ago)

Haha okay why aren't they trying to unload him on the Royals then? Continuing to play him seems to be the stupidest thing to do, esp. if he's costing you $3M a year.

― Alex in SF, Friday, 13 February 2009 22:00 (seventeen years ago)

cuz they'd be selling low when there's zero urgency to get rid of him! outside of his 08 season he's never been a net negative as a player - check the bottom table here http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4792&position=OF - believe me i'm no fan of the guy, never have been, but i dont see the advantage in dumping him when the OF situation is already poised to be so awful

― my heigl-lohan girl (who's also latina and half-jewish) (cankles), Friday, 13 February 2009 22:34 (seventeen years ago)

Does Terry Pendleton actually do anything to earn a paycheck? Andruw and JF make a strong case that he doesn't.

― WmC, Friday, 13 February 2009 22:42 (seventeen years ago)

plus he'll probably end up taking over as manager when bobby retires!

― my heigl-lohan girl (who's also latina and half-jewish) (cankles), Friday, 13 February 2009 22:49 (seventeen years ago)

"cuz they'd be selling low when there's zero urgency to get rid of him!"

What's the urgency in keeping him again?

― Alex in SF, Friday, 13 February 2009 22:51 (seventeen years ago)

I'm not sure I understand the fan graphs at the bottom, but he's -30 batting for the past three years!?!?! That's embarrassing for a corner outfielder.

― Alex in SF, Friday, 13 February 2009 22:52 (seventeen years ago)

If Terry Pendleton becomes Braves manager I will FedEx them my next bowel movement as a farewell gift.

― WmC, Friday, 13 February 2009 23:35 (seventeen years ago)

two years pass...

9-3 OFA

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110907&content_id=24362598&vkey=news_kc&c_id=kc

― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 8 September 2011 20:31 (fourteen years ago)

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