What Might Get Been

Francoeur had lofty expectations put upon his shoulders as he debuted for his hometown team inside the summertime of 2005. That season was said to be the year that the Atlanta Braves thread of division titles cameto a conclusion. It had been a transition year of sorts, with Atlanta combining many rookies into prominent characters with their club. But, with instantaneous contributions from the loves of Brian McCann, Kelly Johnson, Ryan Langerhans, Wilson Betemit, Pete Orr, Kyle Davies, and Francoeur, the team took the National League East overhead for the 14th consecutive year. The selection of kids were labeled the Baby Braves.

McCann and Francoeur were both that became instantaneous enthusiast favorites, Jeff even more so than Brian. The two had performed traveling ball all over Georgia together since they were 12 years of age. They performed against every alternative a few times a year inside high school graduation, and stayed close friends. If the 2002 MLB write rolled about, both were very regarded and Atlanta targeted both localized items. The more recognized player was clearly Francoeur, by certain scouts estimation a 5 tool player, as well as the Braves snatched him upwards with their initially round selection, 23rd total. Whenever their second round choose rolled about, these people were happy, otherwise astonished, that McCann was still found on the board. Without hesitation, Atlanta took the catcher from close Athens, Georgia. Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann were teammates when again.

Francoeur and McCann rolled very similarly from the small leagues and were called upwards within a few months of each alternative. While these people were both effective, Frenchy constantly appeared to cast a shadow over B-Mac. Jeff had the undeniable presence of a star. He had been a good looking, athletic outfielder with a cannon for an arm, and a grin that drove the ladies crazy. As recent because a few months ago at Turner Field, women used more Francoeur jerseys and shirts than all alternative Braves players combined. Meanwhile, McCann was the pudgy, red headed catcher, whose face appeared to constantly be concealed behind his catcher's goggles. Not precisely the mostmarketable guy inside the world.

Beyond the celeb appeal for Francoeur, and shortage thereof for McCann, Jeff did set upwards better numbers when they both burst found on the scene inside 2005. Before I present a few of these stats, I should inform you that Francoeur had 77 more at bats inside his rookie season than McCann. In that campaign, Francoeur hit .300, that was 22 points over McCann. Frenchy moreover hit 9 more homeruns and drove inside 22 more runs than Brian. As earlier said, those numbers helped lead to another postseason birth and took Braves fans about a hot type of ride. One that associated various new and exciting, teenage faces.

That rookie year led Francoeur to many titles, that newly have been selected to mock him. Many famously, Sports Illustrated set him found on the cover, deeming him "The Natural." As Bobby Cox began him all 162 games the following season and watched him hit 29 homeruns and drive in 103 runs, localized media outlets began labeling Jeff the "Goldenboy," because he could do no wrong. It seemed that Jeff Francoeur came into this world to be an Atlanta Brave. Maybe the old proverb "love is blind" is real, for no enthusiast of the Braves may have ever enjoyed that the honeymoon would end. Not just did it end, yet the Jeff Francoeur train ran completely off the songs and you were all left to cover our eyes, struggling not to look.

Many persons point the start of his demise, in addition to his loss of endearment from the Braves enthusiast base, to the offseason ahead of the 2007 year. The Braves, impressed by the play of both Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur, offered both extended expression contracts that purchased out their remaining arbitration years. McCann instantly accepted the 6 year, 27.8 million dollar provide. But, Francoeur didn't accept the long term deal that the front office had presented him. I am only speculating, yet it would sound likely that the dollar figure possibly could have trumped McCann's by a few million. For an business that in the past fifteen years saw players take less revenue to come play for Bobby Cox as well as the Atlanta Braves, fans of the team looked down at Francoeur's rejection.

All of the contractual frustration was reserve inside 2007 when Francoeur managed to raise his batting average 33 points, although his electricity numbers did drop. Apparently the reduce inside homeruns that year weighed about Jeff's notice. In the offseason he reportedly set about 20-25 weight, hoping to increase upon his electricity stroke. As frequently recorded, it backfired about him terribly inside 2008. Francoeur's performance at the plate was completely abysmal and culminated with a July 4th demotion to Double A, Mississippi. Francoeur let it be known that he was very upset about being transferred down, and following a few of timely injuries, the Braves were pushed to remember the struggling Francoeur. His complaining of the demotion just further alienated him from fans and members of the front office. He finished the year with a .239 batting average and what when was a match produced inside heaven, began to resemble an unavoidable nasty breakup.

Francoeur slimmed back down before this season, trying to regain the form that had endeared him to numerous around the south. It didn't work. His medium was just a few points high, still he was slugging for an even reduce percentage than he was during the past year. Frank Wren and John Schuerholz had merely enjoyed enough. They would never carry on and allow Bobby Cox to pencil Francoeur, inside the midst of a two year recession, into a currently anemic lineup. Atlanta shipped him to the initially club that provided any sort of Major League willing player inside return. Oddly enough, that team happened to become a divisional rival, the NY Mets. A lifelong Peachtree say native to the Big Apple. Francoeur better do when he desires any rest inside the metropolis that not sleeps.

How did you get here Jeff Francoeur? The hometown hero. The next face of the franchise. Goldenboy. The Natural. Nobody may have known you would play a option from town before a 26th birthday. Now there are only two Baby Braves left, and without a question, a departure has been the most disastrous blow. This wasn't expected to end along these lines. The stars not were meant to align for such a sharp demise. The smooth, charismatic correct fielder has taken his act to NY, as well as the plump, red head, whose face stays behind that catcher's goggles, is among the most face of the Atlanta Braves.

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