Thursday, March 5, 2009

Golf

Let's say... you got a bad review at work last year. You even got demoted to a lower position for a little bit, but were brought back up and still didn't perform to expectations. Somehow you got a raise before the new year started, and you're trying to prove you deserve it -- and that you deserve your job. Do you do something like this (as reported in the AJC)?

Jeff Francoeur left Wednesday’s game after one at-bat, popping out to second base in the first inning. Cox said Francoeur had fouled a ball off his toe Wednesday morning.

“He can play tomorrow I think,” Cox said. “Shouldn’t have played him today, probably.”

Francoeur had told multiple reporters he was playing golf Wednesday afternoon with Tiger Woods and John Smoltz in what has become an annual outing. Cox said he didn’t know about that.

"...in what has become an annual outing." I can't help but think this wasn't the best time to take off to play with Tiger. Not only is it not a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (as it would be if I played golf with Tiger), but it's also not the best time of year, and it's in the middle of a game? Come on!


In other news, please don't make me create an "Injuries '09" tag, Braves!
Bumps and bruises

Already short-handed with Brian McCann and Chipper Jones in the WBC, the Braves are a little thinner with four players nicked up: Casey Kotchman (quadriceps, finger), Jordan Schafer (shoulder), Freddie Freeman (quadriceps) and Josh Anderson (tailbone). None is serious.

15 comments:

slappywhite said...

Is it just me or is Frenchy too big for his brithces?

Carrera said...

Ass.

Carrera said...

And boy, I sure wish I could ditch my job in the middle of the day to go shopping with Rachel Zoe or get my hair cut by Ken Paves.

Lauren T. said...

Maybe your friend TB should "go play golf with Tiger Woods" -- he'd finally get canned for sure! :D

Leah said...

I think Frenchy gives himself more credit than a lot of others do at this point, as most don't give him any. I could understand if he had played four or five innings, but to have only one hit, and a bad one at that, and leave the game completely to go play golf while your teammates stay in the game for five-six innings (plus their morning workouts) and work their butts off? That's just ridiculous.

Sometimes I want to root for Frenchy because of his terrible year last year and I feel bad for him, but then there's times like these that make me wonder why I do. Sometimes he seems like his only concern is himself and his ego doesn't help. But I also think, too, that some people just throw gas on the fire to make it worse, treating him differently, because of who he is.

Anonymous said...

Frenchy needs to get blessed out and knocked down a few notches: bottom-line. Someone needs to let Mr. Natural know that he is not God's gift to baseball.

As far as the injuries go, I'm thinking we may need to look into who's in charge of strength and conditioning. If these boys were in the shape they ought to be in, would we already have these nagging injuries two weeks into Spring Training? I think not...

CABravesFan said...

I'm going to take the other side (Francoeur's) here- please don't hate me:)

It is fairly common for veteran players to leave before a game is over (or not play at all) and go play golf during the spring...we just don't usually hear about it. I know the "but jeff sucks" argument, and it is fair but he probably would have only had one more at bat anyways- if he had just not played at all nobody would have even known that he played golf...there is still an entire month of spring games left- it is too early to woory about him (now if he is still struggling in, say, May, I would worry). I think Jeff just needs to learn not to overshare with reporters!

Lauren T. said...

Chop-Chick, I agree with you on the injuries, for the most part. We don't know what happened to Casey's finger or Josh's tailbone (OW), so I'm giving those two a pass for those.

CA, I appreciate your argument, and I did consider that side -- here's the only issue I have. Frenchy is NOT a veteran yet. He doesn't have a long-term contract with the team. He's only been in the majors for three full seasons. I can't excuse him yet. I wouldn't excuse BMac if he pulled the same stunt, either.

The fact that Bobby knew nothing about it makes the whole thing shady, IMO.

ajgc said...

Someone needs a lecture.......Smoltzie can do whatever he wants-he's earned a day with Tiger. Frenchy needs to keep his butt in the ballpark.

CABravesFan said...

Lauren, ajgc-

fair enough:) I consider Francoeur, maybe not a "vet" but close enough on such a young team... and i think that if Bobby hadn't allowed Jeff to leave early, Jeff would not have left early. I do understand how many have a problem with him leaving but this early in spring it doesn't bother me (and I bet Mac has left a few time before the end of games:)...he is just smart enough not to tell reporters where he is going!)

MollyG said...

I've been wondering the same about the strength and conditioning situation since last season's string of injuries. I don't want to see another injury plagued season :(

Leah said...

I think they are doing better actually. DOB has said that the guys have been doing a lot more drills and workouts to stretch, before and even after their workouts. But who knows?

flbravesgirl said...

Before their game here, a conditioning coach ( I guess) was putting them through a pretty good stretch & calisthenics warm-up before BP. He was quite the drill sergeant.

It seems like Frenchy has played nearly every game this spring & gotten quite a few at-bats. I believe he's even stayed in some games longer than usual for this point in ST to get another AB. While I think a reality check would not be a bad thing for him, his only mistake here IMO was telling the media where he was going.

Lauren T. said...

Frenchy got one hit in 11 at bats this spring before today's game (where he homered). A batting average below .100 doesn't mean you get a day off. :/

ajgc said...

What Lauren said.