Francoeur Back From Minors & More DL Misery

Written by Colin on July 7, 2008 – 1:35 pm

Jeff Francoeur is back from the minor leagues after three days, 13 at-bats, and 7 hits.  He’s coming back to Atlanta today after a rash of injuries sent two pitchers and one position player to the DL.  Manny Acosta, Jeff Bennett, and Omar Infante all went to the 15-day DL yesterday and Francoeur’s short stint in the minors is over.

Francoeur was hitting just .234 before he got sent to AA Mississippi for some work on his swing.  He struck out looking last night - proof he’s at least being more patient down there.  He’s had success too - he’s 7-13 (.538) with two RBIs and a triple.  He’ll join the team in LA tonight for a game against the Dodgers.

Hopefully the short stint cured Francoeur of his slump.  But was it too short?  Did he need some more time to become comfortable with himself once again?  Obviously we’re glad to see him back but the Braves need solid offensive contribution for some time from Frenchy.

What are your thoughts?  Glad to see him back already?

As far as the other heading goes, it’s amazing to see how many new Braves go on the DL every week. It’s like opening the paper and finding a surprise….a surprise similar to finding out that you’re foot’s under a concrete block, you know the good kind. This rash of injuries is probably worse than 2005 when we had the first round of Baby Braves when guys like Mike Hampton, Time Hudson and Chipper Jones were gone for long stretches of the season.

The following is a list of people, how many times they’ve been on the DL and a little information about their stints:

1. Chuck James  (2) -James had some rotator cuff problems last year stemming from a partially torn muscle. The problem was probably caused by his delivery and the fact that his pitches are almost all shoulder and little to no body momentum.
2. John Smoltz (3) - Recently headed to the DL with the problem that started in spring training. Rotator cuff and bicep inflammation and a torn labrum.
3. Mike Hampton (1) - Where would we all be without our favorite DL dweller? Mike Hampton strained a pectoral muscle warming up in the cold weather early this year against Pittsburg and aggravated the injury in a rehab start. They are being more careful with him this time, but hope that 23rd time’s the charm for Hampton, let me also clarify that we are not counting on him, just anything we get out of Hampton would be a bonus.
4. Rafael Soriano (2) -Had a few appearances before going down with elbow tendonitis, came back in time to blow a save in Cincinnati and save another game before going down again.
5. Peter Moylan (1) - Going in for a TJ
6. Tom Glavine (2) - His return to the Braves was fairly short lived. Glavine strained a hammy in Washington and then tore a flexor tendon in his hand. No surgery required, but these are Glavine’s first two DL stints of his career.
7. Martin Pardo (1) - Out for six weeks and just returned last week with a thumb sprain when he slid into a base the wrong way.
8. Omar Infante (2) - Broke his hand in a fall ball game when he was hit by a pitch. He strained his hamstring in June but did not go on the DL, came back and pulled it again and is now on the “dreaded list” for the second time this season.
9. Brayan Pena (1) - Mild-back sprain, I think there were so many injuries around this time that I forgot what happened. The Braves released him as soon as he was healthy, unfortunately.
10. Buddy Carlyle (1) - Neck strain when he was run into at Washington.
11. Matt Diaz (1) - Still out with a partially torn knee ligament he sustained when crashing into the unpadded part of the outfield wall making a catch.
12. Mark Kostay (1) - His back acted up, an injury he sustained last year and had surgery for. This year he was out about five weeks with the injury while he was doing well.
13. Manny Acosta (1) - I know most of the Braves fans are probably happy about this, but remember that on regular rest and when he not being pressed to pitch every day, Acosta is one of our most effective set-up guys and pitched three scoreless innings in the 17 inning game against Houston before going down with the hamstring while running the bases.
14. Jeff Bennett (1) - Partially separated shoulder sustained against the Astros on Saturday.

So there you have it, 20 DL stints, many to guys that are stars and not just role players. The fact that we are just six games out is more than amazing and we should just stop and think how good a job Bobby Cox has done keeping this team together.

Tags: , Jeff Francoeur
Posted in Injuries, Roster Moves |