Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sports
Frenchy fried in ATL?
The Buzz: What's movin' and shakin' in the world of sports
Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Jeff FrancoeurThe Braves welcome June with a 10-game home stand beginning Tuesday against the Cubs, and one wonders how long they can stay in the hunt in the N.L. East if they can't capitalize at Turner Field, where they posted a losing record through the first two months of the season. Another question for the organization: What to do with Jeff Francoeur? True, he's not "The Natural,'' as Sports Illustrated proclaimed him on a 2005 cover, and word has it the Braves are open to trading the struggling Frenchy if they can get a right-handed bat with pop in return.
But it's not like anyone in Atlanta's struggling outfield is getting the job done, and while the onetime hometown hero's discipline and mechanics are poor, it seems foolish to give up a player who has little trade value, but possesses a better-than-decent upside if he can straighten things out. Instead, the organization might take a harder look at hitting coach Terry Pendleton, who continues to use the same cavalier, hands-off approach he and manager Bobby Cox demonstrated with Andruw Jones. And we all saw how well that worked out.
Odds and ends
The NBA Finals tip off Thursday night, officially drawing basketball season to a close. Except that Saturday, the Atlanta Dream start their second WNBA season against the Indiana Fever at Philips Arena. And later this month, the Hawks get the 19th and 49th picks in the NBA Draft.
And speaking of drafts, is there any more injustice within the Atlanta professional sports scene than the fact that once again, Don Waddell will be calling the shots for the Thrashers at this month's NHL Draft?
And finally, for fans who want to get out of the stands and be a part of the action, opportunities abound. First, the Atlanta Falcons are looking for those interested in performing at home games this season. The deadline is Friday; check out www.atlantafalcons.com for more info. And on Sunday, June 7, preliminary auditions begin for the 2009-10 Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers (see www.hawks.com for info). But please, Hawks, let's make those chunky and dorky male A-Team Dancers a thing of the past.