Monday, April 03, 2006
Cox glad to have Classic players back
03/18/2006
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There was an unfamiliar sense of normalcy in Braves camp on Saturday afternoon.
For the first time in more than two weeks, Braves manager Bobby Cox's clubhouse included Chipper Jones, Jeff Francoeur and Oscar Villarreal. Each returned to Disney's Wide World of Sports complex satisfied with their World Baseball Classic experiences and intent on making final preparations for the regular season.
"It's good to have them back," Cox said. "We looked sort of naked without three of our top guys."
Because of illness, injuries and the World Baseball Classic, Cox still has yet to fill out a lineup that includes all of his projected Opening Day starters. But with Jones and Francoeur back in Saturday's 10-6 win over the Reds, the skipper had at least a better chance to see what his team might look like.
"What was fun was getting everybody out there together on the field," Francoeur said. "It was fun to be playing with them. I missed it a bunch."
From the time he left Braves camp to join Team USA on March 2 until Saturday, Francoeur got just nine at-bats (exhibition game included). His only hit was a double that he registered in Thursday's 2-1 loss to Mexico.
But those concerns that he might not be ready for the start of the regular season were lessened when he returned with a three-hit, five-RBI performance that included a two-run homer off Cincinnati's Dave Williams.
"My hands need to get a little quicker to be where I need to be," Francoeur said. "But it was a good start and a good chance to get out there."
As Francoeur was talking to reporters, Chipper Jones jokingly proclaimed that Team USA manager Buck Martinez should have played the 22-year-old right fielder more. But Martinez gave Jones plenty of playing time and the veteran third baseman responded by going 6-for-17 with two homers in the Classic.
"It was probably the best baseball experience of my career," Jones said. "I thoroughly enjoyed it. Every day was a new memory, a new career high."
While winning just one game in Pool 1, Team USA didn't advance to the championship round that began in San Diego on Saturday. But while seeing his team fall short of expectations, Jones savored the opportunity to play alongside the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens and Derek Jeter for more than two weeks.
"From a team point of view, it wasn't a real good trip," Jones said. "But from an individual standpoint of getting to go out there and prove myself with some of the best players in the country and the world, it was very satisfying."
Jones said the All-Star-filled Team USA roster quickly meshed and there were a number of evenings when at least 10-12 of them went to dinner together. Fortunately for youngsters like Francoeur and Huston Street, Jones, Jeter and Rodriguez picked up the tabs.
"We said we were on the scholarship plan when we were out there," Francoeur said. "We got wined and dined. It was like a recruiting trip every night."
Along with the off-field entertainment, Francoeur also got a chance to experience intense workouts with some of the world's greatest players. The chance to take at least 20 minutes of batting practice allowed him some compensation for the lack of playing time he was receiving.
"They did a lot work," Cox said. "Chipper said he's never gotten as many swings in his life. That part is good. But there's nothing like game situation and game pitching.
"[Francoeur] will get a lot of at-bats in all the [remaining exhibition] games and he should be ready."
With 12 spring games left, Francoeur certainly has plenty of time to prepare for his first full big-league season. After making his Major League debut on July 7, he produced a .300 batting average, belted 14 homers and registered 13 outfield assists.
"He's got all the tools," Jones said. "He's just got to get all of the extra reps in and then take the next step. He appears to be right on the cusp."
Jones and Francouer's run with Team USA ended Thursday when Villarreal provided two scoreless innings in Mexico's victory. The only run the right-handed reliever allowed in 2 2/3 innings during the Classic, came in the first round, when Jones took him deep.
Villarreal, who will serve as one of Atlanta's top relievers, took a red-eye flight back from California and arrived in camp around 6 a.m. ET on Saturday.
"I thought he was nasty the second game that we played against him," Jones said. "Everybody was saying he looked like a different guy. But to be honest with you, he pitched well the first game against us. He just made the one bad pitch."
Had the U.S. defeated Mexico, it would have played on Saturday against Korea, a team that Jones says is the best one he saw during the tournament.
Of course, that would have prevented Jones and Francoeur from bringing some of that normalcy back to Braves camp so soon.
"It's kind of bittersweet, because it's good to be back," Francoeur said. "But you'd still love to be playing tonight against Korea and representing your country. But at the same time, what's done is done and you just kind of move forward."
As Francoeur has so often proved, it appears he's ready to do so in the fast-forward mode.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- There was an unfamiliar sense of normalcy in Braves camp on Saturday afternoon.
For the first time in more than two weeks, Braves manager Bobby Cox's clubhouse included Chipper Jones, Jeff Francoeur and Oscar Villarreal. Each returned to Disney's Wide World of Sports complex satisfied with their World Baseball Classic experiences and intent on making final preparations for the regular season.
"It's good to have them back," Cox said. "We looked sort of naked without three of our top guys."
Because of illness, injuries and the World Baseball Classic, Cox still has yet to fill out a lineup that includes all of his projected Opening Day starters. But with Jones and Francoeur back in Saturday's 10-6 win over the Reds, the skipper had at least a better chance to see what his team might look like.
"What was fun was getting everybody out there together on the field," Francoeur said. "It was fun to be playing with them. I missed it a bunch."
From the time he left Braves camp to join Team USA on March 2 until Saturday, Francoeur got just nine at-bats (exhibition game included). His only hit was a double that he registered in Thursday's 2-1 loss to Mexico.
But those concerns that he might not be ready for the start of the regular season were lessened when he returned with a three-hit, five-RBI performance that included a two-run homer off Cincinnati's Dave Williams.
"My hands need to get a little quicker to be where I need to be," Francoeur said. "But it was a good start and a good chance to get out there."
As Francoeur was talking to reporters, Chipper Jones jokingly proclaimed that Team USA manager Buck Martinez should have played the 22-year-old right fielder more. But Martinez gave Jones plenty of playing time and the veteran third baseman responded by going 6-for-17 with two homers in the Classic.
"It was probably the best baseball experience of my career," Jones said. "I thoroughly enjoyed it. Every day was a new memory, a new career high."
While winning just one game in Pool 1, Team USA didn't advance to the championship round that began in San Diego on Saturday. But while seeing his team fall short of expectations, Jones savored the opportunity to play alongside the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens and Derek Jeter for more than two weeks.
"From a team point of view, it wasn't a real good trip," Jones said. "But from an individual standpoint of getting to go out there and prove myself with some of the best players in the country and the world, it was very satisfying."
Jones said the All-Star-filled Team USA roster quickly meshed and there were a number of evenings when at least 10-12 of them went to dinner together. Fortunately for youngsters like Francoeur and Huston Street, Jones, Jeter and Rodriguez picked up the tabs.
"We said we were on the scholarship plan when we were out there," Francoeur said. "We got wined and dined. It was like a recruiting trip every night."
Along with the off-field entertainment, Francoeur also got a chance to experience intense workouts with some of the world's greatest players. The chance to take at least 20 minutes of batting practice allowed him some compensation for the lack of playing time he was receiving.
"They did a lot work," Cox said. "Chipper said he's never gotten as many swings in his life. That part is good. But there's nothing like game situation and game pitching.
"[Francoeur] will get a lot of at-bats in all the [remaining exhibition] games and he should be ready."
With 12 spring games left, Francoeur certainly has plenty of time to prepare for his first full big-league season. After making his Major League debut on July 7, he produced a .300 batting average, belted 14 homers and registered 13 outfield assists.
"He's got all the tools," Jones said. "He's just got to get all of the extra reps in and then take the next step. He appears to be right on the cusp."
Jones and Francouer's run with Team USA ended Thursday when Villarreal provided two scoreless innings in Mexico's victory. The only run the right-handed reliever allowed in 2 2/3 innings during the Classic, came in the first round, when Jones took him deep.
Villarreal, who will serve as one of Atlanta's top relievers, took a red-eye flight back from California and arrived in camp around 6 a.m. ET on Saturday.
"I thought he was nasty the second game that we played against him," Jones said. "Everybody was saying he looked like a different guy. But to be honest with you, he pitched well the first game against us. He just made the one bad pitch."
Had the U.S. defeated Mexico, it would have played on Saturday against Korea, a team that Jones says is the best one he saw during the tournament.
Of course, that would have prevented Jones and Francoeur from bringing some of that normalcy back to Braves camp so soon.
"It's kind of bittersweet, because it's good to be back," Francoeur said. "But you'd still love to be playing tonight against Korea and representing your country. But at the same time, what's done is done and you just kind of move forward."
As Francoeur has so often proved, it appears he's ready to do so in the fast-forward mode.
Source: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/
