New stance suiting Francoeur just fine
08/06/2007 4:44 PM ET
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
ATLANTA -- Had Jeff Francoeur entered this past offseason satisfied with the fact that he'd done something only previously accomplished by Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews in the long history of the Braves' franchise, he might be heading toward a second straight 100-RBI season fighting the same sort of frustration that filled him last year.
With 103 RBIs in his first full Major League season last year, Francoeur joined Aaron and Mathews as the only players in franchise history to enjoy a 100-RBI season before their 23rd birthday. While a lofty accomplishment that certainly signaled greatness, the Braves' 23-year-old right fielder viewed it as one that was reached in a manner that signaled further inconsistencies.
"Being able to hit between .290 to .300 with 100 RBIs is way more satisfying than hitting .260 with 100 RBIs, because that way you're giving other guys more opportunities and it makes you more of a complete player," said Francoeur, whose three-hit performance in Sunday's win over the Rockies improved his batting average to .304 and kept him on pace to finish this season with 104 RBIs.
在上禮拜天粉酷對上落機隊單場三安的表現之後 打擊率來到了新高的.304
按照這產量下去 粉酷本季將會有104分的打點
Engaged to his high school sweetheart Catie McCoy, Francoeur has given reason to believe there really isn't further reason for him to care if "chicks dig the long ball." Coming off his career-best 29-homer season last year, he's hit 12 this year, putting him on pace for just 17.
上季轟出了29發HR的粉酷 本季目前為止也只有12發 可能整季只有17發的成績
"There's no doubt in my mind that I could have 20 to 21 homers right now, and I'd probably be hitting .260," Francoeur said.
When Francoeur burst on the Major League scene midway through the 2005 season and produced a .300 batting average, critics were correct with their assumption that the success was a product of opponents being unfamiliar with the free-swinging outfielder's tendencies. This was proven last year, when he managed to tally 103 RBIs, despite a .260 batting average that was somewhat masked with the 29 homers.
"My first year, nobody knew how to pitch me and last year, I think they did," Francoeur said. "I had a great year power-wise, but I know I'm not a .260 hitter and I wanted to show that I'm a different type of player."
在粉酷出登大聯盟的2005年 立刻石破天驚的打出.300打擊率
但許多專家挺看衰粉酷 認為這只是投手們還不熟悉這位打者罷了
而這個預測看起來在2006年粉酷的第一個完整球季頗準確
他只繳出了.260的打擊率 雖然仍帶有29發HR和103分的打點
During the offseason, Francoeur worked with Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton in an attempt to improve his offensive approach from both a mental and physical perspective. With Pendleton providing a constant reminder that right field wasn't in foul territory, the right-handed-hitting outfielder began to feel comfortable with a slightly crouched stance that's intended to allow him to see pitches longer and consequently give him the ability to drive pitches to the opposite field.
About two weeks before the All-Star break, Francoeur truly began finding comfort with this new stance. Without coincidence, he's hit .371 with a .414 on-base percentage in his past 34 games.
但是本季在打擊教練Pendleton的教導下可不一樣了 他改進了粉酷的攻擊方式
他建議粉酷再彎腰一點 以更看的清楚投手的投球 並能將球往反方向轟個老遠
而效果漸漸出來了 粉酷在過去34場比賽中
繳出可怕的.371打擊率和.414的上壘率
Even with his homer total down, Francoeur's .450 slugging percentage is slightly higher than the .449 mark he produced last year. To truly show he's a more disciplined player, one only has to look at his .349 on-base percentage, which is significantly better than the .293 mark he had last year.
In 484 plate appearances this year, Francoeur has already drawn 30 walks. In the 960 career plate appearances he had entering this season, he'd been issued a total of 34 walks.
"He's more of a threat," Braves All-Star catcher Brian McCann said. "Pitchers don't want to face him. I think last year, pitchers thought they could get him out early in the count with one or two pitches. They can't do that anymore."
儘管全壘打變少了 但粉酷.450的長打率卻比去年的.449還要高
.349的上壘率也比去年的.293還要好
（按：去年粉酷的上壘率真的是......0rz）
With his aggressive approach last year, Francoeur didn't always get in trouble swinging at the first pitch of an at-bat. Of the balls put in play in that situation, he managed to produce a .366 batting average -- better than the .323 mark he's compiled this year. But the biggest difference is that he's now showing improved patience when he misses that first pitch and falls behind in the count.
Francoeur is hitting .244 (48-for-197) with two strikes this year. Last year, he hit just .140 (38-for-272). Although he's on pace to strike out 120 times this season, the trend has steadily improved since last year, when he struck out 132 times in 651 at-bats (20 percent). In the 350 at-bats he compiled before this year's All-Star break, Francoeur went down on strikes 67 times in 350 (19 percent). In the 94 at-bats he's had since the break, pitchers have retired him at the plate just 16 times (17 percent).
"I feel that I'm more of a complete player now, and that I'm able to help the team with something more than just home runs," Francoeur said. "I haven't been trying to do too much. I think last year, I tried to hit a homer every at-bat."
從前的粉酷從不會為了是否要揮第一球而煩惱(因為他一定會揮的XD)
但現在在面對第一球以及球數落後的時候 粉酷顯的有耐心多了
本季粉酷在兩好球之後的打擊率是.244 比去年的神鬼般的.140好上太多太多了
另外 被三振的比例也變少了
上季是20%(651個打數吃了132次三振) 而本季明星賽之前降為19%(350個打數吃了67個)
明星賽後更降到17%(94個打數吃了16個)
"我想我成了更完美的球員 我可以為球隊做更多的事 而不是只有打全壘打而以"粉酷說
"我想我去年每次拎著棒子上去 滿腦只想著打全壘打XD"
Last season, Francoeur collected an eye-opening 48 percent (49 of 103) of his RBIs via home runs. This year, while putting himself on pace to better that career-best RBI mark, he's seen just 26 percent (19 of 72) of the runs he's driven in come courtesy of the long ball.
"He doesn't have the home run numbers he had last year yet," Pendleton said. "But he's driving the runs in. That's the biggest thing for me and he's doing that. He's just giving himself a chance to see the ball with two strikes and attacking it. "
Francoeur has realized the fruits of his labor through his improved consistency, something that hasn't gone unnoticed among his peers. Last week, Astros catcher Brad Ausmus told the young Braves outfielder, "I like what you've done with your new approach."
Obviously, so too do the Braves.
"I'm a completely different hitter," Francoeur said. "I'd like to think I'm a lot more dangerous."
粉酷認為 他更有威脅性了:p
--
打家都知道本季粉酷勢必要作一番改變
而他也確實稍微開了選球眼
去年整季只有23個BB 本季目前為止已經獲得30個了
不過驚天一擊的次數也下降了許多
但粉酷輕鬆寫意的長打還是我比較喜歡看的
看明年他能否再進化成擁有.300+打擊率外帶30+HR的粉酷吧:p
