In what was a bit of a shock in the baseball world, MLB.com, among other sources, reported Friday that the Atlanta Braves optioned right fielder Jeff Francoeur to its Double-A Mississippi affiliate. The Braves look for the 24-year-old outfielder to get some time in the minors before a return after the All-Star break.

Francoeur is batting just .234, his lowest mark since March 31. He is on pace for his lowest production totals in a full season, after putting together back-to-back 100 RBI seasons in 2006 and 2007.

Francoeur’s lack of patience was always a knock on the young slugger. While he has improved his walk totals since his 2005 and 2006 free-swinging days, he remains at a low total. His previous seasons have all ended with an OBP below .350 and now he sports one below .300. It only raises and lowers corresponding to his batting average, which has plummeted this season. This hitting approach is dangerous for a young player, who creates an increased chance of slumping.

The move didn’t come out of nowhere. There was another article on MLB.com on Wednesday, saying the Braves were speculating sending Francoeur down. Two contributing factors could have played in the decision. The Phillies tried the same approach with starter Brett Myers on Tuesday. The Braves may have taken a cue from their bold decision.

Perhaps more prominently, the Braves might have feared the backlash of such a move with the team’s fanbase, who may align more strongly with Francoeur since he is a local product. However, as The Associated Press mentions, the Braves crowd booed even the beloved Francoeur after his performance Thursday. Carroll Rogers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said the big issue is not the reaction of the fanbase but the reaction of Francoeur, the target of boos from the hometown crowd and now the temporary newest member of the Mississippi Braves.

He chose Double-A Mississippi over Triple-A Richmond partly because of the better facilities, which is a bit of a knock on the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate. According to the MLB.com article, he also knows Mississippi manager Philip Wellman. Ironically enough, Francoeur has never played at Triple-A Richmond, as he was promoted directly from Mississippi in July 2005.

In his first at-bat as a Mississippi Brave on Friday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that he was robbed of a home run. The situation reads very similar to that of Carlos Delgado’s non-homer call against the Yankees earlier this season.

The score was 5-3, Braves.

Bottom 7th: Atlanta
- J. Sosa relieved S. Schoeneweis
- M. Teixeira struck out swinging
- B. McCann doubled to right center
- J. Francoeur singled to left, B. McCann to third
- M. Diaz struck out swinging
- M. Prado walked, J. Francoeur to second
- K. Johnson hit for P. Moylan
- K. Johnson homered to deep right, J. Francoeur, B. McCann and M. Prado scored
- Y. Escobar flied out to deep right

4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors

You are down two runs. After the Jeff Francoeur single, Sosa struck Matt Diaz out swinging. Automatically, you should deem Prado as the last batter Jorge Sosa will face no matter what with the lefty to follow. Sure enough, Sosa walks Martin Prado to load the bases. The left-handed Kelly Johnson comes to the plate and cranks one deep over the wall. Where was Pedro Feliciano to pitch to the lefty? He hasn’t pitched since Wednesday, so it’s not like he would be unavailable for that reason.

Vintage Willie in this respect. Failure to use the bullpen correctly.