MLB Blog Post

Jeff Francoeur Doesn't Know Anything About On Base Percentage

MLB, Jeff Francouer

Congratulations, Jeff Francoeur. You, Sir, Are An Idiot.

Jeff Francoeur was one of the hottest prospects in baseball when he first broke into the big leagues. One of his biggest problems over the course of his entire career, however, has been his on base percentage. This is mostly thanks to his propensity to strike out... very frequently. He has almost 4 times as many strikeouts as walks in his career, and his career OBP is a rather pedestrian .312.

No worries, though. Francoeur isn't terribly concerned with that. In fact, OBP isn't even important. Not to Francoeur, at least.

"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"

Well, that's a good question, Jeff. Funny thing about that whole scoreboard thing. In case you didn't notice, there happens to be a monstrous scoreboard in Turner Field that displays various statistics whenever players come to the plate.

One of those stats happen to be... that's right, you guessed it: on base percentage. For example, Marcus Giles' OBP when this picture was taken was .368, which is 56 points higher than Francoeur's career OBP. Check it out:

I don't think I actually need to explain the importance of on base percentage, but come on Jeff. If you're going to open your mouth and try to bash a stat, at least try to be accurate. Make fun of fielding percentage or something.

If John Madden was a baseball commentator, he would let Jeff Francoeur know the facts. To win baseball games, you have to score runs. And if you don't get on base, you can't score.

So congratulations, Jeff Francoeur. You are the Major League idiot of the week. Now go work on that OBP, alright big guy? Thanks.

Jeff Francoeur is an idiot [Shyster Ball]
Atlanta Braves Scoreboard [Travel Blog]
Plate discipline so important nowadays [ESPN]

leave comment

5/8/09 | Pat | 4513 respect

falseregister wrote:

You do realize that it's Marcus Giles, not Brian Giles in that picture you use as evidence of Jeff Francoeur's idiocy right? That mis-identifying a player who's name is in large lettering in the middle of the picture might make you look like an idiot as well.

Touche. But to reach the levels of Francoeur's idiocy, I would have to say something like "Marcus Giles must not be that important, because they don't even post his stats on the scoreboard". Or something like that.

Thanks for pointing out the error, though. It's fixed now.

5/7/09 | falseregister

5/6/09 | djjfrench | 67 respect

I need to know the context of the statement first before I'd go out of my way to call him an idiot. Still...it lacks in flavor and intelligence.

5/6/09 | BluDevil | 618 respect

What a dork. Even Rangers players aren't this dumb, mostly.

5/6/09 | gearhead | 6354 respect

Don't worry Jeff, Bill Plaschke still thinks your teh awesome.

5/6/09 | yanksawboy | 6 respect

So ops is not important well I guess errors are the new thing to get! Score a billion you also get the fans mad well I guess thats the cool part!

5/6/09 | Pat | 4513 respect

Brendanc8504 wrote:

Kinda how the Jets thought Bret Favre still had some in the tank....followed promptly by the Vikings may not learn from the Jets mistake.

I have a funny feeling this could go on all day.

5/6/09 | Brendanc8504

WhoDat12 wrote:

Umm more? Okay. Kinda like how the Yankees thought Carl Pavano was any good. Your turn!

Kinda how the Jets thought Bret Favre still had some in the tank....followed promptly by the Vikings may not learn from the Jets mistake.

5/6/09 | Heyhey1970 | 194 respect

The bad part for Jeff Francoeur is... his baseball is no better than his thinking.

5/6/09 | Bravesfan23

I am a HUGE Braves fan but I can't see that he would say anything like that. Stats prove that he is not good at getting on base, but I will say that he is starting off better this season. In the offseason he was wanting a contract extension and didn't exactly get what he wanted from the Braves. Much of it had to do with the poor season last year and he not taking walks and cutting down on strikeouts. If he even wants to consider getting a long term extension like fellow teammate Brian McCann, he has to prove that he is worthy. And as much as I love the guy, I think this year is a make or break season. We have lots of young outfielders in the farm system (Jason Heyward) and it wouldn't suprise me at all if they trade him for some pitching or something in the offseason if he doesn't turn it around.

5/6/09 | WhoDat12 | 2231 respect

Brendanc8504 wrote:

Exactly! Exactly like that. Lets think of more this is fun.

Umm more? Okay. Kinda like how the Yankees thought Carl Pavano was any good. Your turn!

5/6/09 | JrCanuckFan | 10049 respect

Place dunce cap on head,.......... open mouth,............ speak.

Look like an idiot to the entire baseball community

done.

5/6/09 | Brendanc8504

BearcatFan wrote:

Kind of like how Donovan McNabb didn't know there were ties in the NFL?

Exactly! Exactly like that. Lets think of more this is fun.

5/6/09 | BearcatFan | 5 respect

Brendanc8504 wrote:

I've heard of sports guys not knowing things like math or who signed the declaration of independence.....i mean its not uncommon that star athletes breeze through school (cause they will never need this stuff) but when you screw up this bad while speaking on the subject of Sports.........then yes, as Pat said you sir are an idiot

Kind of like how Donovan McNabb didn't know there were ties in the NFL?