Fans excited to hear Braves star

Local Sports

January 29, 2008

By Clint Thompson The Times Enterprise Tue Jan 29, 2008, 11:24 PM EST

THOMASVILLE — Jeff Francoeur’s appearance in Thomasville on Tuesday blew Joseph Deloach’s mind.

The Thomasville High baseball player couldn’t fathom the Atlanta Braves outfielder coming to speak in the Rose City.

“I look up to him as a player,” Deloach said. “I like to watch him play. Atlanta’s one of my favorite teams, so he’s got to be one of my favorites.”

Deloach was one of hundreds of area high school baseball players who heard Francoeur speak at the old Central Middle School auditorium.

“It’s pretty cool, a guy like him coming to Thomasville,” Thomas County Central’s Davis McDermond said. “It’s a kind of guy you look up to.”

Francoeur spoke to the teams about his faith in the Lord, dedication to working hard and his experience in three years with the Braves. The players were not the only fans feeling the excitement of Francoeur’s appearance on Tuesday.

“As coaches, we all read about him when he came along so we’re excited to see him,” Cairo’s first-year baseball coach Ron Best said.

Francoeur and the rest of the Braves are just weeks away from reporting for spring training.

“You’re just ready to go,” Francoeur said. “For me, I’m excited. I wish I was leaving to go.”

After 14 straight seasons of making the playoffs, the Braves are currently in a two-year playoff drought. It’s an experience Francoeur is determined to end.

“It’s going to be like anything, where we get hungrier and hungrier every year to try to get back,” Francoeur said. “If we can do that, it’ll be huge.”

Making the playoffs just got a little tougher for the Braves. The New York Mets agreed to trade for star pitcher Johan Santana, pending a deal the Mets could get him to sign an extension.

“That’s the worst news I’ve heard all day,” Francoeur said. “I don’t want to face him.”

Francoeur is 0-for-3 against Santana with two striketouts.

Although Francoeur’s confidence against Santana is shaken, he is confident manager Bobby Cox will return after this upcoming season.

“He loves it too much,” Francoeur admitted. “He doesn’t want to end right now. He’s having too much fun and enjoys it too much.”

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