The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Mark Bradley wants Braves fans to leave Jeff Francoeur alone . Bradley thinks the fans are being too tough on the locally grown phenom, even if Frenchy is off to a crappy start this season:

Jeff Francoeur is having a rough year. His batting average is .252, which isn’t good, and his on-base percentage is .300, which is bad. He has 10 hits - against 10 strikeouts and only two walks - in his past 10 games. Since hitting a walk-off homer against Arizona on May 24, he has eight RBIs in 96 at-bats.

As tepid as those numbers are, they don’t quite explain the rancor directed Francoeur’s way. In Sunday’s sports section he received three mentions (none flattering) in The Vent. If e-mails to a certain writer (namely, me) are any measure, the suggestions go like this: Bat Frenchy eighth; bench Frenchy; send Frenchy to the minors until he learns the strike zone.

You hear that? Fans are going so far as to send frustrated emails to the local paper. Call in the national guard! The situation is out of hand!

Bradley thinks fans should just chill out because, after all, Francoeur is still pretty young and, hey, he’s from Georgia. And, though Bradley doesn’t include this, it’s worth mentioning that Frenchy has the cutest hot baseball wife and that the Francoeurs are totally freaking adorable .

Here’s what Bradley does say about Frenchy:

It’s understandable fans would be anxious, especially at a time when the entire team is listing. What’s curious is how quickly we Atlantans seem to turn on the guy from Gwinnett. Has almost a decade of his derring-do, first at Parkview and now as a Brave, bred such contempt? Have we tired of the famous Frenchy? Have we forgotten that, for all his notoriety, he’s only 24?

First of all, I feel the need to point out that Atlanta fans are the most patient and forgiving fans in America. And if you’ve incurred their wrath than you probably deserve it. I’m a Phillies fan and I feel pretty confident saying that if Frenchy brought his .300 OBP to Philly he’d be dead in a week.

Of course, Francoeur doesn’t play in Philly. He plays in Georgia, the same place where he played in high school and college and in the minors. Should Frenchy’s Georgia roots matter to fans, as Bradley suggests? I don’t think so. He shouldn’t be rewarded for going to high school in Gwinnett any more than Mark Teixeira should be penalized for growing up in the Baltimore area. Players should be measured by their accomplishments, not their zip codes.

As for Frenchy’s feats as a Brave, well, that’s worth debating. He’s certainly had a lot of big moments. He’s been on the cover of Sports Illustrated, for crying out loud! But his stats are a mixed bag. In 2006, he hit 29 home runs, which is pretty good. But he also had an OBP of .293, which is really, really bad. The next year he had an OPB of .334, which is respectable. But he only hit 19 homers, which is only so-so.

This season, Frenchy reportedly worked out in the offseason in an effort to add muscle that would lend itself to more dingers. But so far this season he’s only got eight homers.

Francoeur has undoubtedly suffered from lofty – some might say impossible – expectations.

Here’s what the AJC’s Dave O’Brien predicted Francoeur would do last season. He made this prediction after 20 games:

I’m saying the Braves’ 23-year-old right fielder finishes this season at .280 with 32 homers, 120 RBIs and a .345 OBP, which would be one hell of a season and a huge improvement over last season.

Francoeur ended up with 19 homers, a .338 OBP and 105 RBI, which isn’t bad, but was well short of O’Brien’s prediction.

Here’s what Baseball America 2005 had to say about Frenchy, via Dave O’Brien’s Braves Blog :

“One of the purest five-tool players in the minor leagues. Scouts rave about the way he consistently gets the barrel of the bat on the ball. He uses his hands well in his swing and generates tremendous bat speed, which combined with his natural power should enable him to hit 30-plus home runs annually in the majors. Francoeur uses the entire field and used his season at pitcher-friendly Myrtle Beach to his advantage, becoming adept at driving outside pitches the opposite way…. As impressive as his tools may be, Francoeur’s makeup may stand out even more. Of the most competitive players in the organization, he’s a fiery team leader, which could be just what the big league team needs.”

No pressure, right? Baseball America goes on to compare Frenchy to Dale Murphy and Chipper Jones, which is pretty elite company. So far, Frenchy has fallen far short of those comparisons. But, as Bradley points out, Francoeur is still young. So it’s too early to give up on him.

But it’s certainly not too early to boo Frenchy’s .300 OBP. And it’s not too early to worry that the local boy will never learn plate discipline. Francoeur was lobbying for a longterm contract in the offseason, but his performance thus far has hardly warranted one. When Frenchy learns to take a walk, he’ll get the money and the accolades, and he won’t see any more nastly fan letters. But until then, he’s bound to dissapoint.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution just cannot get themselves enough of the Francoeurs. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know Jeff Francoeur and his longtime love Catie recently tied the knot. And ever since, we’ve been treated to a number of intimate glimpses inside the lives of Atlanta’s most adorable couple.

First, we learned about the honeymoon.

Then, Jeff and Catie shared their favorite movies.

Today, we take a tour inside the couple’s 4-bedroom, 3 1/2 bath Duluth, Ga. home.

But that’s not all! We’re also treated to a photo album with pics from the couple’s Thanksgiving, wedding and honeymoon, as well as private moments at home.

And we get a super in depth look at everything Jeff and Catie, from his anoying habits to details about her gorgeous wedding gown.

Here are just a few of the way-too-cute tidbits the AJC has dug up:

• For his 24th birthday, Catie made dinner reservations — during the college football national championship game. Faux pas!

• Jeff is a clutz. So far he’s broken one framed picture given to the couple as a wedding present and two Christmas ornaments.

• Jeff has “never played less golf” since getting married.

• Catie is a size zero (maybe our smallest Hot Baseball Wife?).

• Jeff has trouble remembering to put the toilet seat down.

• Her cellphone ring tone: “Can’t Touch This.”

• His cellphone ring tone: “Beer in Mexico.”

• Catie’s “homemade” chocolate chip cookies are really Pillsbury.

• The Francoeurs have decided to wait at least five years to have a child.

• One of Jeff’s and Catie’s two dogs goes to a dog psychyatrist for anxiety issues.

• Catie is a University of Georgia grad.

• Jeff, a Clemson fan, grudgingly coexists with a Bulldog cookie jar and pets with UGA collars.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

You already know that Catie Francoeur is a Hot Baseball Wife. You already know that Jeff thinks his wife will make a great mom, and that she’s got a great butt. Now the Atlanta Journal Constitution brings us not one but two intimate glimpses into the lives of the Francoeurs.

First, we got the scoop on the Francoeurs’ honeymoon — they went to Cabo and ran into Chicago Cubs 1B Derrek Lee, his wife, Christina, and their daughter, Jada (what are the odds!?).

Then the Francoeurs, who watch movies together almost every night, agreed to share a list of movies they’ve seen this summer, along with snarky comments about each.

I think I speak for baseball fans everywhere when I say, is it time for spring training yet?

Jeff Francoeur, on what he loves about his new fiance, Catie:

“Now that I’m working out with Javy [Lopez], she wants to come with me. I tell him I’ve got a vendetta against him. She has this poster of him in her parents’ house. But [what I like about her is] she’s obviously very beautiful and a great person and she’ll be a great mom someday, and that’s very important. Her character and integrity and the person she is. And I like her butt, you know what I’m saying?”

Yes, Jeff. I think we know exactly what you’re saying.

There is no good explanation for “sophomore slump”, but it is as real as Mexican jumping beans or Silly Putty. Every year, sophomore slump claims at least one player that everyone assumed was primed for greatness. In 2003 it was Blue Jays 3b Eric Hinske. In 2004 it was Royals SS Angel Berroa. Last year it was A’s 3b Bobby Crosby, though his season was cut in half due to injury.

Let’s take a look at last year’s top three in the NL rookie of the year voting and see how they’re fairing this year:

Jeff Francoeur: So far this season, Francoeur is hitting .194 with 14 RBIs on the road before Thursday, and .313 with 28 RBIs at home. Obviously, this hometown hero is more comfortable in the safe confines of Turner Field. Total, he’s hitting .253 with 12 homers and 42 RBIs and a paltry .271 OBP. Francoeur has struck out 46 times and walked only four times, which is a little silly for a guy with such average power. In his defense, Francoeur plays a solid right field and has an arm like a cannon. Verdict: Francoeur is Sophomore Slumping.

Willie Taveras: The speedy ‘Stros outfielder is hitting .260 with 0 homers, 14 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. That’s pretty lousy, any way you spin it. He plays good defense, but not good enough to make up for his low offensive numbers. Despite only 16 walks, his OBP is a surprisingly high .312. I can’t figure out how that is possible. He’s struck out 40 times, way too high for a guy with no homeruns. Verdict: Taveras is Sophmore Slumping.