Jeff Francoeur (Transcript)

Robby Incmikoski: All right, we are now recording with Jeff Francoeur, who is interview number 94 for the book. Frenchie, let me ask you this—Truist Park. What is it like walking into that place when you walk into the ballpark after spending maybe an hour or two in the Battery eating some dinner or grabbing a beer or playing some games or hanging out? How do you describe the experience there for a fan that has never been?

Jeff Francoeur: I think it's so great because, you know, down here in Atlanta, we had Turner Field, which is where I kind of grew up going and then playing. But as you know, that was an Olympic Stadium. It was built for the Olympics. They kind of cut it in half. And so I always tell people Truist Park is a baseball park—it is meant for baseball. There's no football being played there, there's nothing else. It's a baseball stadium.

What I love is that in the Battery, with all the different little things—the hotel, the Omni there, all the restaurants—it kind of looks into the stadium. So it's a great spot. People were so worried about the traffic right when it first started, but I think they did such a good job making it great where a lot of the older people, or people like myself—I can call myself old now, with kids—you're going to go there before the game at five o'clock, you're going to have dinner, you're going to let your kids run around the grass area, throw the ball around, and you go to the game.

Then after the game, a lot of the families will leave. And then you got your college students, your mid-20s, early 30s, that stay there. And they got a great nightlife. They got great bars. They got the PBR Social with the bull. They have karaoke. They got the Yard House. And so they've done such a good job—I tell people all the time, if you go down there in November and December, on a weekend when college football or NFL is going on, it is slammed down there.

What they did was they made it a great venue for year-round where people want to come, not just during baseball season when the bars and restaurants are going to be packed. They did such a good job of making it a destination that people want to come to 12 months out of the year.

It's such a cool place—I always say, like, I went to Turner Field and I grew up there. We weren't flush with cash when I was growing up. So when we'd go to the game, my old man would buy us tickets up top, and the guys would look like ants, you know, you were so far up. Now you go up to Truist Park, and it's like they did such a good job, kind of like Minnesota, in how they built it, where the fans are on top of you. It's almost kind of like looking down in the stadium—there's really not a bad seat.

Actually, when my wife and kids come now, whether I'm working or not, I ask for the 200s with my tickets because it literally is right on top, and the kids can see everything. They can see all the action. They did such a good job—yes, you're going to have your Truist Club and your Delta Club, which is a lot of business people, a lot of wealthy people, but for middle class people, man, there are great seats there that are very affordable and where you can still see all the action and get everything you want.

Robby Incmikoski: Yes, I feel like that too. It's a beautiful, beautiful place, no doubt about it. I love going there. So how about this—what would you say to a fan that hasn't been there yet? Because part of the reason why I wrote this book is there are a lot of fans who want to travel to all 30 ballparks. We're fortunate to do it—for you, obviously, you did it playing the game, now you do it as a broadcaster. I was fortunate to do it for 16 years as a broadcaster, made my living doing it. What would you say to someone going just for the experience as a fan who loves baseball, and they may be a fan of the visiting team coming to see it?

Jeff Francoeur: I would say the great thing is, between the Omni and other hotels right around the area, if you wanted to come in for a weekend—and that's what a lot of people do in Atlanta, especially summertime—you can park your car on a Friday and you don't have to get in it to drive until you leave. Maybe if you go to all three games, till Sunday, and you've got all the restaurants you need. You've got all the entertainment you need.

That's what I always say, like, it's not just "Hey kids, let's go see a game." It's like, "Hey, let's go see the game. And then we can eat before. We can eat after." They have bowling. They have arcade. They got everything—putt-putt, Top Golf. They got that new little Top Golf thing now. You have all these things that you can do without having to get in a car.

A lot of times in a place like Atlanta, you usually don't have that, right? Like in some of these cities where the stadiums on the outskirts and not built right into the city. But I think they did such a good job—I-285 and I-75 is a massive intersection, and you have tons of people. They put it in a perfect spot where I feel like most people can get to the stadium, can park, and have free reign to go to the Battery.

If you want to leave in the sixth inning and go out there and watch the game, they have massive screens out there with the game going on. It's just a good place to go watch a ball game, whether you're a Braves fan or a visiting fan. And you know this, man—I always say this too, like in Atlanta, for the most part, people are so nice. They'll help you. They'll point you in the direction you need to go. It's just a good time and a good place to come watch a ball game.

Robby Incmikoski: Now, Frenchie, you concluded your playing career in 2016. The place opened in 2017. As an Atlanta guy, should have played one more year!

Jeff Francoeur: I did want to, man, you know? I really did. And it just—I think in almost any other time, it probably would have been the perfect spot for me to play another year or two. But they were rebuilding so much, and they wanted nothing but these young players to get a chance. I was kind of at the point of my career—I did that in '16 with Atlanta, helping some of those young guys.

If I was going to continue to do it, I wanted to do it somewhere where I could win. I almost went to a few places. And then, honestly, I was choosing in March between going to two teams, West Coast teams. I'm an East Coast guy. I live here. I had two kids. We had a third one on the way. And broadcasting just kind of fell into my lap, and I thought, "You know what, man, I don't know if I'll get this chance in two years if I keep playing."

I wanted a second career. I wanted something that I could do after I was done. I knew I didn't have to work full time—I saved up, done a good job of making money in this game—but I wanted to do something. I couldn't do nothing. And I want to show my kids I'm going to work and do stuff too.

I remember going—I took my kids to the game. I didn't go to opening day. I kind of was like, "I don't know if I want to be in an opening day after being part of it for 13 years." But I went to the Saturday game versus the Padres. I think it was game three they played. And I remember walking in that park and thinking, "Son of a bitch. I should do this one more year."

And I remember my kids saying, "Man, Dad, this is so much better than Turner Field." I'm like, "Thanks, guys. I'm well aware of that." But it all works out for a reason. I remember when McCann came back in '19 and he hadn't played there yet. He walked in there too, and was like, "Oh, my God, this place is awesome."

Robby Incmikoski: Oh yeah, there's no doubt.

Jeff Francoeur: It's a great place to watch a ball game.

Robby Incmikoski: How do you think the park plays, just from a baseball standpoint? How would you describe the ballpark?

Jeff Francoeur: I'd say it's more of a hitters' park. You know how it is here, man, when it heats up during the summer and that humidity gets going, that ball flies. It's not like Cincinnati or one of those places, but to right-center, right field by the Chop House over there—you get that ball up in that jet stream, man, it's gone. Now left-center, center field, you got to hit it a little bit. There's no cheapies going out of there.

And it's so hard to tell, right? Because last five, six years, when you have Acuña and Freddie Freeman and Olson and Riley, those guys can make it look like a hitters' park. But I would say it definitely favors hitters more than pitching.

Robby Incmikoski: No doubt. Let me ask you this—you just mentioned where I was going to go next. When you mention guys like Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Freddie Freeman—how much did that group of guys impact the baseball spirit experience in Atlanta as it relates to Truist Park? I'm not talking about the '90s.

Jeff Francoeur: No, you're right, because I go back to my childhood. I grew up here going to 10-15 games a year with my dad, and I'd go to Turner Field, and we got spoiled, man. I'm watching Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz. I'm watching Kevin Millwood be the fifth guy on the staff, win the Cy Young. We got spoiled. I got to watch Andruw in center field, Chipper, Brian Jordan, Sheffield—that was kind of my childhood in high school.

And now these kids here—it's so funny, because the Triple-A Gwinnett stadium is actually out where I live, and they don't draw great. I always tell people, "These kids want to go see one of the best offenses in the game."

No disrespect to the Marlins, but I did the game last night for opening night here in Atlanta. And it's like, you look at their lineup, and I'm like, "I know two guys on this team." And then you look at the Braves lineup, and you're like, "All right, well, a lot of these guys have already won a World Series, been to the NLCS twice."

For kids in Atlanta right now, I mean, you couldn't ask for a better time to grow up going to this park and building those memories.

Robby Incmikoski: That's amazing, man. That 2021 Braves team—how much will they be beloved in that city?

Jeff Francoeur: I think they'll be beloved because they underachieved a lot of the year. People kept waiting and waiting, and they'd get to .500 then they'd fall back a game or two, then they'd get over. I was like, "When is this team going to click?" And then they added Joc Pederson with the pearl necklace. They added Eddie Rosario, who became a cult figure in '21 here for what he did. And, of course, Jorge Soler, and it was just like this team took off, man.

I got a chance to do with TBS, the NLCS—me and Brian Anderson did the Brewers-Braves NLDS, and all that was great. But let me tell you, man, I got a chance to go to all three World Series games here. One night was an adult night—we took a car service, we had cocktails, and we had the time of our lives down there. Then one night, we took the kids. Me and Brian McCann actually took the boys. And then the other night, we took both families and went down there and just experienced it.

We were treated great, being former players. It was just a great experience for my kids to feel, because it's like—I got lucky, man. When I was a Braves fan, we had the World Series here almost every other year. And so it's like, this doesn't happen often.

Even with the All-Star Game coming to town this year—I got tickets where we're taking the whole crew to the Home Run Derby. I'm gonna do some networking and, as I told my kids, make some money during the All-Star Game, hosting some parties down here, but the All-Star Home Run Derby, we're taking the family.

It's a great time to go to Truist Park. For me, being a broadcaster, I get to park right there in the orange lot, which gets me out after the game. It's just kind of a pinch-yourself moment, because it's a beautiful time to grow up in this area right now as a Braves fan.

Robby Incmikoski: It's great. I've always wanted to ask people this, because I had the chance to do this with Joe Mauer in Minnesota, became good friends with him. Had a chance to do it with Neil Walker in Pittsburgh, really close friend of mine. David Wright, close friend of mine. What is it like growing up a Braves fan and then playing for your hometown team? How do you put that into words now that your playing career has come to a close? What does it mean to you now—41-year-old Jeff Francoeur, as opposed to 22-year-old Jeff Francoeur?

Jeff Francoeur: I wish—I don't know about those guys—I wish I would have taken more time to enjoy it. You always put the pressure on yourself to perform and do this. "I got friends coming tonight. I got family coming tonight. I need to have a good game. I need to do this."

I wish I would have taken more time to sit there and, when I'm driving into the stadium every day, to be like, "Wow, this is pretty dang cool." And I know now as a broadcaster, when I pull up and I park and I walk by and everybody's yelling, "We love you, Frenchy!" to really take time to be like, "I have been blessed." The good Lord has blessed me with great baseball talent.

90% of people, whether you're Joe Mauer, you're always going to have people in Minnesota that are going to get on you, just because there were times he might not have produced. But 95% of the fan base loves you and appreciates what you've done for the city, the charities you give back to. Really enjoy it, because not many kids get to live out that dream.

My dad's got a picture, man, when I was two years old at a Braves game—my first Braves game. I was two years old at Fulton County Stadium when Bob Horner hit four home runs in a game, and there was literally 5,000 people in the stands. They sucked. And now here we are, 35 years later, and this place every night has 40,000 people, and they all appreciate what you did when you played and now what you're doing after.

I'm driving to the park as we speak now, and as I get closer, you just get excited, because it's like, "Man, I get to do this for a living."

Robby Incmikoski: Isn't that crazy? It's always an interesting answer hearing that when people talk about it after the fact, when they're from a city and play for that team. It's got to be pretty damn cool as well, I would think.

Jeff Francoeur: It is, and like you said, to not only be able to play there, but now broadcast there—last night, Snitker, who's the manager, is one of my closest friends. He managed me in the minor leagues, and there's a good chance this is going to be his last year. His whole family was there. And I actually went down before the game from the booth and interviewed him on the field right before first pitch.

It's a two-minute thing. It's hot. I was in a suit, you know how that is being down there.

Robby Incmikoski: Oh, yeah.

Jeff Francoeur: But I sit there and I'm like, "What a great moment." He's 70 years old, and to think that he still gets excited to do this with his family—and I'm like, here I am at 41, and I don't know how long I'm going to do this or where it goes. But to be involved in the game we love, and to know that it gave me and my family our life, our home—you don't ever want to say your whole identity—but really gave you what your passion is.

Robby Incmikoski: It's a pinch-me moment, there's no doubt. By the way, speaking of Brian Snitker, I don't think I have ever in my entire life heard a negative word said about him. And by the way, he's married to a Pittsburgh girl—Ronnie is from Pittsburgh.

Jeff Francoeur: I know he is, and he's just a great man. I say this all the time, that guy deserves everything that comes his way. He toiled through the minor leagues for 35 years before he ever even got to the big leagues. Then he was under Bobby Cox, and of course, Fredi Gonzalez takes over, and they fired him for no reason—you blame the third base coach, that's a good one.

And instead of him getting mad, he takes the high road. He goes back to Triple-A and manages for three years. And then, of course, gets his turn and gets to enjoy all this stuff. He's the best, man.

Robby Incmikoski: That's all I've heard. It sounds like you're parking a car, but can you spare just a couple more questions, and I'm leaving you alone for sure?

Jeff Francoeur: No, you're good, man.

Robby Incmikoski: When you—this is going to sound, I don't know how to phrase this properly, but—how cool is it for generations of Braves fans your age? You have the '90s Braves, then there might be 10-11, 12-15 year old kids now that have the Acuña, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Max Fried, Spencer Strider, like that group of players to root for. How good is it to be a baseball—how great a baseball city is Atlanta?

Jeff Francoeur: It is, man. The tradition of being—I truly mean this—I remember John Schuerholz used to say this years ago: "Once a Brave, always a Brave." I tell people this, you'll see people that played one year here, and when Alumni Weekend happens, man, so many people come back.

They treat you so great here, and I'm living proof. I went to them two years ago, and I said, "Look, I love my job more than anything, but I want to be home with my kids more. I want to coach them." A lot of places would have said, "Thank you very much. Thanks for your time," put a press release out and been done. But they said, "Hey, let's figure out a way to keep you involved."

When my TBS schedule comes out, I send the Braves my TBS schedule for the year, and they start plugging in 25, 30, 35 dates for me to still be able to do games and be involved and be in the booth. Not many places do that—not many places go out of their way when you basically tell them you're quitting to continue to open the door for you to come back.

I'll be honest, my ultimate goal is in 12 years, when my last one gets out of the house, I'd love to go back and do 100-120 games. I enjoy talking baseball, man. I enjoy being in the booth. I enjoy bringing people knowledge of the game that they might not necessarily know or see. And the Braves have made that possible.

I grew up with Javy Lopez, Andruw Jones, Chipper. Then I got to play with them. Then I knew there was a whole other generation that grew up with me, Brian McCann, Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman, Kelly Johnson. And now there's a whole other generation, like my kids.

It's so funny—my wife got all my kids jerseys with my name on the back to wear to games. And do you think they wear that? Hell no, they wear Ronald Acuña, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley. My daughter thought Max Fried was the cutest thing since sliced bread. Oh, my God, she's on to Matt Olson now.

I always laugh, but you know what? I love it. I love that my kids are massive fans of the Braves, because that's how my childhood was. To see them be able to do that now and kind of replicate that was pretty cool, dude.

Robby Incmikoski: That's awesome, man.