The Atlanta Braves' Characters in the Next Chapter

When Jeff Francoeur arrived in July 2005 and promptly crushed a three-run homer to put the finishing touches on an 8-4 win over the Cubs at Turner Field, most thought it would be the first of many magical moments in a long career of a player that Sports Illustrated would later call "The Natural". While Frenchy has had some of those moments, this season has certainly been a disappointment. But many broadcasters and scouts from organizations around the major league still marvel at how Bobby Cox, John Scheurholz, and the rest of the Atlanta Braves' front office have prepared young players coming up through the Braves' minor-league affiliates to play the game the right way and be productive after arriving in the majors. Some arrive and make immediate impacts. Others get traded to other organizations for major-league talent or other prospects. Still others have injuries or inconsistencies end their careers before they get to ever play in a stadium with a dozen TV cameras and 40,000 fans. A ... (link)