Braves News World

A new website, ILoveFrancoeur.com, has been created by Atlanta radio station 790 The Zone to celebrate the exploits of new Braves sensation Jeff Francoeur. Right now the station is conducting a contest to choose a new nickname (I must agree that “Frenchy” is just weak) for the rising star. He was referred to as “Supermanâ€? during his high school playing days but let’s not get carried away so soon…

To be considered for the contest, entries need to be submitted through that website. The nicknames submitted will be presented to Francoeur and he (and perhaps some teammates) will decide the winner. The entrant who submits the winning nickname winner will win prizes including tickets to an upcoming Braves game, an autographed official Francoeur jersey, t-shirts from the Rome, Mississippi and Richmond Braves, CD’s of George Strait (Francoeur’s favorite musician), and a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant in Lilburn, Georgia. Good luck everyone and keep knocking them dead Jeff!

Mike Hampton started a rehab assignment Thursday the 4th, allowing one run in 4 innings of work for Triple-A Richmond against Toledo. The lower back strain that sidelined him most recently did not bother him but he felt some discomfort in his arm and believes he may have to deal with it the rest of the season. He’ll make another minor league start for the Gulf Coast League affiliate of the Braves on Tuesday. If all goes well he may be starting for Atlanta next weekend. Meanwhile, John Thomson appears ready to join Hampton in the Atlanta rotation next weekend which would mark the first time since March 16th the Braves would have their original starting rotation intact. The return of Thomson and Hampton means Jorge Sosa, who has been impressive as a starter, will be bumped from the rotation. Sosa has given up 3 runs or less in each of his 11 starts and 2 runs or less in 9 of them (including his last 6 starts). I hate to see them fix something that isn’t broken but I suppose they don’t have much choice. At least he will strengthen a bullpen that has been erratic at times. If only the Braves would release Dan Kolb to make room for him in the bullpen they’d really be making progress…