Kelly sure looks bad, from what I have seen. The patient, work-the-count Kelly from a couple of years ago, who could provide offensive value even if in a slump, has been replaced by a guy who, more times than not, swings at the first pitch, hits it badly, and retreats back to the dugout. It's almost like he's thinking, "let's get this over with". Confidence seems totally shot. Outside of hiring John Smoltz's old therapist, I don't know what can help him at this point.

Challenge trade for Alexi Casilla? I'm sure the Twins would throw-in Jesse Crain.

When converted OFers get moved to the middle infield, it's rarely offensive shortcomings that cause a benching. bummer

I was/am a Kelly Johnson fan. I still remember we he came and saved the Braves from Raul Mondesi. That said he has been awful this year, and I have no doubt he'll turn it around... as soon as he's traded for some piece of crap.

Kelly Johnson: just months away from being the next great ATL second baseman to be non-tendered.

Shocking, from the guy who's better than Jose Reyes...

Kelly Johnson, Corey Hart, Jose Reyes and Alfonso Soriano have all conspired to make this the worst fantasy baseball season ever for me.

a guy who, more times than not, swings at the first pitch, hits it badly, and retreats back to the dugout.

I like this guy!

What's your favorite pitch to swing at?

When converted OFers get moved to the middle infield, it's rarely offensive shortcomings that cause a benching. bummer

He isn't a converted outfielder. When he was an outfielder, he was only there as a converted infielder.

What's your favorite pitch to swing at?

Strike three, amirite?

This guy is unbelievable. He's acting as if he actually deserves this, as if his poor play merited being removed from the starting lineup. If I were in his situation, I know that I'd only feel betrayed.

“I want us to win games,” Johnson said. “I want to do what I can to be a part of it, to help and do my part. That’s the bottom line. That could be a number of things. That could be bunting, running the bases, defense late in a game, it could be being a good cheerleader, being a good teammate.”

He certainly has the name for a cheerleading role.

Strike three, amirite?

He doesn't get that far into the count.

What's your favorite pitch to swing at?

For you Jeff it's the first pitch.

Even in a slump he's better than Francoeur.

Even in a slump he's better than Francoeur.

Johnson: .215/.287/.361
Frenchy: .251/.285/.350

Yep, but look at mainstream Braves fan sites, Sam H may know that Johnson is better than Frenchy, but seemingly none of his fellow travelers do.
Johnson .215-5-20
Frenchy .251-5-33

case closed.

You know it's bad enough when both Frenchy and Kelly were up hacking at the first pitch, effectively shortening the length of games and rallies, but I got really peeved the other night when Lowe came up with the bases loaded...and swung at the first pitch! Of course, rally-killing pop-up! Maybe he needs to get a sign for next time that says something like "swing and it will cost you a month's salary".

For you Jeff it's the first pitch.

Good one! Cause he had made that joke, and then you made the very same joke back at him, just in case anyone missed it! Nice!

Good one! Cause he had made that joke, and then you made the very same joke back at him, just in case anyone missed it! Nice!

Bah! Flournoy missed it too.

I think that there's a much better at the heart of Kelly Johnson than there is at the heart of Jeff Francoeur, but it's a little rich for any Braves fan to complain about the Johnson benching when we've done nothing but beg for Francoeur to be benched for exactly the same reasons. Sure, maybe in a fair world you give Johnson a longer leash to hit his way out of it than you do Jeffy, but at least in Martin Prado the Braves have someone who can passably cover for Johnson.

Kelly Johnson, Corey Hart, Jose Reyes and Alfonso Soriano have all conspired to make this the worst fantasy baseball season ever for me.

wow- i'm 3/4 on that list. lucky for me, Matt Holliday has been so great.

Fire Pendleton.

I don't think many are complaining about the johnson benching. He'd have been benched before now if infante hadn't gotten hit, and chipper and kotchman hadn't been hurt.

it's a little rich for any Braves fan to complain about the Johnson benching when we've done nothing but beg for Francoeur to be benched for exactly the same reasons

Francoeur's struggles have been going on for the past season-and-a-half, and his main weaknesses remain the same as ever.

Johnson was good in 2007 and in 2008, and his struggles stem, at least in part, from the fact that he has changed his offensive approach, be it on his own or at the team's behest.

I don't think that the two situations are all that similar.

I think that there's a much better at the heart of Kelly Johnson than there is at the heart of Jeff Francoeur, but it's a little rich for any Braves fan to complain about the Johnson benching when we've done nothing but beg for Francoeur to be benched for exactly the same reasons. Sure, maybe in a fair world you give Johnson a longer leash to hit his way out of it than you do Jeffy, but at least in Martin Prado the Braves have someone who can passably cover for Johnson.

Little Jeffy has sucked for two years. Kelly has only sucked for three months. Moreover, the good Kelly who didn't suck was a much better hitter than Francoeur was in that one year that he was passable. Nonetheless, Francoeur has played everyday throughout his suckitude, while the Braves kept flirting with platooning Kelly or starting Prado even when Kelly was raking.

Prado has been hitting well and probably deserves a starting spot, but I think it's perfectly understandable that Braves fans would react differently to Kelly's benching than we would if Francoeur was. I would turn it back around and say that its a little rich for the Braves to bench Kelly for hitting like Francoeur for three months, when Francoeur has hit like that for nearly 1000 PAs.

That said he has been awful this year, and I have no doubt he'll turn it around... as soon as he's traded for some piece of crap.

Actually the turn around will occur once I release him from my fantasy team.

I'm open to the highest bidder - if you want him to turn it around submit to me your "release him" offer; if it is in your interest for him to continue to struggle, submit your "keep him" offer.

Offers must be received by midnight Sunday in order to take effect the upcoming week.

Combine Jeff Francouer and Kelly Johnson, and you get this.

IIRC, the last several games that Peachtree TV has carried the Braves, they work this caption in sometime during the game with Frenchy at the plate:

"Jeff Francoeur has swung at the first pitch in 48% of his plate appearances, the highest percentage of any player in the major leagues this year."