"his offensive contribution to the team does not diminish just because he plays first base."

This is not 100% false, but usually is. The following link shows averages from 2004-2006 for each position:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6516&mode=print

If you have someone posting the average stats of a shortstop (749 OPS) and he's playing first base, he would be considered as well below average. Even a player who's putting up "good" stats (829 OPS) would be below average at first base. The offensive exploits of Hanley Ramirez (basically the best NL offensive player in 2007) would've been enough only to rate in the top ten first basemen in baseball. The only way to offset this is to have someone post similarly above average stats at a weaker position (C, 2B, SS, CF). Think about it, if Lillibridge plays SS, he's an above average guy, but if he plays 1B and posts below average statistics for 1B, we have to have someone else playing SS. That someone else will be putting up SS average statistics at the position because we don't have a superstar like A-Rod, Hanley Ramirez, or Tejeda in his prime putting up big numbers at the position.

To put it more easily, there's an expected offensive contribution from each position on the field. If you want your whole team to have a league average offense, you'll want your players to post league average OPS for their position. If you have Lillibridge posting a below average OPS at 1B, you'll need someone somewhere else to put up above average stats for the position.

The Braves are lucky to have such solid preformers at these positions as McCann, Johnson, and Escobar who were all above average. However, we're also saddled with a RF who's put up below average stats for his position for the past two years and our LF platoon put up a .792 OPS last season, also below average. Now, with Willie Harris gone maybe Diaz will post his .865 OPS while playing everyday or maybe the Brandon Jones/Diaz platoon will out produce Diaz/Harris, but the point is we're actually losing ground from two big time offensive positions. We can't afford a Lillibridge who's minor league career OPS is .813 (well below average at 1B) playing there.

"Also, Heyward will not be playing rightfield for the braves, he will  be playing left or first, simply because francouer is more than likely going to be extended and the braves are pretty set on keeping him there, with the gold glove as validation."

Francoeur could be out of town by the time Heyward is ready for prime time. I'll say he should be out of town if his numbers don't pick up, because all metrics I've seen rate his defense as average in RF despite the highlight reel plays he makes and despite the Gold Glove. Heyward's peak potential is as an elite right fielder, whether or not the Braves let someone inferior in talent play there rather than him is yet to be seen.

That's a really, really big if. Francoeur has posted back to back below average OPS for a RF and defensive metrics rated him as below average for a RF in 2006 and average in 2007. He'll need to maintain his OBP and increase his SLG considerably to be even above average, much less elite.

If Francoeur suddenly begins posting elite level stats then Heyward will move to LF or 1B. His offense is projected to play anywhere.

Re: Kaaihue, I expect the Braves to start him at Mississippi and hope he restores his value. He was an absolute beast at Myrtle Beach in one of the most difficult hitters parks in the minors. Mostly, he needs to produce at AA and then show he can move up a level and produce in AAA.

Secondly, Francoeur as you have mentioned is very young (23), this is the age when most sure fire prospects break into the league. Not to mention that it takes a year or two for these prospects to start really playing up to their potential, and in some cases longer.  I mean if you really think about it the guy that Francoeur was battling for Rookie Of The Year honors in 2005 is 28 years old right now........so that means Ryan Howard was roughly 25 or 26 when he was competing with a 21 year old for rookie of the year....basically you guys have to understand that Francoeur is still very raw and only going to grow as a player, which he has already been doing.  I mean for Christ sake he has driven in over 100 runs the last two seasons at 22 and 23 years of age.  If Jordan Schafer came in this year and did that (basically the same age) you guys would be calling for early induction to the Hall of Fame. Basically, I'm saying Francoeur has been doing one hell of a job for his age and I only see him growing as a ball player.

Thirdly, back to driving in 100 runs the last two seasons....this is pretty damn impressive especially considering the fact that he is a 6th hole hitter.  There are only two other guys in the entire major leagues that can say they drove in over 100 runs batting in the 6th hole.....one plays in coors field (Hawpe) and the other bats in Bostin in a sicker lineup than the Braves (Lowell).  Also, if you put aside the fact that he hits in the 6th hole, you have to take into account that Francoer was 11th in the National League in RBI's and 21st in the entire Majors in RBI's....so now we are talking about a 23 year old guy (prospect age for most) that is in the top 3% of RUN PRODUCERS amongst position players in the entire majors, both NL and AL. This means that only 2% of major league players were better at driving in runs this year.  So forgive me if I take your low OPS that Francoeur has posted the last couple of years and throw that out the window.  

Fourthly (if thats a word), your quote from your post,

"Maybe he just got bad luck with his long balls or maybe he had some minor injury that was bugging him and taking away that extra 20-30 feet worth of power.".....

this quote makes me think that you just look at stats and never ever watch a game.  I watched every single game except for about five, and anybody else that actually watched the games wouldn't have to speculate why his power was down this year.  We all know that he was being more selective and trying to hit the ball the opposite way which had a positive effect on his average, but subsequently had a negative effect on his power (which is obvious).  I would much rather Francouer's power numbers come down a little bit as long as he is going to put the ball in play more often and lay off pitches that are over his head or ten feet outside.  But even though he sacrificed power last year to be a better overall hitter, I think his power numbers will go up this year while remaining a more complete hitter.  I say this because last year his homerun total increased in the second half and so did his average.....I say that is pretty good growth for our 23 year old phenom.

Lastly, your earlier comment.......

"Francoeur could be out of town by the time Heyward is ready for prime time. I'll say he should be out of town if his numbers don't pick up, because all metrics I've seen rate his defense as average in RF despite the highlight reel plays he makes and despite the Gold Gloves."

This comment makes me think that you are Jayson Stark posing as a Braves fan.  Granted, Francouer doesn't always look like the smoothest outfielder, but he does pretty much always make the play (only 5 errors in 351 total chances).  And as far as the metrics that you look at to judge a player, rather than actually watch the games like the rest of us....you can take those metrics and smoke em' because those metrics don't take into account how many times teams don't try to advance a base because Francoeur is ready to unleash a throw...and they certainly don't take into account how many times Andruw Jones (the greatest defensive Center Fielder of all time) ran into Francoeur's "ZONE" to catch a flyball.  

Well I've said my peace about Jeff Francoeur and I think it's time for bed......g'night

PS. 17843...try and catch a game or two next year