BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: NY Times: A New Role for Francoeur

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Monday, July 12, 2010

NY Times: A New Role for Francoeur

Hey, guys! Did you know that—today only!—Delta is offering round-trip flights from New York City to select cities in Europe, for $359–$589 each way? (Additional taxes/fees/restrictions/baggage charges may apply.) You must begin your trip between July 19 and August 31, 2010. Anyone wanna come with? LOL!

What’s your favorite place to hide and just cry, and cry, and cry?

[Mets] Manager Jerry Manuel met with [Jeff] Francoeur for about 30 minutes Sunday to discuss what [Carlos] Beltran’s activation would mean for his role on the team. Both Manuel and Francoeur described the meeting as very positive.

Manuel told reporters before Sunday’s game against the Braves that he planned to shift Angel Pagan to right field upon Beltran’s return, displacing Francoeur, who Manuel said would start mostly against left-handed pitchers.

“He understands,” Manuel said. “That’s the guy he is.” ...

“I’m a big boy,” [Francoeur] said. “It’s not like I didn’t see this coming that there was going to be obviously some time where I was going to have to sit some — and that’s fine.” ...

Francoeur put it simply: Given the way Pagan is hitting, he deserves to play. As for himself, he said he was not sure what it would be like to come off the bench, but he would take it day by day and do his best as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement.

“You’re not going to see me sitting there sulking,” he said.

ntr Jeff Francoeur Posted: July 12, 2010 at 12:18 AM | 23 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: mets

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Swoboda is freedom Posted: July 12, 2010 at 03:26 AM (#3586500)

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Chipper Jonestown Massacre Posted: July 12, 2010 at 03:38 AM (#3586507)

Now if they send him down to the minors, THAT'S when the sulking will begin...

3. adenzeno Posted: July 12, 2010 at 03:41 AM (#3586510)

As mediocre as Francouer is, I love his attitude. Much Like Castillo, who is very avg, I admire the man he is. There is something to being a responsible nonwhining hardnosed ballplayer.

4. Tripon Posted: July 12, 2010 at 03:41 AM (#3586511)

You're paying Francouer 5 million to sit on the beach. I smell a trade to the Astros or the Royals for a player the Mets can actually use like another overpriced reliever.

5. base ball chick Posted: July 12, 2010 at 03:52 AM (#3586518)

fortunately, he's not coming to the astros

drayton won't take on more $$$ and we already have more than enough OF and we don't need a crappy RH PH

6. Harvey Berkman Posted: July 12, 2010 at 03:54 AM (#3586522)

I smell a trade to the Astros or the Royals for a player the Mets can actually use like another overpriced reliever.

Farnsworth!

7. J in the Slope Posted: July 12, 2010 at 04:07 AM (#3586530)

Frenchy vs. lefties this year - .348/.403/.449/.852
Frenchy vs. lefties last year - .344/.356/.521/.877

He can stay.

No reason he can't replace Pagan vs. lefties twice a week and get a few more ABs pinch hitting.

The Mets have spent $5m in worse ways.

8. Bitter Calculus Instructor Posted: July 12, 2010 at 04:14 AM (#3586532)

You're paying Francouer 5 million to sit on the beach.

You mean bench? I'd make a witty reply about him sitting on the beach, but I can't think of one.

9. spike Posted: July 12, 2010 at 04:41 AM (#3586549)

@3, and he would have a better rep here in Atlanta had he exhibited that sort of attitude when he was sent to the minors. In many ways, that was the last straw for some of his most ardent backers as he did in fact sulk and complain when it happened. I realize that may well have been a function of his youth at the time - I am pleased to see that at least publicly figured it out to a degree.

10. JuanGone..except1game Posted: July 12, 2010 at 04:50 AM (#3586551)

@3, and he would have a better rep here in Atlanta had he exhibited that sort of attitude when he was sent to the minors. In many ways, that was the last straw for some of his most ardent backers as he did in fact sulk and complain when it happened. I realize that may well have been a function of his youth at the time - I am pleased to see that at least publicly figured it out to a degree.

Beat me to it. It's great that he has the maturity to see this now, but I think he would still be in Atl if he had been able to put his pride aside then.

11. AJM Posted: July 12, 2010 at 04:59 AM (#3586556)

Woo!

12. Long John McCaine Mutiny on the Bounty (scott) Posted: July 12, 2010 at 05:32 AM (#3586571)

Francouer as the 4th OF/lefty masher is about the perfect outcome for this situation.

13. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: July 12, 2010 at 05:36 AM (#3586573)

This was the obvious decision, but I'm still relieved to see them make it.

14. Walt Davis Posted: July 12, 2010 at 06:53 AM (#3586587)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

The jokes were so easy.

15. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: July 12, 2010 at 10:35 AM (#3586608)

Shouldn't Carlos play right field?

16. J.C. Bradbury Posted: July 12, 2010 at 11:49 AM (#3586619)

A slightly better response than the tantrum of 2008 after his demotion.

"After three years, after playing hurt, playing every day, going in every day whether I got a hit and never complaining, I just played because Bobby [Cox] kept putting me in the lineup," Francoeur told the newspaper. "But I just felt like a little three-minute thing -- 'Hey, you're going down' -- I feel like after three years, I was owed a little more of an explanation. But that's Frank's deal and that's what I guess they decided to do.
"My question is, what if I had hit a home run or had two hits [Thursday night]? Does it delay it one day, until I was 0-for-4? I was left standing outside in the dark on that. You almost felt like they had made [their minds] up before the game. That's where I felt frustrated, where I felt a little betrayed," he told the newspaper.

17. Moloka'i Three-Finger Brown (Declino DeShields) Posted: July 12, 2010 at 01:56 PM (#3586675)

You mean bench? I'd make a witty reply about him sitting on the beach, but I can't think of one

Like Hans Gruber . . . he'll be sitting on a beach, earning twenty percent?

18. rb's team is hopeful for the new year! Posted: July 12, 2010 at 02:38 PM (#3586711)

but I think he would still be in Atl if he had been able to put his pride aside then.

Or if he had not sucked.

19. Gaylord Perry the Platypus (oi!) Posted: July 12, 2010 at 02:44 PM (#3586717)

Let's see what his attitude is like in a month or two, when he's barely played. I suspect that he doesn't really believe that he'll mostly be on the bench...

Of course, that may end up being true. Beltran could get hurt again (this is the Mets' training staff we're talking about here), or it could be that they figure out that Bay has some injury causing his struggles.

20. Chris Dial Posted: July 12, 2010 at 03:07 PM (#3586744)

Shouldn't Carlos play right field?

No.

21. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: July 12, 2010 at 03:28 PM (#3586764)

Chris:

Why not? Pagan looks solid. Or do you adhere to the belief that stopping/cornering in right is more stressful?

22. Something Other Posted: July 13, 2010 at 06:00 AM (#3587824)

Good for Francouer, and here's to him having a long career as a lefty platoon player/ph. On a team other than the Mets.

Are there any teams remaining that think Francouer is a full-time player?

23. flournoy Posted: July 16, 2010 at 12:00 PM (#3591188)

Are there any teams remaining that think Francouer is a full-time player?

Perhaps the Royals.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Monday, July 12, 2010

NY Times: A New Role for Francoeur

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics