Jeff Francoeur
From The Met Wiki
| Age: 26 (born January 8, 1984) |
| Position: Right Fielder |
| Bats: Right Throws: Right |
| Number: 12 |
| Acquired: Traded for Ryan Church on July 10,2009 |
| Contract: $5 million per year |
Jeff was traded to the Mets for Ryan Church on July 11, 2009. As he did in Atlanta, he gave the locals lots of reason for hope but little actual production.
Francoeur began his Major League career with a a remarkable 23 games that landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and it took many fans -- and even some sportswriters -- years to realize that he almost immediately dropped to the level of a replacement player. His biggest problem was that he almost never walked.
In Jeff's first 23 games he hit .439 and slugged .827 with 8 homers 8 doubles and 0 walks in 82 plate appearances. From there to the end of the season he hit .239 in 192 plate appearances, but the legend was already set, as was the mindset that Francoeur was best when being aggressive.
Every offseason he talked about how he was going to devote himself to being more patient at the plate, and every season he reverted to form. This continued even after he left the Mets.
Oh, but there were moments. Jeff opened 2010 with a 10 game hitting streak, and he walked 8 times in the Mets first 12 games. 10 games into the season, Jeff was leading the National League in On Base Percentage. Other early season highlights included a 2-homer game, a 19th inning sacrifice fly in the game in which he broke his hitting streak (despite hitting several balls hard and having 8 plate appearances), and throwing a Cardinal out at the plate on April 18. When the Mets swept the Braves in May, Frenchy was the final game's unseen hero. Chipper Jones was running on the pitch with a 3-2 count and 2 out and still decided to stop at third on a double off the wall. The Mets won 1-0.
Jeff's hard not to like, because he goes around with great enthusiasm, and plays defense with such hustle and skill. And yet, he's one of the worst offensive players in the game, playing a hitter's position.
Hours before the deadline for postseason eligibility, the Rangers acquired Francoeur from the Mets. The Mets are eating his remaining salary, and they got a replacement level player (Joaquin Arias) in return. The Rangers will be using Frenchy as a right handed pinch hitter and possibly as a defensive replacement.
Personal Recollections
I was at the park when Frenchy's 3 run homer tied the game against the Marlins. Mets went on to win. Oh, and I loved watching him play the outfield. Have fun in Texas, Jeff. --MetFan 09:54, 1 September 2010 (MST)
Best Tweets
Frenchy's exit set off a fun Twitter argument, started by David Lennon:
@DPLennon: Bottom line: Francoeur helped change clubhouse climate for his brief period here. #Mets needed it, thanked him by trade to contender
The replies included:
@PatrickJFlood: In a global warming sort of way? RT @DPLennon Francoeur helped change clubhouse climate ..
@joedgery: @DPLennon Changed the climate? Was he the only one who knew how to work the thermostat? How bad will the Mets be now without proper A/C?
@craigcalcaterra: A dude knocked out an old man in that clubhouse. RT @DPLennon Bottom line: Francoeur helped change clubhouse climate here. Mets needed it.
@PPinstripes: @DPLennon too bad he couldn't like, you know, play ...
