In 64 games with the Mets this season, Jeff Francoeur is batting .314 with a .342 OBP, seven HR and 34 RBI.
Following Saturday’s game, I wrote:
“Jerry Manuel explained to WFAN that Francoeur will require surgery on the ligament in his hand, because, while he can play, he runs the risk of being out ‘for an extended period of time,’ should he do something, like slide funny, and do additional damage.
If this is the case, why is he playing?”
…it really is confusing… unless, the Mets are trying to see as much of frenchy, in an effort to better determine where he fits in for 2010…
This past weekend, Jerry Manuel told reporters he has been impressed with Francoeur, saying, “He’s been a welcome addition.”
According to Manuel, “Francoeur should be a good piece moving forward.”
…he swings at more or less every pitch thrown to him, it seems… but, he puts the ball in play, and he usually does it with authority… so, if he’s batting sixth, and the rest of the lineup is in tact, his free-swinging style can work… he also plays a strong defense… he’s not the best defensive right fielder in the league, like Omar Minaya suggested in July, but he’s very, very good, and he has a serious arm, which is a huge benefit in that pinball-like gap in Citi Field… he also brings a positive, yet aggressive attitude to the clubhouse, and that should not be ignored by people who only notice his weak OBP…
For more on Francoeur, check out Sam Page’s post to Amazin Avenue.
Speaking of outfielders…
Mike Axisa of MLB Trade Rumors compares soon-to-be free-agent outfielders Matt Holliday and Jason Bay.
Jon Heyman of SI.com believes Holliday will end up signing a seven-year, $120 million deal, while Bay will sign for five-years and $80 million.
Lastly, in the Chicago Tribune, Phil Rogers says the Rays will look to trade Carl Crawford or B.J. Upton, as they are “sold on OF Desmond Jennings.”
{ 13 comments }
I agree that Franceour could be a nice piece in the 6th hole of the lineup. The Key for the offseason for the Mets is filling in that one 3-5 Hitter that the lineup is missing and hasn’t had since 2006 and half of ‘08 with Delgado.
I don’t know if Heyman is right with the level of salary that Holliday is going to get, but to me he’s the better player of the 2 and the Best bat in the off season. I think he would fit nicely between Wright, and Beltran. Also according to his UZR ratings he is a MUCH better fielder then Bay. Also his career numbers even away from Coors are remarkably better then Bay’s. He’s also been relatively healthy for his entire major league career (no major injuries) while Bay has had knee problems his entire career.
Signing Holliday in the offseason would be typical mets.
They let the player they should have gotten slip by the year before, and then they sign the next pretty face the following year even though they are not a perfect fit or as good.
Arod missed, signed Mo Vaugh (a flop).
Guererro missed, signed Beltran (a great player, but not the offensive juggernaut that Guererror is).
Texeira missed, who ?
can’t you also say
missed zito got Santana
When determining whether Minaya did a good job, dont forget that offseason he could have let Delgado go (i.e. not purchase his option) and instead gone after Texeira at first base.
I think Texeira is a better choice than Bay or Holliday.
Texeira was exactly what we needed and this is not a rearview mirror assessment.
While is number may not be as strong as they are this year in Yankee stadium, he is the type of bat we need. He is young and steller on defense and would be a great target for Wright and Reyes.
Delgado was getting old. And despite his great second half last year, signs were there that he would fold. But even if you disagree about those signs, you have to agree that Delgado at best was being signed for one more year. Such a signing, ignoring this years injury, creates a void for 2010 and onward.
Signing a Texeira then would have solved first base for years to come.
So for all that Omar has done. I think not going after Texeira was a mistake.
Hey Kicked,
I’m 100% with you. That was one thing i wanted all off season. I wanted DELGADO GONE. I actually never wanted him after 2005 when they pursued him and he spurned them to sign with the Marlins, because they had a better chance to win a World Series in his opinion. In My opinion he never wanted to be in the Spotlight that is NYC.
But you can’t look back. And the Missing A-Rod and getting Mo Vaughn as you say wouldn’t be this. Same with Beltran and Vladdy. Vladdy was 2 years before Beltran.
Agreed they have missed some chances in the Past to get great players. But I think Holliday is a very very very good player. In a very weak offensive lineup with no protection in Oakland he was playing ok. As soon as he got in a lineup with some protection in St. Louis he started to light it up again. I think batting in-between Wright and Beltran would work out well for everyone involved.
I don’ t know if I’d go 7 years for a 30 year old outfielder. 5 guaranteed with 2 option years with a buyout maybe.
The question is given the horrendous year will the Mets need to overpay to get good talent in the door.
Holliday is already with the Cardinals and they have Pujols and a stable team that always has a chance to make the playoffs.
Mets have been dipping the past three years culminating with the debacle this year.
I am afraid that the combination of 2009 and the Mets being Madoffed will mean that the Mets can not get what they covet and need.
Ya need palyers with metsicles, unlike the dainty flowers we got now, that will embrace NYC.
In case you were in a coma yesterday, Giants Stadium was NOT emplty during the 3rd quarter.
The players said they could feel the field shaking!
Just give us a reason!
Just give us players that want to play!
And we will come, baby!
We will, we will rock em and they will be glad they came to Queens!
Omar did not have the budget to make that move. He would have needed ownerships ok to go for Texiera. Don’t forget that the Madoff fund imploded around that same time.
Oh and another thing:
There is no way the Cardinals can afford to fork over $120 over seven years.
I also forgot to mention that the Cardinals also need to Pujols when he becomes a free agent in two years.
I actually dont agree on how the mets always miss the boat and then sign the next fancy face, i mean, they do miss the boat, but if they were to sign holliday after missing tex, and they did sign beltran after missing vlad, id be fine with it, id rather have beltran and holliday then vlad and tex….vlad has been a walking body cast over the past couple of seasons it seems.
Also, Holliday and tex is a close comparison, 1 thing to take into acct when comparing them is that if tex hits a fly ball in the new stadium, he gets a HR….
Im not sure i agree with going after crawford rather then holliday, while holliday might be more expensive, he does more then crawford, i know crawford is a good defender with speed and some pop….but holliday is a .300+ hitter who will hit 30+ bombs and 120+ RBIs and steal 20-30 bases….this lineup needs another hitter like that, even if francoeur and murphy are hitting…..with that being said, im fine with either of those two, but i think holliday is more needed then crawford..
The two offensive priorities this off-season need to be Holliday and Mark Derosa…If you ask me, DeRosa is an invaluable player b/c he plays literally every position in the field but catcher…you sign him as you 1B, platoon him with Murphy (not a straight 50/50) and then have him also play some 2B, RF/LF and be able to give Wright a day when needed. Get rid of Tatis and Cora and get a true power bat to come off the bench who does not really play the field, someone like Eric Hinske
We fans certainly spend an inordinate amount of time mucking up what are pretty easy looking decisions in my opinion….
this team has holes in 1B, LF, CA, a couple of starting pitchers, and soon to be at CF and 2b.
We have a farm system that has a few pieces in them that are future ML players…some potential gems also.
1B –
At 1b you have Ike Davis coming and delivering in AA and you have whoever the old kid was in the Wagner trade from Boston. He is an old but solid line (offensive numbers) 1b prospect . You also currently have Murphy who is decent enough with the glove and could project to have an offensive line in the near future similar to Keith Hernandez with near 18 hrs and near 90 rbi in a season. I’d say he is a useful piece to hold 1b down for now and to provide trade options down the line
LF –
In left you really have only one prospect in the system. Fmart if you are a believer. I am not yet a believer but he is way too young to toss aside. He can use yet another year in the minors and we should seek to add an outfielder here through FA that can make up for a less powerful 1b next year if we retain murphy and or play Carpenter?? the older AAA player we got in the Wagner deal with Boston
CF –
Beltran holds it down through his contract. We have Pagan who can certainly be a 4th OF on this team and spell a relatively healthy Beltran until his contract is up. At CF in the minors you have this Niewenhius kid who in AA is someone who performed very well.. Long term he can be potentially the CF of the future
CA –
We have Thole who is hear and Omir who is here and both are cheap and replacement level guys. Since there are no great options on the FA market, I vote to pass on this and watch Thole develop
SP –
We have a slew of guys who are capable of being 3-4-5 level now in Maine, Pelfrey, Perez, Niese, and possibly Misch, Figueroa and Nieve. We have no great #2 or certain #3 guys now. in the pipeline we have a few guys spoken of very highly in Mejia, Familia and Holt. One of them may also be future SP of the 3-4-5 level and potentially 1 becomes better. I vote for 2 starting pitchers this offseason. 1 in a trade and 1 through FA. Targets….Cain, and Lackey
2b –
I do not think Castillo will be traded but we should consider an upgrade as soon as possible. Nothing in the pipeline.
Long story short…
This offseason should acquire…..
1) BIg hitting LF
2) Stay the course at 1b with Murphy and Carpenter until Davis is really ready
3) Get 2 upper echelon Starters(1 FA, 1 Trade)
4) Go wtih Thole at catcher
longest post of my life….sorry
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