Jeff Francoeur... It's Time
by Freneau on Jul 25, 2010 11:40 PM EDT
in Kansas City Royals News
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PrintIt's time. Let's just go ahead and get it over with and move on to Plan B. Your GM can't get over Jeff Francoeur until he's gotten him, after all. Better still, your owner can't realize he has to make a change until his GM just absolutely leaves no doubt.
So let's go. Let's do it. This has been a joke and a threat for years now, and it's something we've all seen coming. Acquiring Jeff Francoeur would instantly become the most predictable Dayton Moore move of all time. More predictable than signing Pods, more predictable than bringing in Bloomy, more predictable than even Yost becoming the manager this season.
It's time.
Francoeur's good and overpaid now, which makes it even better. He's a better Moorean fit now. Well, he's still a little young, but when you can snag one of the worst outfielders in the game for what's left of a $5 million dollar salary. You do it. You do it every time. Assuming you're incompetent. I mean, heck, it's almost like he's got better numbers than Mitch Maier. Almost.
Ex-Brave, impatient as hell, a pure out machine, out-sized reputation based on last generation's methods, getting expensive, all of it. The perfect package. The only worry is that he'll be overshadowed on the roster. It'll be a tough choice to make for the apologists on that rare day when Yuni and Frenchy both make good plays in the same inning.
Now there are some who will tell you that Jeff Francoeur can't play this game...
Jeff Francoeur's career began brilliantly. We always act like these things are a sure fire portent of a future star, but they actually happen all the time. Through his first 53 games, Jeff Francoeur hit .332/.370/.631. He had an OPS over 1.000. He slumped the rest of the way in 2005, and essentially, he's been in a slump ever since. From that point on, Game 53 of his rookie year, Francoeur is hitting .264/.306/.413. But hey, what's 748 games and over 3082 plate appearances between friends? He probably just needs an organization and fanbase that's fully behind him and gives him regular playing time, right? Oh wait, already had it. He needs a change of scenery. Yea, definitely that. We can't overlook the human element, can we? Oh...
The Tiger isn't changing his stripes. Our GM likes bad players. I don't know why, there's just simply no way around that fact at this point. He's been around for awhile now. Like Jeff Francoeur, he's firmly established his performance level.
We can all see this coming. Have for years. It might not seem like it right now, but this is how recovery starts. It's time.
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*golf clap*
It took opposing pitchers 53 games to figure out there was no need to throw him strikes.
by Harry Pavlidis on Jul 25, 2010 11:46 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Player A, 2007 to 2010: .267/.312/.405, stats per 162 are 111K/36 BB, 16 HR, 35 doubles
Player B, 2007 to 2010: .247/.330/.410, stats per 162 are 144K/64 BB, 18 HR, 37 doubles
Player A is coming to KC to take player B’s job
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo (follow me, because reloading my twitter page 40 times a day is kind of creepy)
I'm not sayin, I'm just...
Player A is 26 years old and is an above average fielder.
Player B is 34 years old and can barely field a pop fly 20 feet to his right.
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Player B is not Guillen...............it's Alex Gordon
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jul 26, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
oh, my.
Why not put Gordon in Left, Frenchy in right and DDJ in the center?
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I hate to fall into line here
But I didn’t see this post coming at all. That, in response to the rumors, expounding on how unsurprising there is interest in Francoeur was totally necessary. It’s totally unexpected.
That said I will be extremely pissed off if frenchy comes to KC. I hate that this is really a possible reality, and that it has been expected for years.
as much as i hate to agree...
i do. this would be an absolutely pointless trade that doesn’t bring back prospects, which is what the royals need to be doing.
the castillo part is what really has me for a loss…you’re adding an additional year of salary suck to what’s already a bad situation…we need all of our available $$ to get quality players for next year and beyond, and this cuts into that.
i just don’t understand what DM is thinking with this trade (IF it happens), and i’m starting to get really concerned about what this team is going to look like for next year:
C Kendall
1B Butler
2B Castillo
SS Betancourt
3B Betemit
LF Podz/TBA
CF Ankiel/TBA
RF Francouer
DH ?? (Kaaihue, some washed up vet)
SP Greinke
SP Perez
SP ??
SP ??
SP ??
That is one scary lineup (scary bad)
BOOM YOSTED!
by Home Run Tony Cogan on Jul 25, 2010 11:55 PM EDT reply actions
not to mention OLD
where are the prospects?
BOOM YOSTED!
by Home Run Tony Cogan on Jul 25, 2010 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions
the nonsensical mega-deal could fall through
but Moore wants JF, and it seems inevitable that it’s going to happen
Jayson Stark via twitter now saying Royals have "no interest" in Frenchy or Perez
So hopefully no one has had a stroke, yet. Wait for it to happen – THEN have a stroke.
"This guy here is DEAD!"
"Cross him OFF then!"
A middle infield of Yuni-Castillo might finally just kill me
It would push me right off the cliff.
"Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic."
by MinnesotaRoyal on Jul 26, 2010 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, don’t you feel better that you don’t understand Moore’s thinking? If Moore did something that I understood, I’d be seriously concerned that I recently had a gran mal seizure.
by D.Szymborski on Jul 26, 2010 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Didn't Rany write an article about Moore signing him last year??
That might have been before we signed Pods, I don’t remember.
hmm...
can’t recall
there was a peck of rumors a year or two ago, that Moore eventually dismissed as “outright lies”
Rany had an article where he got behind the idea of getting Francouer
I don’t remember the conditions of it though.
Without reading it… I believe this is the article
http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/2009/06/radical-situations-call-for-radical.html
C'MON CHEN!!! ---Will Ferrell
by averagegatsby on Jul 26, 2010 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Somebody
please go over to Will’s place and take all the knives, scissors, etc. away. And try not to use them yourself while you’re at it.
The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them. -- Albert Einstein
by The Ol' Perfesser on Jul 26, 2010 12:04 AM EDT reply actions
I was optimistic that this move might not happen...
But now Im convinced that it totally will. Sonuva… Being a Royals fan sure does suck.
C'MON CHEN!!! ---Will Ferrell
FUCK
FUCKKKKKK
Those were the good ole days... wait I wasn't alive then
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo (follow me, because reloading my twitter page 40 times a day is kind of creepy)
by BHWick on Jul 26, 2010 12:10 AM EDT reply actions 5 recs
Credit to:
royhobbs at Talking Chop!
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti
The Mets are dumb
But not dumb enough to offer arbitration to Jokecoeur after the season. He’ll be DFA’d for sure. While I hope that Frenchy can be traded (as a Met fan), any GM that does trade for him is totally lost. If you want him that badly, just wait a few months and sign him. Enter stage left, Dayton Moore, I guess.
by James Kannengieser on Jul 26, 2010 12:11 AM EDT reply actions
On the strap of his left hand batting glove, Francoeur has the words “Joshua 1:9” written, referencing the Bible verse. That verse reads: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Jul 26, 2010 12:30 AM EDT reply actions
Rany, from his article
“I’m not arguing that Francoeur’s performance as a ballplayer the last two years has become underrated: he really has been as bad as everyone thinks. But here’s the thing: Francoeur’s performance has become so maligned that I feel the public has lost sight of the fact that underneath those numbers still lies an enormous bundle of talent.”
Yuni made a nice play, so now he doesn't suck anymore. Great.
Also
Rany’s biggest argument for considering Francoeur was because he was still only 25. But now, he’s 26, so I don’t know how much that changes things. One year later, same results. 27 is supposed to be your prime year, but if that’s the case, wouldn’t you expect an idea of the strike zone to be at least partially developed by 26? I don’t think Rany supports this trade now, especially since Gordon was not in the outfield at the time he wrote that.
Yuni made a nice play, so now he doesn't suck anymore. Great.
More on Rany's post
He also compared Frenchy to Jermaine Dye since they both had good rookie seasons and then two bad seasons after that. But now, Frenchy is in his 4th season and still not coming out of it. Dye did. Rany also points out that Terry Pendleton wasn’t a good hitting coach to teach plate discipline since he never walked much, and that Kevin Seitzer would be a better fit. I don’t know who the hitting coach in New York is, but they’re not having any luck either. Again, I would say Rany would change his mind based on the year that has passed since he wrote all this. But I bet we’ll get Rany’s take directly from him soon enough.
Yuni made a nice play, so now he doesn't suck anymore. Great.
the Mets hitting coach is Howard Johnson
a guy who was pretty good at walking.
And I’m not gonna express much confidence in Seitzer
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo (follow me, because reloading my twitter page 40 times a day is kind of creepy)
His Twitter
seems to suggest that he would not be in favor.
I imagine the risks have changed: higher salary, year older, still failing, the trading chips (Guillen) having a positive value this year. I think Rany’s point was that, with the condition of the team last year, it made sense to take a risk on a basically free commodity. This year, the commodity is worse, has less projection, and has more opportunity cost for trade chips/AAA player experience in the big leagues.
not a big believer in seitzer at this point
don’t think he’s a problem, but don’t think he’s great either
I am 100% with you on this, Will
I say trade for Franceour and give him a starting job. I want him in that outfield starting every game for the remainder of this year and all of next year. We need a team full of Dayton’s boys to lose in comic fashion and get the head clown fired before our prospects hit the bigs.
People act like these prospects are tied to Dayton. They aren’t. We can fire him and still keep Moustakas, Hosmer, Myers, Montgomery et al. Granted, Dayton has assembled some good prospects 2 years away. When they get to KC, we can’t have them surrounded by the Kendalls and Podsedniks of the world. We’ve seen what Dayton does at the major league level. No amount of prospects can overcome it.
So let’s get this deal done. Bring in Francoeur, excercise Ankiel’s option, re-sign Bloomquist, and proceed as planned with Kendall. I’m fucking serious. Let’s do it. I’m behind Dayton bringing in whoever he wants at this point. I’m finally ready to trust the process……..and its inevitable outcome. The sooner the better. Bring it.
by big matt on Jul 26, 2010 2:16 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Let's break the 62 Mets loss record.
If it means DM is gone, then its worth it. Hell, let’s obliterate it. I hope we don’t win 30 games next year, and I hope Kendall catches every single game.
Briliant
Will, I love this site. This piece is on Failcoeur is painful but beautiful. Keep up the brilliant work!
I'm going to play devil's advocate today.
The trade would make our team collectively 11 years younger.
(thanks, Walter).
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I can imagine
evil DM, laughing at how much he makes Royals fans go nuts. He’s probably sitting there, with a stiff scotch, swirling, smirking. “Now I can go for what I really want.”
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I'll reserve judgement till I see what goes down
The way I see it, any idiot would know that Francoeur is a non-tender candidate this offseason. Moore has proven me wrong before, but I’ll trust that he can see common sense here, and won’t give up anything of value to pick up Francoeur. The Royals would be giving up the better (less bad?) players/contracts in the mega-deal of Frenchy+Perez+Castillo for Meche+Guillen+Farnsworth, and the Mets are somewhat in the playoff hunt, so I’d imagine the Mets would be throwing in money or prospects to make the deal happen. If a decent prospect were thrown in the mix for the Royals, the deal would go from a pointless swap of shit to a good deal involving a pointless swap of shit.
We’ll see tho. It’s possible that Moore sees Francoeur as the good prospect.
I am starting to become convinced
Dayton is setting out to prove every tenet of sabermetrics right by doing the complete opposite and failing spectacularly.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jul 26, 2010 9:59 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I know you are joking, but I do not think you are entirely wrong.
by BlueEyes_Austin on Jul 26, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I fully expect to come home from golfing tonight to read about how this trade has been completed
and GMDM’s excited about Frenchy’s potential.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball...Rock Chalk Talk
Mets are supposedly having a big meeting today
Of course, some of it will be a discussion about the coaching staff, but it seems like there could be some discussion of this, too. I would actually be surprised if this isn’t done within the day or by tomorrow night at the latest.
"Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic."
by MinnesotaRoyal on Jul 26, 2010 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Come to think of it: Dayton Moore is the GM equivalent of Frenchy
The parallels ominous.
"Shot by my own men."
Dear Abby
I can’t decide if it’s really worth wearing my KC hat around and following Royals blogs and memorizing the top 50 prospects and soap-box preaching the beauty of the K to East Coasters who have never been west of 11th ave all for the sake of self deprecating humor. A lot of the reason I’m such a Royals fan is that I don’t want to fully let go of KC, which is such beautiful town full of great people and was such a formative part of my life. I operate under the assumption that the self-deprecating aspect makes me unique and anti-main stream. But really it’s all just a form of self-loathing. Octavio Paz writes about this phenomenon among Mexican gangsters in LA, who champion their Mexican identity despite difficulty coming to terms with it, and feeling somehow isolated from the larger American culture. When Dayton acquires Francuoeuouoaeuer later today or tomorrow, I will have finally reached the point where the humor is just getting old (actually reached that point a long time ago, but maybe it shockingly reaches an even higher level?). But I still won’t go to another team. I need therapy. Yours truly, depressed in Hoboken, NJ.
by jackie ballgame on Jul 26, 2010 10:14 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Dear Hoboken,
You could always be a Houston fan.
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by Justin Bopp on Jul 26, 2010 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
yep -
I had more than one conversation with fans at Yankees stadium this weekend on what it’s like being a Royals fan…You summed it up nicely.
The Kansas City Royals; Successfully failing since 1986
I wish he'd just hurry up an get it over with
I’m on the road at the moment, and today is one day I might have time to right a post adequate to a Contest-deciding transaction like this.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
Arbitration After this year
I know what kind of responses I will get but …
Frenchy is arb eligible after this year which the mets aren’t going to offer to him. Do you think Dayton will trade for a guy who he can just sign in the off season which considering the man crush GMDM has on Frenchy is a possiblity? I think Frenchy will become a Royal I just don’t think it will be via trade. Just my thoughts.
Sadly, I think you're right.
Though i think I might prefer the Frenchy rental so DM can see first hand how bad he is, and give him the Mike Jacobs treatment at the end of this year, instead of having to suffer through it all next year.
He traded for Mike Jacobs weeks before the Marlins were going to non-tender him
he traded for Tony Pena, Jr., who was about to become a free agent
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jul 26, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Don't forget Yuni's acquisition when the M's were ready to cut him loose
Would you like to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or my blog...well you can't.
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jul 26, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Sweet... Just looked in the male and the newest Sports Illustrated arrived
I’m pumped… On the cover is Jeff Francoeur with the caption “The Natural”… Man this guy has to be awesome if he’s hyped like this… The Royals are going to the playoffs next year baby…
Oh wait… you’re telling me its August 2010 not August 2006… well shit… I guess its another 70 win season for the Royals
No, you weren't seeing things
- .-. ..- … – / – …. . / .—. .-. - .. . … …
by Jeff Zimmerman on Jul 26, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Can anyone be this good?
We’ll never know.
Kansas City Royals: your 2006 and 2007 NL Central champions!
I hate when they say things like
“Impossibly Hot Start.” I get why they do it – exaggerations make people more excited to read the article – but come on. An impossibly hot start would be batting something like .800/.900/.1750 over a couple hundred ABs. His first four months that year (before August print date):
April: .216/.230/.371
May: .280/.295/.496
June: .248/.278/.413
July: .297/.330/.515
Basically, his “Hot Start” was July. I know we all know he’s no good, but I just had to go on a rant about exaggerating and how ridiculous those articles are. I’m done and getting off my soapbox.
"Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic."
by MinnesotaRoyal on Jul 26, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, even then it wasn't that good
So ridiculous.
"Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic."
by MinnesotaRoyal on Jul 26, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
The magazine cover was from 2005, not 2006.
In his first 127 career PAs he hit .379/.394/.734.
by James Kannengieser on Jul 26, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow, a whole .015 difference from OBP to BA?
You could almost see this coming unless he has Ichiro like bat control.
Tee-hee....'looked in the male'
Hope you’re a doctor.
And even worse
It was 2005. Man I loathe Failcoeur. And I loathe even more the Met fans would probably cry and scream in protest if he was traded. People still think he’s good.
by James Kannengieser on Jul 26, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't realize he is another guy who skipped AAA
by BlueEyes_Austin on Jul 26, 2010 12:14 PM EDT reply actions
He and Alex can be buddies.
"Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic."
by MinnesotaRoyal on Jul 26, 2010 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
If French comes...
Is there any reason for the Royals to keep Gordon? What would an outfield next year look like?
DDJ in Center. Frenchy in Right. Gordon in Left? Pods? Maier? Ankiel?
I could maybe live with signing Frenchy in the offseason
and Gordon and DDJ in the OF with Kila at DH/1b with Billy. Any deviation from that and i’d be angry (other than not getting Frenchy of course).
Rosenthal making crap up
A royals “source” on Mlbtraderumor denies any Royal interest in those guys
this is just faux journalists creating their own stories
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