Comments on: Jeff Francoeur is selfish and deluded

By: Monday Morning Press 3.7 « living as dead

Monday Morning Press 3.7 « living as dead — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:33:40 +0000

[...] some upside). Matt Klassen called him the most deluded player of the offseason, Matthew Pouliot criticized the perception that he’s a “good clubhouse guy” by pointing to Francoeur’s agent starting media campaigns about him, and Ted Berg says [...]

By: Jeff Francoeur wants to play every day | HardballTalk

Jeff Francoeur wants to play every day | HardballTalk — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:29:03 +0000

[...] Look, I know everyone wants to play every day, but Francoeur has to appreciate that there are very, very few teams that want to do that with him given his limitations, to put it mildly, against righties. And, no, I will not accept a response that says “hey, he’s just being competitive: there’s nothing wrong with that!” Why? Because he’s going to be a free agent as soon as the Rangers non-tender him, and any team who may be interested in him in a platoon or backup role is going to be scared away if they think he’s going to sulk if he’s not a full-timer. Which he will, because he’s done it before. [...]

By: ScottBravesfan

ScottBravesfan — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:07:34 +0000

Are you serious? Francoeur was booed all the time in Atlanta. The fans gave him more of a chance because of his first two seasons in the big leagues and the fact that he was from Metro Atlanta. Yunel Escobar was a fan favorite too. He never got booed until the end when he kept making stupid plays and not hustling. Atlanta is one of the least racist places, hell the city is like 70% black and there are a ton of hispanics as well in the city. The city of Atlanta hasn’t had a white mayor since the 70s, how many non white mayors has New York City had? How many women have been mayor of NYC? The city of Atlanta just had a black woman for mayor for the last 8 years. And if you think Braves fans have a problem with Hispanic players, then why in the hell was Javy Lopez treated like a god? He put up terrible numbers and got the loudest cheers at Turner Field when he was announced as a player. Why is Martin Prado suddenly become the cult hero of the team? Francoeur was an arrogant player who never learned to work a count and take a walk but that is no reason to rip on the city of Atlanta and make comparisons to Yunel Escobar situation. Completely different situations and the only real comparisons are that Francoeur was actually booed when coming up to bat before he was traded from Atlanta while Escobar was not. The only time Escobar was booed was when he made some terrible play and was not hustling, yet he was still cheered when he came up to bat.
And Braves fans have started booing Troy Glaus recently too. Is that because the city doesn’t like white players?

By: john j pileggi

john j pileggi — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:40:39 +0000

There is another disaster of a year for the Mets. EVERYONE is miserable. Frenchie will not be back and is playing for a contract with someone else. I have read many times that he is well liked in the clubhouse, so I would guess that a guy who has an agent going public with a trade or playing time request, but who has not alienated his teammates is probably a good guy.

By: nps6724

nps6724 — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:59:06 +0000

Pendleton has had far more hitters perform better under him than they did elsewhere than he has had failures.

By: Gobias Industries

Gobias Industries — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:45:07 +0000

No way that WSJ story you linked to is meant to be taken seriously. Completely tongue-in-cheek. Check your BS detector.

By: geoknows

geoknows — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:17:57 +0000

Dayton Moore was involved in drafting Francoeur but has said repeatedly that he is not interested in picking him up for the Royals.
Besides, the role Frenchy would take on the Royals is being more than adequately filled by Yuniesky Betancourt.

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:53:35 +0000

Why else do you think he’d cut bait on Jose Guillen?

By: The Rabbit

The Rabbit — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:29:53 +0000

Who would (note I said would, not should) give Frenchy a starting job? Dayton Moore might still have the mancrush.

By: BC

BC — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:09 +0000

Actually, I think you guys are right. Manuel SHOULD play him more. Every inning. And bat him leadoff. Anything to make my team stink even worse so as to ensure the entire coaching staff and front office are out on the street the day after the season ends.

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:32:42 +0000

One could say they deserve each other.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:07:02 +0000

Listen, if they want to make benching Francouer the last straw in the cauterization of Jerry Manuel, by all means, let’s inflate Frenchie’s value to delusional proportions for one more month or two. It isn’t going to make any difference in the standings to this team. Folks are getting upset about Joe Kerrigan’s “backstabbing” while this incompetent slug struts around with the body of Willie Randolph interred beneath the terrazo of the manager’s office?
.
And yes, being shipped to the Mutts may well have been Frenchie’s punishment – but frankly, having Frenchie shipped to them was, in a lot of ways, part of Jerry Manuel’s just desserts as well.

By: onemilemore

onemilemore — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:59:20 +0000

Maybe no one writes up these articles about needing to bench Francoeur because they know he is mediocre, and as a result don’t expect Beltran and Wright-like numbers from him.

By: The Real Shuxion

The Real Shuxion — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:43:56 +0000

Tell me about it. That team is such a train wreck.

By: shea801

shea801 — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:28:26 +0000

Being shipped to the Mets WAS his punishment for acting like this.

By: Dempsey's Army

Dempsey's Army — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:18:21 +0000

I didn’t really wonder, just being subtle.
I live in Atlanta and while I’m not a Braves fan, I attend a lot of games. The difference between how Francouer and Escobar were embraced by the fans was striking. I’ll let others decide why.
But the media? I was a bit surprised how quick most of the local baseball writers were to defend Francouer. And we know how they treated Escobar. Seemed odd for “professional” journalists but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at this point.

By: FlyEaglesFly

FlyEaglesFly — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:05:00 +0000

Who cares about Jeff Francoeur? Why are there so many posts about him? Craig, you need to end your bromance with Francoeur now.

By: BC

BC — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:03:23 +0000

Francoeur just plain sucks. It was worth it for the Mets to take a flier on him for what they gave up (the walking disaster that is Ryan Church). But it ain’t working. He couldn’t hit water if he fell out of an effing boat. If they can trade him for ANYTHING, they might as well do it. Otherwise DFA him. Other than being able to throw guys out from the outfield, he’s useless, and now he’s flapping his mouth as well. Don’t need him.

By: BasicInstinct

BasicInstinct — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:59:26 +0000

Escobar didn’t want to learn English because then he would have to listen to Terry Pendleton.
At least Escobar didn’t make six errors in a couple weeks! Gonzales is horrible! But his English is probably good.
And, Yunel’s poor throw to Glaus was the last straw, did you notice how horrible Glaus has been lately defensively…..can’t bend over to stop a grounder (which cost the Braves a run last night), or catch a throw from the pitcher….it’s embarrassing. If we make the playoffs, his Achilles knees will be his demise… and the Braves’s I fear.

By: BasicInstinct

BasicInstinct — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:48:23 +0000

The fact is that Carlos Beltran is able to take his rehab stint with the Mets in the middle of the season instead going down to AAA until he feels better.
And yes, when you need to win games, why sit a guy who is hot and has won you a couple games in the last week or so? It sends the wrong message to every player on the team. Help us win, but you’re still a chump.
In MLB there are a lot of underperforming players playing everyday. Whether you dislike the guy or his agent, give them some credit for being optimistic about their future, wherever it may be.
If you had Terry Pendleton as a batting coach, you would suck too. Why bring up the Braves mismanagement of another hitter? Explain Nate McLouth’s problems, or Yunel Escobar. Jason Heyward hasn’t been there long enough, just wait and see.
At least Francoeur acts like he wants to be on a Team whose management wants as many Latin players as possible. Meritocracy? You’ve got to be kidding!

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:46:45 +0000

You wondered why a good old-country boy from the area got a pass while the Hispanic import didn’t? Really?
My girlfriend is from Atlanta. At a game last summer with her and her brother (pre-trade), I was ragging on how awful Frenchie was (I think this might have been right after his OBP/Jumbotron comments). My girlfriend’s brother said he agreed with everything I said, but they’d never turn on him down there, and where he comes from had a lot to do with it.

By: quint

quint — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:42:31 +0000

To be honest Craig, that reads more as defending Francoeur than attacking him, because if it was attacking what he and his agent are doing, you didn’t go anywhere near far enough.
I am so sick of professional athletes deluding themselves into thinking they should be playing everyday.
The Braves trading this loser to the Mets is clearly the best trade of the last decade, for no other reason than they got someone else to take him, the fact it was a division rival only sweetens the deal.

By: Dempsey's Army

Dempsey's Army — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:40:05 +0000

I always found it interesting how the Atlanta media would give Francouer a pass on this behavior while Yunel Escobar was pilloried for not learning English.