Quote of the Day
“That was a lot of fun. You just keep pounding balls into the gap. The one thing you don’t want to do is hit a home run. That’s a rally-killer.”
— Jeff Francoeur, following the Mets big win over the Braves, continuing to fail to understand even the basic rudiments of baseball.
This is a bit of old conventional baseball “wisdom” that goes back for decades. The feeling being that if you hit a home run, the pitcher thinks, “Well, at least there’s no on base now. I can relax and pitch the way I want.” As opposed to, “They’re hitting everything I throw up there and I’m not sure I can keep anything in the park. I’m in a world of trouble.” You decide which is more likely.
I want to see a team entirely made up of Jeff Francoeurs managed by Dusty Baker. That’d be the best team ever.
Yes, home runs do kill rallies—which means that sometimes killing rallies is a *good thing*.
Holy crap. Do you think he’s being paid to put this act on? I mean, one comment like that is one thing, but this last week or so is just too good to be true from him. I suspect Joaquin Phoenix is behind this…
That’s so bad, it’s good. No, it’s better than good. And in Frenchy’s world, good is bad. So which is it? Crap. My head hurts.
Steve Lyons once said something similar doing color for a game on Fox a few years back – arguing that a triple is much better than a home run – extends the rally.
I think we just found a replacement for Steve Phillips or Rick Sutcliffe.
Only the Mets….
Clearly, Craig missed Frenchy’s Q&A with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday.
Just skip ahead to his comments about his coachability and if the Mets wanted him to change. Comedy gold.
Oh God, I hate him so much….
No, he saw it. I think the drubbing occured over at NBC.
It sounds like Frenchy went to the Joe Morgan School of Baseball Wisdom.
Boy, a lot of people just can’t stand the fact that he’s actually playing well in NY, can they? So when are all the dire predictions going to start coming true? I want to mark it on my calendar.
Has anyone seen Tim McCarver and Jeff Francoeur in the same place at the same time?
Okay, I haven’t obsessed over the awfulness that is Jeff Francoeur the way some of you have. Am I wrong in getting the impression that he has good talent and good basic instincts, just not much upstairs? As the old saying has it, he’s a fine ball player from the neck down. I do remember when he first came up. Part of the adverse reaction to him now has to be due to the fawning adulation he got from tv and press commentators in the beginning. I say cut him some slack. Of course, he hasn’t played for any team that I care about.
Chris, I actually agree in a general sense – a player can be good without understanding why. Understanding why probably only mildly enhances natural talent. I’m just not sure he’s “playing well” as Mayor says. I mean, MLB league average offense (.305/.338/.481) at corner outfield is “playing well” in relation to all baseball players worldwide. But it’s not really “playing well” in the relation to other major league players. It’s slightly above average. For 35 games. Following a year and half of suck.
I think we’re all missing what’s most obviously the case: Jeff Francouer is the Patton Oswald of baseball. Saying that, with that kind of deadpan delivery? Dane Cook can’t carry this guy’s jockstrap.
If someone wants a good gimmick blog name/idea, firejefffrancoeur.com is not yet taken!
you know what they say … a walk is as good as a home run!
Nice of you to show up, Frenchy! But why do you call yourself “Jake”?
witless relocation program: proudly ensuring that Tim McCarver and I are not seen in the same room, since 1966.