Francoeur

How Will Francoeur Fit In With The Mets?

That’s a really good question, and it’s one I still don’t know the answer to. What I do know is that
if the Mets awarded clubhouse superlatives, Ryan Church would have been voted “Most Likely To Be Traded.” He is a superb defender and a solid left-handed hitter and thus useful, but not so to a team that a) appeared not to care much for him and b) desperately needed to shake up the roster.

That is why he was leaving for Colorado, where he will join his new team, the Atlanta Braves, who shipped their own underachieving right fielder, Jeff Francoeur, to the Mets. At 25, Francoeur is five years younger than Church; has loads of potential; and is equally as talented a defender.

“I’m not looking for defense right now,” Manager Jerry Manuel quipped afterward. Then he cackled. “Oh boy.”

What he is looking for is offense, and Francoeur, two and a half years removed from blasting a career-high 29 home runs, should help out. Any little bit helps right now because the Mets, in forgetting how to score, also seem to have lost their offensive identity. They are no longer a fast team. They do not hit home runs. They do not get on base much, either.

Over his career, Francoeur has struck out 3.75 times for every walk he has drawn, which is nearly double the major league average of 1.95. I’m eager to see just how Francoeur, who has a .282 on-base percentage, fits in with a team that has regressed in its ability to grind out at-bats and build up starters’ pitch counts.

“I think he’s one of those people who feels he has something to prove,” Alex Cora said.

Francoeur gets his first chance Saturday night, when he starts in right field, batting fifth, against the Reds’ Johnny Cueto.