Um…Jeff Francoeur?….
by Mike TRuss. I think you were out in the snow too long and the cold limited your ability to think and reason. Do we have anyone better than Jeff Francoeur? Yes. All three of the “starting” outfielders are better than Jeff Francouer, both historically and based on last season’s numbers.
2009 Season
| NAME | HR | RBI | BA | OBP | OPS+ |
| Francoeur | 15 | 76 | .280 | .309 | 93 |
| Swisher | 29 | 82 | .249 | .371 | 129 |
| Granderson | 30 | 71 | .249 | .327 | 100 |
| Gardner | 3 | 23 | .270 | .345 | 93 |
 162 Game AveragesÂ
| NAME | HR | RBI | BA | OBP | OPS+ |
| Francoeur | 20 | 92 | .271 | .311 | 92 |
| Swisher | 28 | 86 | .245 | .357 | 115 |
| Granderson | 25 | 72 | .272 | .344 | 113 |
| Gardner | Incomplete | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Granderson and Gardner are superior defenders (Gardner by some metrics was the best centerfielder defensively last year) and all three project as better offensive threats than Jeff Francouer.  Most of Gardner’s offense comes from his legs.  Assuming he can get on base at the .345 clip he did last year, he will be a terror on the basepaths. Maybe you and the Snowman should just chill, enjoy the championship offseason and put a little faith in Cashman.
2 comments February 12 2010 10:49 am | Mike T | Discussion |
Michael….thank you. I think Russ definitely needs to thaw out. :)
I have not posted in a while. The knives are flashing. I’m a-scared.
But here goes —-I know Gardner is fast, but he showed some mental “Bernie Williams” -type lapses on the bases last year. He will have to work on that if he is to mean much of anything.