The debate over what number Jeff Francoeur ought to wear started in the post below long before I even knew we’d traded Ryan Church for him in a deal begging to be debated long after the Mets and Braves realize it hadn’t helped them. Francoeur of course wore No. 7 with the Braves and won’t with the Mets as long as Jose Reyes (remember him?) is employed. Let’s look at the candidates:
No. 4: I like this one: Single-digit, tossed around amongst a bunch of bums ever since Robin Ventura left town eight years ago.
No. 6: Nick Evans was just demoted — Angel Pagan returned from the DL — and the addition of Francoeur does Evans’ future no favors. But I like 6 as a scrubeenie signifier and would hate to see it wasted on a guy we’ll come to remember — good or bad — as much as Francoeur. Didya know he’s under team control for one more than Chuch? Oh yes. He’s our right fielder through 2011 if we want him, and maybe if we don’t Gulp.
No. 8: Still sitting there.
No. 12: Still unissued since Willie Randolph‘s departure but more of an infielder’s number.
No. 19: If there’s something to admire about this deal off-the-bat is how brazen a challenge trade it really is: Both right fielders, both considered disappointments, both teams in the same division, both more or less fighting for the same goal. Why not make it a true Del Unser Deal and change up the jerseys as well?
No. 27: Available even though we’ll probably need Nelson Figueroa again. This, 47, and 77 are the easiest to imagine emerging from the 7 family if Francoeur prefer to stay with it.
Nos. 30, 32, 35 and 40 are open as well.
As for the trade, I fear it: It seems that if Church only played a little better he’d not have been traded to begin with but it takes more ignorance of on-base percentage than I’ll ever have to think we haven’t just made a bad offense even worse. That said, Francoeur is right-handed and young and may still become something; while Church, for whatever reason, has fallen out of favor with two clubs already.
Let the challenge begin.
In other troubling news they brought back Argenis Reyes when overmatched youngsterFernando Martinez went on the disabled list. And before I ever had a chance to enjoy his demotion.
Submitted by Gene F. on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 8:21am.
Further reasons for #4 – there is a nice history of Mets outfielders donning the digit, going back to Duke Snider, thru good ol’ Rocky Swoboda, Rusty Staub in his first Metlife, and the financially and (apparently) morally bankrupt Lenny Dykstra. Oh, and let’s not forget my mom’s old favorite, the legendary Bruce Boisclair.
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For what it’s worth, take it
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 8:35am.
For what it’s worth, take it with a grain of salt because I first saw it on Wikipedia, he’ll be in #12…
Thanks.
Submitted by Jon Springer on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 9:05am.
I happened to see yahoo.com list him as 68.
I will be at his debut tonight!
68?
Submitted by Gene F. on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 9:17am.
68? I guess that means he owes us one. Wocka wocka wocka!
We’ll be there too, to witness the first shot fired in The Frenchy Revolution.
Submitted by Ranjrz5 on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 11:03am.
TSN.ca (ESPN’s Canadien counterpart) also lists him in #68… however, they still have Marlon Anderson in #9, and also list Ramon Martinez in #8, Arturo Lopez in #38 (Nieve) and Lance Broadway in #41, so who knows how reliable they are.
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woo boy
Submitted by Ambiorix Lockwood (not verified) on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 11:22am.
NL East gamechanger. Finally, an outfielder who swings at EVERY SINGLE PITCH he sees. I’m thinking 3-4-5 Wright – Francouer – Sheffield could combine for 900 strikeouts this year if they really concentrate.
man, I’m glad I gave up on this team.
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68?
Submitted by gored82 on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 12:29pm.
68 makes no sense whatsoever…
#12
Submitted by Richard (not verified) on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 1:34pm.
Metsblog says Francoeur will be in #12.
Gameday lists him in #12
Submitted by Ranjrz5 on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 5:43pm.
Gameday lists him in #12 too, although Mets.com is still blank.
The #68 was just a
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 5:54pm.
The #68 was just a placeholder until Francoeur’s number becomes “official.” Whenever you see a crazy number like that, it’s because the company that supplies the rosters and uni numbers to yahoo (and others) doesn’t know what number he is (unless it’s someone like Elmer Dessens who’s actually wearing a crazy number). It will likely be updated by tomorrow morning when they update the stats. (For example, Will Ohman of the Dodgers lost his #43 when Randy Wolf took it Thursday. He won’t be assigned a new number until he gets back, yet yahoo lists him as #91.)
Here’s the video
Submitted by Shorty (not verified) on Sat, 07/11/2009 – 11:36pm.
Sure looks like a 12 to me!
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=2582132
On the other side of the trade…
Submitted by Dave Mackey (not verified) on Mon, 07/13/2009 – 8:20am.
Ryan Church is wearing 25 for the Braves. Just an FYI.