If Marty Noble’s awkward “Open letter to Citi Field” wasn’t enough to convince you that he needs this season to end as much as the rest of us,this might:
The Mets believe Francoeur will look sharp in their 2010 uni, so much so that they are inclined to approach him about signing him to a three-year contract that would allow him to become a big league Beau Brummel, if he so chose. They like what they have seen of him in and out of uniform -- from his spirited demeanor to his nuclear arm to the two doubles he produced Saturday afternoon in their victory against the Nationals.
And what’s not to like from the Mets’ perspective? Francoeur now has driven in 34 runs in his 255 plate appearances with the Mets, more than any Mets player in the same period -- Daniel Murphy is second with 31 -- and one less than he had driven in 324 plate appearances with the Braves. Moreover, he has batted .314, scored 30 runs, reduced his rate of strikeouts, played right field well, continued to intimidate third-base coaches and baserunners, played hurt and and hit into an unassisted triple play.
You saved yourself at the end there, Marty, but I think it’s high time to come home. Anything looks good in comparison to Ramon Martinez. Francoeur has played well enough be offered arbitration, but inking him to a long-term deal would be just as reckless as the Oliver Perez signing.