22
2009
Jeff Francoeur Speaks, But Will Omar Listen?
An article by 
An interesting piece appeared in the NY Post this morning by Mike Puma, who spoke to Jeff Francoeur about Rockies pitcher Jason Marquis who will be a free agent this off season.
Jeff Francoeur told The Post yesterday that Marquis, whom he considers a close friend, desperately wants to pitch for the Mets next season, even as the veteran right-hander focuses on helping the Rockies clinch a wild-card berth.
“He’d love to come here,” Francoeur — who indicated Marquis broached the subject to him and David Wright earlier this month when the Mets played at Colorado — said before last night’s 11-3 Atlanta win at Citi Field. He’d be a great fit. He’s from Staten Island. He’s a New York type of guy. He’ll probably be coming off the best season he’s ever had.”
Apparently, Jason Marquis holds no grudge toward the Mets for their lack of interest in him last winter. I think he would be a solid middle rotation pitcher. The Mets would still need a number two pitcher, but Marquis is a workhorse who will give the Mets innings. I have lobbied for Jason Marquis many times in the past two years, long before he had what can only be called the best season of his career while pitching in hitting haven, Coors Field.
I was disappointed when the Cubs offered Jason Marquis to the Mets for Aaron Heilman, and Omar Minaya turned it down. In July, my fellow MMO colleague Ed Leyro wrote the following,
Jon Heyman of SI.com reported that the Mets could have sent whipping boy Scott Schoeneweis to the Cubs in exchange for Marquis. For the second time, the Cubs would have paid part of Marquis’ salary to make the deal more attractive to the Mets. Once again, the deal was not made. Instead, the Mets traded Schoeneweis to the Diamondbacks for reliever Connor Robertson.
Wow… That’s such a colossal blunder on so many different levels…
Francoeur also adds that he hopes the Mets focus more on pitching than offense this offseason, and indicated he may try to convince the front office that Marquis is the right fit. Francoeur has become a part of the fabric of this team, so much so that he feels the need to let the organization know his feelings on the Mets’ needs and who he feels can help.
“I’d tell them he’s a guy who can go out there and throw 200 innings every year — and the last few years, the guy averages 14, 15 wins a season,” Francoeur said. “That’s the kind of guy I want on my team. Everybody talks about bats, bats, bats, but I’ve seen this game enough, and I grew up a Braves fan, that pitching wins baseball games. You look around, and I think pitching and defense is the always biggest key.”
Francoeur is right. If the Mets refuse to alter the dimensions it only makes more sense to focus on building a rotation worthy of the park they pitch in. One of my readers pointed out in a post yesterday, that pitchers park will not make a bad pitcher a good pitcher. I get the feeling that is what Omar Minaya thought when he put this rotation together.
In Minaya’s mind, the new park was suddenly going to transform Mike Pelfrey from a number 5 pitcher to a number 2 pitcher. And that Freddy Garcia, Tim Redding and Livan Hernandez would become middle of the rotation mainstays. I don’t know what he was thinking about Oliver Perez, but clearly he thought the vastness of Citi Field would cover up a myriad of pitching flaws. BUZZZZ! Wrong answer!
In addition to Jason Marquis, the Mets would do well to add John Lackey. That would give the Mets a 1-2-3 punch that would be on par with Phillies and trump anything the Marlins or Braves have.
Pitching, pitching, pitching…
Read this related story on Jason Marquis by Ed Leyro.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationals | 26 | 18 | .591 | - |
| Braves | 26 | 20 | .565 | 1.0 |
| Mets | 24 | 21 | .533 | 2.5 |
| Marlins | 24 | 21 | .533 | 2.5 |
| Phillies | 23 | 23 | .500 | 4.0 |
Last updated: 05/25/2012
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no thanks, buy high sell low this is the kind of thinking that has the Mets where they are today.
Jason Marquis can pitch for my team anyday. The guy is a fighter, will pitch inside if they crowd the plate, and he reminds me of Al Leiter. He’s a workhorse and pitches deep into games, something the Mets have been in short supply for five years. Get him here.
The Mets first priority should be to get Lackey. I dont even consider Lackey to be an elite pitcher, but he will be the top available guy this winter. The Mets would be back in the game with a 1-2 of Santana-Lackey. After that, I think Maine would be better than Marquis at the three spot, but I’m not opposed to getting Marquis for the backend.
Santana
Lackey
Maine
Marquis
Pelfrey <– This where Pelfrey belonged all along.
We have to pay Perez, but that dont mean we have to put him in the rotation. If we do, we're screwed. Division may come down to one game again, if Perez is in the rotation, give the Phillies first place.
Maine isn’t exactly the most reliable guy.
I think you approach the offseason like you’re going to get NOTHING from Maine or Perez going forward.
You’re right. That was our mistake last off season, counting on Maine.
that is very true, seems like he went out there and tried to do too much, too fast. maine is good but i would leave him in the third rotation slot. go after lackey and hopefully he wont be too expensive maybe this winter they will realize this isnt a recession we’re going through, its a depression. these guys make too much… PERIOD!!!!
I hope the Mets get those two pitchers, Marquis and Lackey. That would be a pretty solid rotation and with Santana being the ace, un-stopable. And I would not mind if we kept Redding for another year as our fith starter. If he keeps up what he has been doing his past couple of starts, he will be get to close off the five man rotation, and hopefully Pelfrey can get back to his 2007-2008 performance in the two hole, and if things with Lakcey or Marquis don’t work out, Maine has been showing promise so he could be a possible option as well. But, I would love to see Marquis in a Mets uniform next year.
Enough with the “Pelfrey is a #2″ talk.
He is a league average 3rd or a good 4th starter at best. There’s nothing wrong with that, but lets stop trying to make him something he’s not.
I’d stay away from Lackey. I wouldn’t trust the Mets medical staff to diagnose a hangnail properly, nevermind a guy who has had significant shoulder injuries in the past.
Francouer isn’t that great a player, either. He is an out-making machine who doesn’t hit for much power anymore. But he CARES, HUSTLES, and his teammates give a DAMN for him, and that is exactly the kind of guy this rotten organization needs.
Yeah I want nothing to do with Lackey.
I think the other SP has to be acquired in a trade.
We are all lost on what to do with Olly. He needs to subscribe to the Luis Castillo workout plan. He’ll always get those ks with his stuff but his walks are ridiculous. Can Jerry loop tapes of his 230+k season in Pitt during spring training ’10?
Marquis is exactly what the mets dont need. A guy who put a decent season all of a sudden!!! His career era is mid 4′s. I hope OMAR seriously doesnt listen.
Mid 4′s is still an upgrade on a rotation with four pitchers in the mid 5′s. Don’t you think? We’re not going to get another ace, all we can hope for is upgrading everywhere we can. If Marquis means no Livan, Misch, etc, than I’m all for it.
Santana
Lackey
Perez
Pelfrey
Maine
If Oliver Perez got a deal for what? 12 million a year? You have to figure Lackey is going to command at least 14-16 million a year even in this economy. If the Met owners have already stated that they are not going to increase the pay roll then where does the money come from?
Resigning Delgado is going to cost 15million/3yr.
Sadly I think we can not cpount on Lackey coming here. I would think the first priority to to sign 30 home run guy.
So…
Santana
Perez
Pelfrey
Maine
Niese
wtf are you smoking? Delgado for 15mil for 3 years??? Youre retarded. He’ll be lucky to get a base salary of 4 mil with incentives, but not for more than one year.
WHAT!?!?! Seriously, are you CRAZY? If Delgado wants to sign a one year deal with incentives for 5 mil fine, but no way he gets a 3 year deal.
Though I agree that Marquis would be a good fit as a backend starter for the Mets, I find it comical that Francoeur, a generally overrated RF, is lobbying for this year’s most overrated SP.
In all seriousness Marquis is a quality-enough backend starter, but by no means should he be slotted in as our #2 or #3. We still need another SP.
I like your idea of adding Marquis,only at minimal cost however.I also would like Maine to go to the pen.That way he can let it all out for 1 inning at a time.I would prefer the Mets to trade for Halladay,,rather than over pay for Lackey.We might have to lose Parnell or Niese in a trade for Halladay,but he will be worth it. Santana-Halladay-Marquis-Pelfrey,as the top4.Then Redding Nieve Niese or Parnell,Stoner,Gee,for the 5th spot.WithPedro F-Maine-Stokes-Sean G-Bostick or Misch in the pen,with KRod.
Enough with Halladay. As much as any Met fan would love to see him on the team, we don’t have enough in our minors to get him. And even if we did have enough, we would probably be giving up at least 3 of our top 5 prospects to get him. So, forget about Halladay. Lackey would be nice, but I don’t think they will get him either. marquis would be nice, but I doubt they will get him. Maybe they can go out and sign Randy Wolfe, or someone like that. Face it, this is a new age for the Mets. For the next 2-3 years, don’t expect them to sign top name free agents. Or at least, not more then 1 per season.
Apparently we had enough at the trade deadline when the Blue Jays were willing to trade him to us for Wilmer Flores, Bobby Parnell and Jon Niese. Omar turned them down. You know why? MONEY!
If the Mets were to sign Marquis.They could still trade for Halladay,even giving up Pelfrey if the Jays wanted him.Remember the Jays came to the Mets?How about Parnell,Flores,Holt,Evans? Halladay wants out of Toronto,and having him in the National league he would rake.Especially in Citifield.
Sure, get Marquis
just as long as he’s not expensive
Well he made 9.875 mil in 2009, didn’t he?
I would barely give him 2yr/10mm.
5mm per that is
You will never get any quality front of the top 3 of the rotation pitcher for 5mil.
I think the addition of Marquis and John Lackey would give the Mets a great rotation, one that can get them into the playoffs. I would also try and trade both Perez and John Maine if possible, and also grab randy wolf
Santana
Lackey
Marquis
Wolf
Pelfrey
That would be my goal for this offseason, maybe even before getting a bat is making sure the mets have the best pitching staff in the NL east.
when omar starts listening to advice from jeff franceoeur, who may have the poorest understanding of baseball of anyone in the major leagues, then omar should be fired immediately.
Maine is completely unreliable and Perez is beyond that. I am not crazy about Marquis but he seems to have improved with age. And he is a better hitter than Wilson Valdez, Anderson Hernandez and Brian Schneider right now. I just don’t think we are getting any FAs of note–the Won’tpons do not want to throw around a ton of money and that is what brings them in. Players say they want to play for a winner, which the Mets will not be, but they want cash. The Mets have nothing to offer in either case.
Why don’t we just move Francoeur into the GM’s office right now? Since Mr Manyana doesn’t know squat, anyone with a pea brain can do better. It’s really funny that Manyana thought he could get by with mediocre pitchere because the Citi pitcher’s park would cure all. Even if that would work in Citi (which it doesn’t), you still have to play half your gmes elsewhere. Just what was he thinking. Give the job to Francouer or almsot anyone else who wants it.
Why don’t we just move Francoeur into the GM’s office right now? Since Mr Manyana doesn’t know squat, anyone with a pea brain can do better. It’s really funny that Manyana thought he could get by with mediocre pitchere because the Citi pitcher’s park would cure all. Even if that would work in Citi (which it doesn’t), you still have to play half your gmes elsewhere. Just what was he thinking. Give the job to Francouer or almsot anyone else who wants it.
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!