I was able to catch up with Jeff Francoeur before Tuesday night's game in Orlando. Here is what he had to say about his off-season and the upcoming season.
Martin Gandy: How are you doing?
Jeff Francoeur: Pretty good, how are you?
MG: Pretty good. How was your off-season?
JF: It was good, I had a good one actually, I enjoyed it.
MG: Any highlights?
JF: A lot of golf, lot of golf.
MG: Did you focus on any particular part of your game?
JF: I did. I worked real hard on lowering my stance a little bit, and trying to keep my head still which I think will enable me to be able to see some of the sliders and different pitches later in the count. So hopefully that will work out for me.
MG: Why'd you lower your stance?
JF: I just felt like if I spread it out a little more I'd be a little bit more balanced.
MG: Any Andruw influence in that?
JF: No, not really. More just looking at film, looking at where I was and realizing that I have a big strong base, and although I'd like to stay tall and keep the hands up I can still get lower and keep myself more balanced. I think last year I wasn't balanced enough.
MG: Will you have less of a stride?
JF: Yeah, a little bit of that, less of a stride, which will enable me - because I have enough power to be able to hit the ball - with a little stride [instead] of going out there and really attacking it, I'm hoping to try and let it come back towards me more and drive it this year.
MG: Did you work on any of your base running?
JF: I absolutely did. I worked on some quickness stuff. You know, little stuff. It's something I worked hard on and hopefully it will pay off. In spring training right now I've just been trying to work on it as the days go by out in some of the other fields, doing different stuff, working on it and trying to see what I can do.
MG: You feel good this spring?
JF: I do, I feel great.
MG: You always have good spring though, don't you? You had a good spring last year.
JF: Well, I had a good spring until the last week. When I came back from the WBC last year I hit great for the first 10 days, but the last week before the season I really went down hill and that carried into the season, so I'm hoping to get going better.
MG: What's the team chemistry like without Giles and LaRoche?
JF: It's different. Obviously it's a different clubhouse, and things change. But at the same time it's fun to have some new guys in here and guys that really want to work hard, and that's something that we're going to try to do, and hopefully we can try to blend them in with the rest of us and have some fun this year.
MG: Who is the main jokester now that Giles is gone?
JF: There are a couple of us.
MG: You said "us."
JF: I'd be in there. Obviously Smoltzie, and McCann, and Paronto, and Wickman - there's some good ones in here, a lot of guys that like to have some fun - Hampton, Huddy, we've got some good ones in here.
MG: What's the attitude like coming off a non-division winning season this year as opposed to other years?
JF: We got hungry. I think we got hungry quick. A lot of people went to work this off-season and really tried to do some things to help us succeed this year. We weren't happy without being where we wanted to be last year and I think everybody dedicated themselves to getting off to a good start this year and really trying to win the division.
MG: Do you have any personal goals for yourself this year?
JF: Not really. More than anything, my average is the only thing I'd love to try and get up and keep the power numbers. But just keep trying to get better as a player, my all-around game and everything. I think each year if you keep improving, that's a good thing and that's what I'm going to try and do.
MG: What player on this team do you think will surprise us this year?
JF: I think Chad Paronto. I think he's looking really good this spring and I think he's going to come out a do a great job for us, I do.
MG: Who's the team to beat in the National League?
JF: Mets, I just think they've got a great lineup - Mets and Cardinals. Obviously people can say what they want, but the Cardinals won the World Series last year and until anything different, they're the team to beat - them and the Mets.
MG: Thanks a lot.
JF: No problem.