Jeff Francoeur on Yankees Lineup Changes and Boone's Gut Decisions

Craig Carton (0:00)

So the last time I saw Jeff Francoeur, he was in the Texas Rangers dugout on the third base line for a Yankee Ranger playoff game. I was sitting front row next to Boomer, and I was wearing a Halloween mask, and doing my best Enrico Palazzo, and all of a sudden I get a text message. And I can say this now, because you don't play anymore, and the text message is, don't tell anybody I'm texting you. You're not allowed to have a phone in the dugout, but keep doing what you're doing, because we're all watching you. How you been, buddy? I'm good, man.

Jeff Francoeur (0:29)

How are you?

Chris McMonigle (0:30)

Great. Good to see you.

Craig Carton (0:31)

That's Chris McMonigle over there too, right?

All right. So look, you've been in this building. You've seen desperate Yankee teams. You played against one. We were on that range of teams. As a matter of fact, you won that series.

Chris McMonigle (0:40)

We did.

Craig Carton (0:42)

Give us an idea from a ball player standpoint, down 0-2, best of five. What are the Yankees thinking right now in their club houses that you're ready for tonight?

Jeff Francoeur (0:49)

I mean, the first thing they need to say is, everything's gone wrong outside of what? Ben Rice.

Chris McMonigle (0:53)

Yes.

Jeff Francoeur (0:54)

And I will say, Austin Wells has had great at bats. He's had a good second half. He's had two doubles.

Yeah, we can talk about later. But besides that, so do we have to? Yeah, yeah, no, we don't. But you know, look, everything's gone wrong. So there's nothing you can do. I think if you're in the Yankees club house, we've won three games in a row lots this year.

And you know what? If you can get one game, it's no different than watching last night, the Padres beat the Brewers, right? Now all of a sudden, game four, there's a lot of pressure on the Brewers to not send it back home, where game five anything can happen. So I think if you're the Yankees, right? You have the right guy on the mound. I got a chance obviously to call and watch Max Reed for years in Atlanta. The dude gets weak contact all over the place. The Rays struggle obviously more against left-handed pitching. And you know, I think it was just released, but I love the lineup that Aaron Boone has done. Let's talk about it.

Craig Carton (1:46)

Obviously, Anthony Volpe starts for jazz, McMahon comes out at third, Caballero goes to third, and Trent Grisham leads off. He's been a horrendously tough hitter this year for the Yankees, and he's had a 104 as a leadoff hitter. So let's do each one separately. First, Grisham leading off, Rice batting second. Initial thoughts on that decision?

Jeff Francoeur (2:05)

You know, you can look at it so many different ways. I think sometimes maybe for Aaron Boone, maybe I move him up and give him a vote of confidence, right? Maybe he feels all of a sudden like he's got to try to work counts or get on base more because of the guy you got behind you. So I don't necessarily mind that as much. And with the short porch here in right field, I like that decision. I think to get him up, Martinez loves change ups, right? You're trying to clip something out front. I don't mind that as much.

Craig Carton (2:33)

Hey, Volpe starting in place of jazz.

Jeff Francoeur (2:35)

You know what, dude? Sometimes you just need a change. Pain in the ass type player. A guy that, you know, look, Volpe's been through everything, man. Shoot, I've been here when 50,000 are booing him off the field and the guy has continued to bounce back. It's not perfect all the time. But I will tell you this, you know, sometimes I think as a manager, I'm sure Aaron Boone woke up this morning and maybe even yesterday guys and said, if I'm going down tonight, who do I want my lineup? Right. Who are the guys in the Foxhole? And I think you're seeing that. I think it's like, you know what? I'm going to give Volpe a chance to go out there tonight at Yankee Stadium here in the playoffs and get it done. And at third with Calvary, I just told you, I think you have a freaking horse, a thoroughbred sitting there who's like, just put me in, just give me up.

There's a lot of history with the Rays. He loved it there and they got rid of them.

Chris McMonigle (3:25)

Yeah.

Jeff Francoeur (3:25)