Slumping Francoeur visits eye doctor

Slugger to wear a contact lens in right eye during night games
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com

ATLANTA -- Admittedly, Jeff Francoeur has already received far too many
suggestions. In fact, he's reached a point where he doesn't even know where
to place his concentration when he goes to the plate.
But after a Sunday night conversation with his father, the Braves right
fielder decided it would be best to visit his eye doctor. After visiting Dr.
Alan Kozarsky on Monday morning, Francoeur arrived at Turner Field a few
hours later prepared to wear a corrective contact lens only in his right
eye.

"Maybe it will work," said Francoeur, who entered Monday night's series
opener against the Brewers hitting just .246. "I don't know. I just want to
try it."

After evaluating Francoeur, Kozarsky determined wearing this contact lens
would likely only be beneficial for night games. From a baseball statistical
standpoint, it's easy to see how he would have come to this determination.

Francoeur has hit .320 (33-for-103) with five homers and 19 RBIs in 26 day
games. But in 50 night games, he has hit .207 (41-for-198) with three homers
and 22 RBIs.

While talking to his father after being held out of Sunday afternoon's
starting lineup against the Mariners, Francoeur knew that most of his power
had come during the day. But he wasn't aware that his day-night splits were
also so drastically different from a batting average standpoint.

"It's been tough," Francoeur said. "I've been trying to stay positive. I
keep reminding myself that there is so much season left for the team and me.
I know [the Braves] were counting on my being like I was the previous two
years, and I feel like I can get back to that."

After hitting .293 and compiling a second straight 100-RBI season last year,
Francoeur entered this season with great expectations. But while hitting
just .229 over his previous 58 games -- dating back to April 21 -- he has
experienced nothing but frustration.

Not all of his problems have necessarily been a product of his eyesight.
Mechanically, he hasn't found a comfortable starting spot for his hands.
Also with his current right-handed stance, he's twisting enough before
swinging that his number is visible from the center-field camera shot.

"I know it can turn good as quick as it turned bad," Francoeur said.

The fact that Francoeur has some vision problems in his right eye doesn't
come as a big surprise. He was hit under the right eye with a fouled bunt
attempt during the 2004 season with Class A Myrtle Beach. At that time,
Kozarsky said there was a chance the vision in the right eye could
progressively get weaker.

"Joe Schmoe" <mchome5 RemoveThis @bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:4D48k.4001$1I.3775@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
> Slugger to wear a contact lens in right eye during night games
> By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
>
> ATLANTA -- Admittedly, Jeff Francoeur has already received far too many
> suggestions. In fact, he's reached a point where he doesn't even know
> where to place his concentration when he goes to the plate.
> But after a Sunday night conversation with his father, the Braves right
> fielder decided it would be best to visit his eye doctor. After visiting
> Dr. Alan Kozarsky on Monday morning, Francoeur arrived at Turner Field a
> few hours later prepared to wear a corrective contact lens only in his
> right eye.
>
> "Maybe it will work," said Francoeur, who entered Monday night's series
> opener against the Brewers hitting just .246. "I don't know. I just want
> to try it."

Bah. His swing is seriously fouled up.

He's flying open on every stride because his hands are starting so high and
close to his ear he can't get the bat into attack position. He's
compensating by pulling his body open in an attempt to get the bat through
the strike zone.


Robert