touch of irony

See where the Kansas City Royals have signed Jeff Francoeur to a two-year contract extension worth a reported $13.5 million. The former Mississippi Braves star, who is making $2.5 million for 2011, is having a good year for the also-ran Royals, batting .277 with 15 homers and 66 RBIs. Francoeur is a good guy with a vibrant personality. He never gives less than his best. Even when he’s not hitting, he plays right field as well as anyone in the game right now. (Since 2005, his break-in year with Atlanta, has an amazing 93 assists.) It’s more than a little ironic, don’t you think, that the Braves’ biggest need today is right-handed hitting outfielder with some pop. Like, say, Jeff Francoeur, the guy Atlanta essentially gave away a couple of years ago. (Ryan Church? Really?) Still think Francoeur will come back to the Braves before he’s done and have a happy ending in his hometown.