Posted: 04:42 PM ET March 13, 2012

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Turns out, reports of Jeff Francoeur’s demise were greatly exaggerated.his baseball career nearly left for dead two winters ago, Frenchy rebounded with a career-year in Kansas City in 2011 and signed a two-year, $13.5 million deal last August.”I’ve seen both ends,” Francoeur, 28, was saying the other morning, another day closer to the 2012 season, another day of helping to lead the Baby Royals toward better days that appear just over the horizon. “The two-year deal, I love it here. I could have played it out and gone to free agency this winter and gotten a couple of extra million, I don’t know.”But I know I’m in a great spot. I love it here.”No small part of the reason for that is hitting coach Kevin Seitzer. he and Francoeur clicked last summer, to the point where Francoeur now is what may be closest thing to a zealot as there is in the game.”Seitz is the only guy in my ear,” Francoeur says, and he means that literally.”He’s the only guy who talks to me,” Francoeur continues. “He’s the only guy I allow to talk to me.”About hitting, at least.Time was, different folks might approach Francoeur and offer this tip or that suggestion. especially when things weren’t going so well. No more.”It used to be, I’d take something and if it didn’t work I’d try and let it go in one ear and out the other,” Francoeur says. “Now, anybody comes up to me with advice, it’s like, ‘Listen, I’m good.’”Scooped up by the Royals two years ago after Texas let him go following their 2010 World Series run, a season in which he hit only .249 with a .300 on-base percentage, Francoeur bounced back strong in 2011.he ranked second in the majors with a career-high 47 doubles, just one behind major-league leader Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers.Meantime, Francoeur and Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury were the only two major leaguers with 40 or more doubles, 20 or more homers and 20 or more steals.always known for his strong and accurate arm, Francoeur also had 16 outfield assists, tied for second-most in the majors.his bat, that’s been a different story. “Last year, I was going to the cage trying to find my swing,” he says. “This year, I came into spring training doing the same stuff I always do. but when you have a plan, it comes easier.”Francoeur has not always had a plan. Fact is, in recent years, more often than not he hasn’t had one. Under Seitzer last year, he not only drew up the blueprint for a plan, but he had tremendous success following it. Now, he’s as happy playing baseball as he’s been in a long, long time.”This is the first time in a long time where when I leave the park, I don’t take the game home with me,” Francoeur says. “I don’t even think about baseball.”Sunblock Day: moved to Florida this week, and it’s sunblock-worthy. High of 83 today, little breeze, just perfect.Likes: Lots of enthusiasm in the Royals’ camp for better things ahead. … love watching Bobby Valentine work with players. … Beautiful new facility for the Red Sox this year, Jet Blue Stadium. Night and day between that and where they were on the other side of town. … NCAA bracket time. … HBO’s Game Change. It was a terrific book, and they did right by it with this movie. I didn’t think I could watch anybody play Sarah Palin after Tina Fey, but Julianne Moore was great. … Chicken parmesan at Nino’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in Fort Myers, Fla. … Dairy Queen. … Jon Stewart the other night on the whole Kony video and movement. he also did a terrific Mitt Romney-Jeff Foxworthy riff.Dislikes: Aw, the end of the line for Monroe (Mich.) St. Mary Catholic Central High boys’ basketball team. My Falcons were beaten by River Rouge 57-46 in a Regional game Monday.Rock ‘n’ Roll Lyric of the Day:“Well I moved into this room if you could call it that a week ago”I never do what I’m supposed to do, hardly even know my name anymore”When no one calls it out it kind of vanishes away”I can’t get to sleep at night, the parking lot’s so loud and bright”The AC hasn’t worked in 20 years, probably never made a single person cold”I can’t say the same for me. I’ve done it many times”– Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Alabama Pines

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