MLB Player News: [Hot] Jeff Francis (SP), COL

Posts: 4543 · Posted: Jun 30, 2007 11:12 pm

Baseball Player News: Jeff Francis (SP), COL
By: James Meyerriecks

News: Francis improved to 8-5 and lowered his ERA to 3.56 with seven shutout innings in the Rockies 5-0 win in Houston. Despite a minor hiccup in his previous start, Francis has now limited opponents to two runs or less in nine of his past eleven starts. He's also consistently working deep into ballgames, and has gotten through the seventh in nine of his past eleven starts.

Views: Whether there's a Coors factor or not, Francis is moving himself towards elite status. After last season's solid effort (13-11, 4.16 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), he already was a quality fantasy starter entering 2007. However, after building on it in the first half, it's safe to consider him a quality number two fantasy starter. He'll be tested next week when the Phillies come to town, but he should be in your lineup even though he's facing a top offense in Coors Field.

Posts: 1365 · Posted: Jul 01, 2007 6:59 am

is he a better option than burnett or carmona?? I havent even paid attention to this guy...

Posts: 1060 · Posted: Jul 01, 2007 8:08 am

He pitches in colorado, he could explode any given night!

Posts: 7269 · Posted: Jul 01, 2007 4:27 pm

FantasyGuru wrote:

He pitches in colorado, he could explode any given night!

Yeah, but I believe that's the reason why Colorado goes for ground ball pitchers. I think Francis is one of them.

Posts: 1704 · Posted: Jul 01, 2007 7:33 pm

FantasyGuru wrote:

He pitches in colorado, he could explode any given night!

Francis career splits:

Home - 22-11, 4.34 ERA, 1.38 WHIP
Road - 16-19, 4.89 ERA, 1.46 WHIP

This season, he's been slightly better on the road, but he's still been pretty damned good at home.

Home - 4-3, 3.94 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
Road - 4-2, 3.12 ERA, 1.29 WHIP

Actually, I remember two years ago he was just fine at Coors and awful on the road as a rookie. It's really not that surprising. The ball tends to break differently because of the altitude as well, which can be hell on a pitcher's command as they adjust to pitching in Coors and pitching anywhere else.

Basically, the point is that he really hasn't blown up at Coors in about a year and a half now. He's worth pitching anywhere... that's something we haven't said about a Rockies' starter for a while now.

Posts: 1365 · Posted: Jul 01, 2007 10:41 pm

would you guys take him over Billingsley, Wang, or Marmol for an open slot based on potential for this season only??

Posts: 1704 · Posted: Jul 02, 2007 5:04 am

I would.... Though he's not a big K pitcher, he's significantly better than Wang there. He's a heck of a lot more established than either Marmol or Billingsley, who will endure a lot of ups and downs this season.