Jeff Francis???

[Purple Haze]

Jeff Francis Minor league "PLAYER" of the year in '04.. Yes he may pitch in Coors field, but this guy has nasty stuff... If Joe Kennedy can post a 3.6 ERA in coors field , who knows what this Big Kid can do.. Your thougts?

[stumpak]

I agree he will bring good value because Coors will scare so many people off. I think he could be particularly useful if you can afford to sit him at home most of the time. The downside is that the Rockies bullpen is horrific and will but a low ceiling on his win potential.

I am in a keeper league, and if I have the roster spot and he is cheap I plan on picking him up at the end of our auction.

[El Jefe]

I like Francis...a lot. Anyone that put up the #s he did in the minors

Year Lg G GS IP H ER HR BB K W L ERA WHIP
2002 A 4 4 20 16 4 2 4 23 0 0 1.80 1.000
2003 A 27 27 160 135 62 8 45 153 12 9 3.48 1.124
2004 AA 17 17 113.7 73 25 9 22 147 13 1 1.98 .836
2004 AAA 6 6 38.0 28 7 2 6 46 3 0 1.66 .895

has the goods to be successful at the major league level...pitching at Coor's Field or otherwise.

[DieHardCubbie]

Interesting that two of his three wins last year came at home...giving up only 3 ER (all solo HR's) in the victories....

I wouldn't think that trend would continue....but I think he is worth a spot in deep leagues....or at least keep and eye on him thru ST and the first few weeks...

[nikku88]

He will be a good player even in Coors, but I would guess that he will definitely experience growing pains in that park. He could be useful as a very late pick, but nothing more yet.

[cordscords]

Get this kid out of colorado, and he is a stud! Otherwise, he's a nice late round pick.

[hybrid]

Count me as one of the many who thinks Coors is a SP death trap. In other words when someone does it, then I will think it is possible. Kennedy had a nice year from the ERA standpoint, but his WHIP wasn't to pretty at 1.42.

Though if any SP can do it, I can see Francis doing it cause he has a great idea of how to pitch for a young pitcher.

[TB13]

[quote="hybrid"]Count me as one of the many who thinks Coors is a SP death trap. [/quote]
Likewise. Love Francis but the Colarado thing scares me.

[tiger spit]

i have him and plan to pitch him in away games.

[sockeye]

We've been down this road, thinking a guy would flourish at Coors:

Nied cause he was so talented
Swift because he throws ground balls
Kile and Hampton because the were so good and savvy
Neagle because he was so crafty

Logic was that even if their Coors numbers were bad, their road games would be worth it. Didn't matter - the Coors effect trailed like a fart down the hallway.

Someday someone in Coors will do it. Until then, I'll take the Cappellans, Blantons, Lowrys, etc.

Note that Francis does not throw particulalry hard (91 tops, I've heard). That's another thing that makes me skeptical about his long-term value in Coors.