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Aug 27
2008
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Playing With Fire in TexasPosted by jonlee in Texas Rangers, Ron Artest, Frank Francisco, Eddie Guardado, closers |
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Eddie Guardado is back with the Twins. With Joe Nathan entrenched as the closer there Guardado loses all value in all leagues (unless Nathan goes down with injury). That leaves the closer job in Texas to Frank Francisco. He’s pitched reasonably well this season: 3.78 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 65 K in 52.1 IP. Looking deeper though, Francisco already has blown six games and has racked up five losses as well. The K-rate is very strong at over 11 for the year, but he is an extreme flyball pitcher (0.66 GB/FB) and has allowed 1.20 HR/9. He’s another firestarter you don’t want on your team unless you are desperate for saves or strikeouts and can absorb a hit in ERA/WHIP in order to compile the counting stats.
If you're trying to remember where you might know Francisco from, he is best known for being involved in a fracas in Oakland that spilled into the stands back in 2004. He was actually arrested and charged with aggravated battery when the chair he tossed left a fan with a broken nose. While his actions were despicable, how is it that this incident is basically forgotten while the NBA and Ron Artest are constantly vilified for the exact same situation?
Do you trust this man to close out games for your fantasy team? I don't recommend it.
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jonlee
said:
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He "just" hurled his chair into the stands? And there were several players in the stands during this incident that involved both benches and bullpens. Rules were changed in the NBA because of the Brawl at the Palace, and was used to support the theory that basketball is a game of thugs and lacks decency and morals because of hip-hop culture. While maybe Francisco's actions weren't on the same level as Artest's, I certainly think the brawl was. And on the baseball side, Francisco has been quite good...so far. Sample size plays a huge role here though, and I stand by my analysis if the Rangers are planning on going into 2009 with him as their closer. He'll pile up saves and be a nice fantasy player, but that doesn't make him a great pitcher. Career 0.72 GB/FB ratio, 4.61 BB/9. Strong K-rates, but pitching in Texas those first two numbers are bad omens. |
kb1686
said:
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I think the main reason that it's been mostly forgotten is that Frankie just grabbed his chair and hurled it, rather than taking the time to chase some guy down in the stands and beat on him (Ron Artest). I'm not trying to say that what he did is excusable, but I wouldn't put it quite on the same level as the Artest incident. And besides.. since your post... in his new closer's role Frankie has gone 4 for 4 in save opportunities with 4.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 8 K, 0 BB (and 4 ground balls to 2 fly balls) |
