Jeff Francis prospects for post All Star Break

Jeff Francis was considered a solid sleeper heading into this season as the "ace" of the Rockies staff. He has now put in 100 IP before leaving with shoulder inflammation. Let's review his season so far and what to look for if healthy in the second half.

Here are the stats we will look at:

ERA - 5.67 (last year 4.22)
K/9 - 6.03 (down from last year, but career 6.24)
BB/9- 3.60 (last year best of career at 2.63, previous years above 3)
K/BB- 1.68 (last year was 2.62)
BABIP- .313 (Career .313)
FIP - 5.16 (Last year was 4.19)

His hit ratios all seam to be around career levels. I think we can start to see what has hindered him this year. His K rate is down, but his BB/9 was what made him pitch so well last year. The dropped BB rate put him at a very good K/BB. He still was a 4.00 ERA pitcher last year so the growth would require that BB/9 to stay under 3.

I don't think there was to much effect from the injury this season as he seams on career levels for most stats with a slightly higher FIP, but that can be blamed on a high HR/FB at 13.5%. For his career he has 10.6% HR/FB.

I wasn't to high on Francis to start the season and the added lack of offense from the Rockies on a regular basis has left those 17 wins from last year as a distant memory. Just ask Dustin Pedroia what he thinks of Jeff Francis in Game 1 of the World Series.

Manager Terry Francona, who made Pedroia his regular cribbage partner all summer, tells a slightly different version of this story. He said that when Pedroia was asked to identify himself, he said, "Ask [expletive] Francis who I am. I'm the guy who hit a bomb off him."

Pedroia concedes that yes, he did indeed refer to the home run he hit off Jeff Francis to lead off Game 1 of the World Series. "But I can't say that," he said. "You think I want people throwing at my head?"