Durango53
03-25-2005, 02:04 PM
Colorado rookie left-hander Jeff Francis said Thursday was an exciting day. But he was so calm that we'll have to take him at his word.
Colorado manager Clint Hurdle informed Francis, last year's Baseball America and USA Today minor league player of the year, that he'd be No. 3 in the club's pitching rotation. He'll make his 2005 debut on April 8 at San Francisco.
"I wasn't jumping up and down or anything," Francis said. "There's still more work to be done. But it definitely was very exciting for him to pull me aside and tell me that."
The Rockies' rotation also includes left-hander Joe Kennedy, the Opening Day starter, right-hander Jason Jennings at No. 2 and righty Shawn Chacon most likely at No. 5 if he fully recovers from a hamstring strain. Hurdle still has one more decision, with lefty Darren Oliver and righty Jamey Wright the candidates.
The businesslike Francis, 23, the club's No. 1 draft pick in 2002 out of the University of British Columbia, made the decision easy. It goes deeper than the 28-12 record and 2.71 ERA in 59 minor league games, or the 3-2 record and 5.15 ERA in seven big league starts last year, which included a 3-0, 2.30 performance in five September starts.
Not guaranteed of a roster spot before camp, Francis has gone 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three official spring starts.
"He has shown us poise," Hurde said. "He's shown us maturity. His learning curve has been quick. He's an honest self-evaluator.
"I think he fits nicely in that third slot."
After his promotion last August, Francis struggled with experienced power hitters in his first two outings, giving up five home runs. But Francis reduced it to three in the final five starts. He also finished with 32 strikeouts to 13 walks.
But last year's minor league performance (13-2, 2.21 ERA, 196 strikeouts and 29 walks in 154 2/3 innings) suggests that the Rockies haven't seen his best.
That's one reason he didn't exhale hard after being named to the rotation.
"It's what I came here to do but not exactly where I want to be," Francis said.
I think this kid is going to be a great pitcher some day but he is very young and I think it is going to show this year.... But I hope the same thing dont happen to him as most young Rox pitchers that have been called up to early. And with Hurdle in the dugout that scares me even more.... :(
Man this is going to be a very long year for Rox fans..... :(
Colorado manager Clint Hurdle informed Francis, last year's Baseball America and USA Today minor league player of the year, that he'd be No. 3 in the club's pitching rotation. He'll make his 2005 debut on April 8 at San Francisco.
"I wasn't jumping up and down or anything," Francis said. "There's still more work to be done. But it definitely was very exciting for him to pull me aside and tell me that."
The Rockies' rotation also includes left-hander Joe Kennedy, the Opening Day starter, right-hander Jason Jennings at No. 2 and righty Shawn Chacon most likely at No. 5 if he fully recovers from a hamstring strain. Hurdle still has one more decision, with lefty Darren Oliver and righty Jamey Wright the candidates.
The businesslike Francis, 23, the club's No. 1 draft pick in 2002 out of the University of British Columbia, made the decision easy. It goes deeper than the 28-12 record and 2.71 ERA in 59 minor league games, or the 3-2 record and 5.15 ERA in seven big league starts last year, which included a 3-0, 2.30 performance in five September starts.
Not guaranteed of a roster spot before camp, Francis has gone 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three official spring starts.
"He has shown us poise," Hurde said. "He's shown us maturity. His learning curve has been quick. He's an honest self-evaluator.
"I think he fits nicely in that third slot."
After his promotion last August, Francis struggled with experienced power hitters in his first two outings, giving up five home runs. But Francis reduced it to three in the final five starts. He also finished with 32 strikeouts to 13 walks.
But last year's minor league performance (13-2, 2.21 ERA, 196 strikeouts and 29 walks in 154 2/3 innings) suggests that the Rockies haven't seen his best.
That's one reason he didn't exhale hard after being named to the rotation.
"It's what I came here to do but not exactly where I want to be," Francis said.
I think this kid is going to be a great pitcher some day but he is very young and I think it is going to show this year.... But I hope the same thing dont happen to him as most young Rox pitchers that have been called up to early. And with Hurdle in the dugout that scares me even more.... :(
Man this is going to be a very long year for Rox fans..... :(