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Posts Tagged ‘frank francisco’

Blue Jays pick up a closer

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

Sergio Santos (Keith Allison, Wikimedia Commons)

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired Sergio Santos from the Chicago White Sox to close for them this upcoming season.

Santos was 4-5, with 30 saves and an earned run average of 3.55 as Chicago’s primary closer in 2011. The Blue Jays traded from pitching prospect Nestor Molina to the White Sox for Santos.

Frank Francisco was the closer for the Blue Jays last season and recorded 17 saves in 21 opportunities with an earned run average of 3.55. But he seemed to be in manager John Farrell’s doghouse at times throughout the year. With the signing of Santos, and Francisco being a free agent, it appears Francisco’s days in Toronto are now over.

With the signing of Santos, Casey Janssen will likely move to the setup role and expect to see Joel Carreno to see some key innings as well. Carreno had an earned run average of 1.15 in 15 2/3 innings of work in 2011.

The other story with the Blue Jays is if they will make a serious run at Prince Fielder. The three-time all-star formerly with the Milwaukee Brewers, has hit as many as 50 home runs in a season and has expressed his interest in coming to Toronto. Now the question is if Blue Jays’ General Manager Alex Anthopoulos really wants Fielder and if he fits into the team’s long-term plans. My answer is go get him right now and figure out your budget later. Your league has no salary cap, and in order for the Jays to finally play with the big boys in the American League East, they could definitely use a power bet to compliment Jose Bautista.

Tags: Alex Anthopoulos, casey janssen, chicago white sox, frank francisco, joel carreno, Jose Bautista, milwaukee brewers, nestor molina, prince fielder, sergio santos, toronto blue jays
Posted in MLB |

Blue Jays use small ball to knock off the ALCS Champion Rangers

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

Corey Patterson (Otto Greule Jr., Getty Images)

The Toronto Blue Jays used small ball in the ninth inning to knock off the Texas Rangers Thursday afternoon in Arlington.

With Yunel Escobar on first and John McDonald at second, center fielder Corey Patterson laid down a terrific bunt to put the Blue Jays up 3-2. The Rangers went on to boot the ball around in the ninth that led to two more Blue Jays’ runs and a 5-2 victory.

The 3-1 series win was very significant on a number of counts:

1) Don’t forget, division rival Boston got swept in Texas during a three game series to start the season.

2) Frank Francisco, the Blue Jays’ reliever, looked excellent Thursday, striking out three in getting his first win for Toronto. Francisco had extra motivation because the Rangers traded him to Toronto for catcher Mike Napoli in the offseason.

3) It put the Blue Jays in striking distance of the New York Yankees heading into a big three game series at Yankee Stadium. A sweep would put the Blue Jays on par with the Bronx Bombers.

Tags: corey patterson, frank francisco, john mcdonald, mike napoli, New York Yankees, texas rangers, toronto blue jays, Yunel Escobar
Posted in MLB |

Blue Jays demotion of Litsch doesn’t make sense

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Jesse Litsch (Otto Greule, Getty Images)

I think most Toronto Blue Jays baseball fans have agreed with the majority of moves by General Manager Alex Anthopoulos.

But his decision today to demote Jesse Litsch to AAA Las Vegas is definitely a head scratcher.

Litsch, the Blue Jays fourth starter was 1-1, with a 3.64 earned run average, with sixteen strikeouts and seven walks. He beat Oakland, threw five shutout innings against Seattle, and had an adequate outing in giving up four earned runs in six innings against Boston at Fenway Park on the weekend. You would think with those types of numbers and the Blue Jays in a rebuilding mode, that Anthopoulos would keep Litsch up with the big club.

The team had to make a move because closer Frank Francisco was ready to come back from a pectoral injury that put him on the disabled list during spring training.

But the Blue Jays sent the wrong man down to the Pacific Coast League. Jojo Reyes has been awful for the Blue Jays this season, going 0-2 with a 6.75 earned run average. He has not been Major League worthy in his first three starts in Toronto and should either be released or demoted.

Tags: frank francisco, Jesse Litsch, toronto blue jays
Posted in MLB |

Major League Baseball Preview–American League West

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

Josh Hamilton (Keith Allison, Wikimedia Commons)

The Texas Rangers were the talk of the American League last year as they surprised many by not only getting by the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners to win the American League West to win the division, but getting by the New York Yankees to win the American League Championship Series in six games as well.

In comes third baseman Adrian Beltre from Boston and catcher Mike Napoli from the Los Angeles Angels (via Toronto) and out goes ace Cliff Lee to Philadelphia, designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero to Baltimore and closer Frank Francisco to Toronto. Beltre became expendable in Boston when they acquired first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and moved Kevin Youkilis to third. On paper Lee would obviously be the most significant loss, but don’t forget, he only joined the Rangers at the trade deadline last year, when Texas had a huge lead in the division.

(more…)

Tags: adrian beltre, adrian gonzalez, alexi ogando, billy beane, bobby abreu, brandon webb, brett anderson, c.j. wilson, cliff lee, colby lewis, dallas braden, dan haren, david dejesus, erik bedard, ervin santana, felix hernandez, fernando rodney, frank francisco, gio gonzalez, hideki matsui, ichiro suzuki, jered weaver, joel pineiro, josh hamilton, josh willingham, juan rivera, kendry morales, kevin youkilis, los angeles angels of anaheim, michael saunders, michael young, mike napoli, nelson cruz, nolan ryan, oakland athletics, Scott Downs, scott kazmir, seattle mariners, texas rangers, torii hunter, trevor cahill, vernon wells, vladimir guerrero
Posted in MLB |