Yardbarker: Ben Francisco

The Wrong Focus: Why the Phillies Should Focus on Offense Off the Bench

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:40:19 -0500

Ruben Amaro Jr. is reportedly so content with the offense that Ben Francisco and Greg Dobbs can provide off the bench next year that he thinks that the Phillies should focus on defense with their other bench positions. Here's the Inquirer's introductory take on the matter: The Phillies will emphasize defense when working to improve their bench this off-season, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said yesterday. While the team would love to add part-time players who can hit f...

Phils Win Wild Game 3, One Win From NLCS

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:54 -0500

I'm going to be honest: There wasn't a single point during last night's game, until Ben Francisco gloved the last out, that I thought the Phillies were going to win. You would think I would have learned by now with this team, but I just wasn't optimistic. Even though I picked the Phillies in 4, I didn't exactly count on a arctic game, and just had a feeling the Phillies bats would go silent in such cold weather. Furthermore, games like Game 2 have sent us into extended off...

Ben Francisco Salvages Lidge's Blown Save

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:21:13 -0500

Things looked bleak for the Phillies early on Tuesday night at Wrigley with J.A. Happ dancing around trouble and working deep into counts while Rich Harden was dealing with perfection through five. But the Phillies never rolled over, Happ recovered, and Harden unraveled rather quickly, giving up a walk to Ruiz and a subsequent homer to J-Roll to put the Phillies right back in it. Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol got wild and walked in the Phillies go-ahead run to set Brad Lidge up fo...

Phillies nip Cubs 4-3 in 12 behind Francisco's blast

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:05:16 -0500

The fruits of the Phillies' deadline trade with Cleveland have already produced two wins from Cliff Lee. Tonight, Ben Francisco delivered a third when he took Kevin Gregg into the seats. Francisco's homer represented the third and final hit for the Phillies in a game they were positioned to steal leading 3-2 in the ninth before Brad Lidge blew his seventh save of the season. And that's really the moral of the story tonight, how the Phils are so obviously...

Francisco's HR lifts Phils past reeling Cubs in 12

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:52:01 -0500

CHICAGO(AP) Ben Francisco led off the 12th inning with a home run off Cubs closer Kevin Gregg and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated Chicago 4-3 on Tuesday night despite getting only three hits all game.

Game chat: Francisco debuts, replaces Vic in center

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:04:20 -0500

Ben Francisco, part of the two-for-four deal you might have heard about, starts in center field when the Phils open a four-game series against the Giants. First pitch is ... 10:15 ET? Seriously dudes, the extra minutes make all the difference in being able to stay conscious for this. Thanks a lot. In other news, Cliff Lee will start tomorrow's game, which will be on normal rest, contrary to the misinformation I fed you in the previous post. Actually, try...

Transaction: Phillies clear room for Lee, Francisco

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:14:13 -0500

The Phillies have reportedly optioned outfielder John Mayberry Jr. and reliever Steven Register to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room for the arrival of Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco. Beerleaguer: Nothing out of the ordinary here. Some readers were hoping Eric Bruntlett would be the one to go, but Francisco takes away any useful purpose for Mayberry, who was hitting .189. Register pitched two mop-up innings in that 14-5 win over St. Louis, leaving no impression. The bigger question is...

Done Deal: the Phillies acquire Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:45:00 -0500

The Phillies got themselves the rotation help they needed. Cliff Lee, the 2008 AL Cy Young winner, was acquired from the Indians, along with outfielder Ben Francisco, for pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Jason Knapp, infielder Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson. Ever since Brett Myers went down, the Phillies needed someone to help them at the top of the rotation. While the Phillies would have loved to get Roy Halladay, when the price was determined to be too steep, the Phillies went to Plan B, g...

Needs Less Francisco! Needs More LaPorta!

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:32:01 -0500

While I sit and watch Ben Francisco and his .234 batting average, four homers, and 19 RBI’s in 78 games against all pitchers not named Andy Sonnanstine, I can only look South to see what our boys in Columbus are doing that can take his place. Our good friend and WFNY stat guru Jacob Rosen [...]

Game 82: Indians 5, Athletics 2

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:52:16 -0500

More photos » by David Richard - AP Ben Francisco hit his first home run since June 12th. Browse more photos » Carl Pavano got out of a difficult first inning, then settled down to throw 6.2 solid innings. The bullpen got out of a jam in the seventh, then breezed through the last two innings. This isn't normally how a Cleveland Indians game plays out. The bottom of the order, and especially Ben Franci...

LaIndianFan - If I ran the Cleveland Indians

Fri, 15 May 2009 12:56:17 -0500

When Travis Hafner is ready, bye bye Delluci.Hello David Huff, you are in the bigs to stay. So long Masa.Valbuena you need to hit more, so here is your ticket to Columbus. Josh Barfield you need a chance to play second base regularly.Matt LaPorta you are the everyday left fielder. Ben Francisco you are the fourth outfielder.Cabrera is the shortstop, Peralta is the third baseman, and DeRosa is the first baseman.Garko is not getting enough of a chance, so see what he will bring in a trade.Jett...