Yardbarker: Jeff Francis

Updated Jeff Francis Scouting Report

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:50:19 -0500

Some notes from Jeff's Scouting Report last October. Francis rates a 65 on the scouting 20-80 scale, which evaluates raw pitching tools. By comparison, Johan Santana of the Minnesota Twins gets a 75. Based on his raw pitching tools, combined with his historical performance, we categorize Francis as "Good" on a marginal/key role/average/ good/premium/elite scale. Apparently a [...]

Updated Jeff Francis Scouting Report

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:50:19 -0500

Fantasy Trade: Jays and Rockies shake things up?

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:42:17 -0500

I'm just gonna throw it out there, if you don't wanna take it just go ahead and push it back: Vernon Wells and AJ Burnett for Matt Holiday and Jeff Francis. Bullocks you say? Lets take a closer look and reserve judgment for a moment...

Pittsburgh Pirates' draft history a bit cloudy

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:12:00 -0500

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't exactly had the best luck when it comes to the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. In fact, in 2002, the Pirates took Bryan Bullington over Prince Fielder, Cole Hamels, B.J. Upton, Khalil Greene, Scott Kazmir, Curtis Granderson, among many others...

Top 10 Most Disappointing Players in 2008

Thu, 29 May 2008 23:10:20 -0500

Good list of top 10 guys who aren't earning their paychecks this year. Andruw Jones, Travis Hafner, Robinson Cano...you're not only killing your teams, you're killing many fantasy teams out there as well!

Opening Day Observations from All 30 Teams

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:13:00 -0500

Observations from Major League Baseball's Opening Day with something about all 30 MLB teams. See what we have to say about your favorite team.

NL Wild West Preview: 4 Way Battle for 1st

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:24:16 -0500

Last season the NL West division race came down to the last day of the season, and we expect this year to be no different. Here a preview of all five teams, their projected starting lineups, rotations, fantasy impact players, and overall outlook.

The 5x5 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: Rounds 14-21

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:07:39 -0500

The pitchers and catchers have reported, the temperatures are getting warmer, and the soil is getting softer. It's baseball time in America, which means fantasy fans better get their drafts on. The following is a mock draft conducted according to the settings and eligibilities of a Standard Default Yahoo league. That means 5X5 (runs, homeruns, RBIs, stolen bases, and average for hitters, and wins, ERA, WHIP, K's, and saves for pitchers) The 21 roster positions include: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF, OF, OF, UTIL, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P, P, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN. If you haven't checked out the first 13 rounds, links are given as well.

MLB Team Fantasy Outlooks: National League

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:57:07 -0500

With Spring Training fast approaching, FIO staff writer Rich Lerner takes a look at each MLB team in terms of fantasy purposes. In this discussion, we will take a look at the potential offensive/pitching impact players, some questionable guys, and some youngsters on the come up. In Part 2 - the teams of the National League.

Offseason Team Needs and Possibilities: NL West

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:20:23 -0500

With pitchers and catchers reporting, there are still plenty of holes that need to be filled in each and every major league team. Because of this, and because it is always a good idea to keep an eye on possible transactions, FIO staff writer Shane Huff has dissected the teams by division, revealing the needs still lurking for each team and providing the most likely of candidates who will fill those holes.

2008 National League Top 20 Starting Pitchers

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:27:05 -0500

Going into 2008, here are the top 20 starting pitchers. Doesn't Johan Santana look great on this NL list, Mets fans???

Pee-Wee Pedroia vs Francis

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:31:37 -0500

This pretty much sums up World Series Game One

Sox bats set records last night

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:03:45 -0500

Looks like the Sox have the better scouts "The Red Sox held a four-hour scouting report meeting Monday night, attended by the entire coaching staff, three advance scouts who sat on the Rockies for the past four weeks, and the team's video coordinators. What they saw from Game 1 starter Jeff Francis was a guy who likes to throw soft stuff away but who kept hitters honest with just enough cutters in or fastballs up. But Francis never established an inside presence in his start."

Red Sox Roll in Opener, Rockies Flat After 8 Day Layoff

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:31:43 -0500

Red Sox leadoff man 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia, who hit 8 homeruns the entire season, became only the 2nd leadoff hitter ever to lead off a World Series with a homerun. Josh Beckett was beyond awesome on the mound and the Rockies, off of an 8 day layoff awaiting the AL pennant winner, went totally flat as Boston routed Colordo by a 13-1 score.

Welcome to Rocktober

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:45:03 -0500

Tonight's the night - the start of the '07 World Series. FIO humor writer Brian Lutz previews the series with his own twist on things. See how the lineup and pitching staffs match-up against each other... with great one-liners sprinkled throughout!