My Plan For Jeff Francis & The Yankees Bullpen

All over the Yankees blogosphere yesterday there was tons of uncertainty as to why the Yankees acquired Jeff Francis from the Oakland Athletics. As you all know Oakland designated the lefty for assignment after acquiring Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel and the Yankees pounced on him for a player to be named later. What will the Yankees do with him? I don't think the Yankees know yet, but I know what they should do.

Francis is not stretched out and it would take him a month or more before he could get fully stretched out to start, if we even wanted him to. Francis could give the Yankees the second lefty in the pen they have coveted for so long but the problem is Francis is the victim of some reverse splits. Francis has held right handed batters to a .226/.263/.415 this season and has held same side hitters to a .250/.294/.250 triple slash. Francis has faced more right handers then left handers this season, which is not surprising as he was a starting pitcher in Cincinnati, and has only allowed two home runs this season, both to right handed hitters.

So I said all that to say this, the plan for Francis and the Yankees bullpen. Francis seems like the latest bullpen arm to be run into the ground and quickly designated for assignment. I truly believe Francis is here to get us through the All Star break and that's it. First decent starting pitcher or reliever that get's designated for assignment or cut comes up to New York and Francis goes bye bye.

I could be wrong, but I hope I'm not. I know his WHIP and peripherals look good, unlike his ERA, but you must remember where he has been pitching. Oakland Coliseum is huge and very spacious with lots of foul ground, Yankee Stadium not so much. Francis has bounced around for the last seven seasons or so and there is a good reason for that and if Billy Beane doesn't want you then neither do I. My plan is this, get him off the team ASAP.