Top Ten Reasons Why The Mets Shouldn't Sign Jeff Francis

The Mets have been looking to add a starting pitcher this offseason. Some of the names being bandied about are Chris Young, Brandon Webb and Freddy Garcia. Another pitcher whose name has been mentioned quite a bit as a potential pickup is Jeff Francis.

Jeff Francis? Really? I mean, really? The man did not pitch at all in 2009 and has a 55-50 career record for the Colorado Rockies. Despite his winning career record, I have found ten reasons why it would be insane for the Mets to even consider signing Jeff Francis, unless if they need someone to pick up the sunflower seeds spit out by Oliver Perez while he's waiting (and waiting...and waiting...) for the phone to ring in the bullpen.


TOP TEN REASONS WHY THE METS SHOULDN'T SIGN JEFF FRANCIS

10. Jeff Francis is the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde pitcher. When he's good, he's very good (2.26 ERA, 1.08 WHIP in his 55 career victories). When he's bad, he's Oliver Perez (8.36 ERA, 1.85 WHIP in his 50 career losses).

9. Despite the fact that Francis will be 30 by Opening Day and has been a starting pitcher in the major leagues since 2004, he has only surpassed 200 innings in a season once (215.1 innings in 2007). In that season, he allowed over 300 baserunners (234 hits allowed, 63 walks, 7 hit batsmen).

8. Over his career, Francis has made 149 starts but has only amassed 882.2 innings pitched, an average of less than six innings per start. In 2010, that number went down to just barely above five innings per start (19 starts, 104.1 innings pitched). Since the Mets no longer have Pedro Feliciano (or Turk Wendell for that matter), having a starting pitcher that can give your bullpen a rest is imperative. Jeff Francis is not that man.

7. In his best year (2007), the Colorado Rockies went 17-6 over their final 23 regular season games. How did Jeff Francis do while the rest of the team was going on their amazing September/October run? He went 2-3 with a 4.78 ERA. When the Rockies won 21 out of 22 games from late September to the game in which they won the National League pennant, who was charged with the only loss during that time period? Jeff Francis.

6. Now that we're on the topic of Francis' 2007 season, his one good season was more the result of great run support than outstanding pitching. The Rockies scored six runs or more in half of his 34 starts. What are the odds the Mets can give him that many runs of support?

5. Since the beginning of the 2008 season, Jeff Francis is 8-16 with a 5.01 ERA. Over the same time period, Oliver Perez is 13-16 with a 5.17 ERA. Having Francis on the team might actually make Oliver Perez believe he has a puncher's chance to make the rotation.


4. Nearly one-quarter of his 50 career losses have been against the San Diego Padres. In 21 career starts against the offensively-inept Padres, Francis is 5-12 with a 5.66 ERA. If Francis can't shut down what passes for an offense in San Diego, what chance does he have against the teams in the NL East with better offenses, like the Phillies and the Braves? Speaking of the NL East Champion Phillies and the NL Wild Card-winning Braves...

3. Jeff Francis has been remarkably consistent against the Phillies and the Braves, but not in the way the Mets would like. He has started five games against Philadelphia and five games against Atlanta. He has pitched exactly 26.1 innings against each of the two teams. He has allowed 20 runs (all earned) against the Phillies and 20 runs (19 earned) against the Braves. He has allowed 47 baserunners against each team (36 hits, 11 walks vs. Philadelphia; 39 hits, 8 walks vs. Atlanta). In 10 combined starts against the two teams, Francis is the owner of a hellish 6.66 ERA and 1.78 WHIP.

2. Jeff Francis has worn uniform #26 throughout his major league career. Needless to say, if the Mets were desperate enough to sign him, Dave Kingman would be very upset that his number was given to a schlub like Jeff Francis.

1. If Francis were to falter in the Mets' rotation, Oliver Perez might be called upon to replace him. 'Nuff said.