Yankees acquire Jeff Francis, are they... getting smarter?

[Hoplite]

First they acquired Brandon McCarthy (4.80 ERA, 2.94 xFIP, 3.05 SIERA). Now they've acquired Jeff Francis (5.89 ERA, 3.71 xFIP, 3.42 SIERA). That's in only an 18.1 inning sample size but he's posted similar numbers the last few years pitching for the Rockies. Could it be that the Yankees are actually buying low on pitchers based on advanced statistics, or is this just a fluke?
 
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/3921/jeff-francis

 

[joe dokes]

One Red Sock approves:
 
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/redsox/2008-09-14-Pedroia_N.htm
[spoiler2]He was stopped at the players' entrance at Coors Field in Denver during last year's World Series against the Colorado Rockies. The security guard didn't believe Pedroia was a player and shooed him away. Pedroia seethed. He produced his players' ID card, and the security guard questioned whether it was legitimate.

Pedroia, unable to contain his rage any longer, dropped a subtle reminder, much to the delight of Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who tells the story.

"He says, 'You don't know who I am? You don't know who I am?' " Francona says. " 'Ask Jeff f———- Francis who the f—- I am. I'm the guy who hit a bomb and just ended their f———- season."

Pedroia hit the first pitch of the World Series over the Green Monster off Francis, the Rockies' ace. It was the first leadoff homer by a rookie in Game 1 in World Series history. The Red Sox won Game 1 in a 13-1 rout on their way to a four-game sweep.
[/spoiler2]

 

[NYCSox]

Because, you know, Billy Beane doesn't know what xFIP and SIERA mean.
 
He stinks and he's not needed on the A's. Now of course watch the Aaron Small shit happen again.

 

[soxfaninyankeeland]

Every so often the blind squirrel finds two nuts.

 

[Hoplite]

Because, you know, Billy Beane doesn't know what xFIP and SIERA mean.
 
He stinks and he's not needed on the A's. Now of course watch the Aaron Small shit happen again.

 
The A's rotation might be a little full at the moment.

 

[bankshot1]

The Y's going to stretch him out before letting him become a starter again?

 

[EvilEmpire]

The Y's going to stretch him out before letting him become a starter again?

I'm sure they will.

 

[glennhoffmania]

I read somewhere that NY redid his contract and gave him an opt out as of Aug. 15.

 

[NYCSox]

 
The A's rotation might be a little full at the moment.

 
He's been in the pen. In fact, he hasn't taken a regular turn in any ML rotation since early last season.

 

[derekson]

Francis has been cooked for years. I don't see this as any kind of shrewd pick up. It seems more like desperation for innings at this point.
 
I do think grabbing McCarthy for basically nothing was a smart move though. He's been good and it wasn't all that long ago, and his peripherals look good enough that I think he has a solid shot at being productive for the Yankees. This was a nice low cost move with upside.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Dustin Pedroia approves of this transaction

 

[EvilEmpire]

Dustin Pedroia approves of this transaction

131 OPS+ Pedroia or the one you have now?

 

[glennhoffmania]

Dustin Pedroia approves of this transaction

 
 

One Red Sock approves:
 
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/redsox/2008-09-14-Pedroia_N.htm
[spoiler2]He was stopped at the players' entrance at Coors Field in Denver during last year's World Series against the Colorado Rockies. The security guard didn't believe Pedroia was a player and shooed him away. Pedroia seethed. He produced his players' ID card, and the security guard questioned whether it was legitimate.

Pedroia, unable to contain his rage any longer, dropped a subtle reminder, much to the delight of Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who tells the story.

"He says, 'You don't know who I am? You don't know who I am?' " Francona says. " 'Ask Jeff f———- Francis who the f—- I am. I'm the guy who hit a bomb and just ended their f———- season."

Pedroia hit the first pitch of the World Series over the Green Monster off Francis, the Rockies' ace. It was the first leadoff homer by a rookie in Game 1 in World Series history. The Red Sox won Game 1 in a 13-1 rout on their way to a four-game sweep.
[/spoiler2]

 

[E5 Yaz]

131 OPS+ Pedroia or the one you have now?

 
Hmm, probably still take him over the Francis you have now

 

[mt8thsw9th]

And 131 OPS+ Pedroia wasn't playing in the 2007 World Series.

 

[Adrian's Dome]

Get lit up, Francis.

 

[Bergs]

Get lit up, Francis.

 
No one hits home runs off me. If anyone hits a home run off me...I'll kill 'em.

 

[koufax32]

131 OPS+ Pedroia or the one you have now?

Defending World Series Champion DP.

Wait, that doesn't help does it...

 

[joe dokes]

 
No one hits home runs off me. If anyone hits a home run off me...I'll kill 'em.

 
Francis is still stubborn as a mule.

 

[Max Power]

I read somewhere that NY redid his contract and gave him an opt out as of Aug. 15.

 
At which point they'll panic and sign him to a 6 year $140 million extension.

 

[StuckOnYouk]

EE makes it so easy for me to root for Yankees injuries.

 

[Trlicek's Whip]

Cashman's taking flyers you'd usually take in the offseason/spring training only it's based out of need and the fact that they are still in the hunt in the AL East with BAL being BAL and TOR in freefall while getting hammered with injuries. 
 
McCarthy and Francis have GB tilts though Francis' groundball rate is only slightly over league average. His FIP/xFIP is out of whack, but in only 18 innings of relief of course it is. McCarthy is the better bet and better pitcher. But if Francis can junkball his way to the bullpen he'lll get a Yankeeography out of it if the Yankees make the playoffs this year.
 
Jeff Francis leaves COL tied with Jorge de la Rosa with the 2nd most wins in Rockies franchise history at 64. Aaron Cook is the all-time leader in wins with 72.

 

[EvilEmpire]

EE makes it so easy for me to root for Yankees injuries.

 
As it is in many sports bars, a little friendly back and forth can be a good thing and provide some light entertainment.  Making it personal takes away from that.  If the only thing you want to do in the Yankee sub-forum is troll, there is a 2014 Yankees Schadenfreude thread in P&G  waiting for you.

 

[glennhoffmania]

+3

 

[EvilEmpire]

+3

 
Satellite internet out in the country really sucks sometimes.
 
Actually, all the time. 

 

[terrynever]

My question is, how do you blow out four starting pitchers in four months? Is it incredibly bad luck ... or something more worrisome? 

 

[joe dokes]

My question is, how do you blow out four starting pitchers in four months? Is it incredibly bad luck ... or something more worrisome? 

 
I'd go with luck. If you look at the pitchers:  Sabathia has knee issues, was fat, and has lots of miles;  Pineda showed up hurt (more or less); Tanaka and Nova had more  "normal" injuries;

 

[glennhoffmania]

 
I'd go with luck. If you look at the pitchers:  Sabathia has knee issues, was fat, and has lots of miles;  Pineda showed up hurt (more or less); Tanaka and Nova had more  "normal" injuries;

 
Here's another way to look at it: they signed a 300 pound pitcher to a very long contract- twice; they traded for a guy with a damaged shoulder; they gave a huge contract to a guy who's never pitched in the US or every 5th day and let him consistently throw over 100 pitches with the highest percentage of splitters in MLB; and they got unlucky with Nova.

 

[hbk72777]

These are the types of deals Cash has to make now. Everyone has him by the balls, knowing that Tanaka is on the ropes.
 
 
As long as it isn't costing anything, it doesn't hurt to try.

 

[cannonball 1729]

First they acquired Brandon McCarthy (4.80 ERA, 2.94 xFIP, 3.05 SIERA). Now they've acquired Jeff Francis (5.89 ERA, 3.71 xFIP, 3.42 SIERA). That's in only an 18.1 inning sample size but he's posted similar numbers the last few years pitching for the Rockies. Could it be that the Yankees are actually buying low on pitchers based on advanced statistics, or is this just a fluke?
 
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/3921/jeff-francis

 
Of course, Jeff Francis has had a better FIP than ERA every year since 2007 - even in stints where he hasn't been on the Rockies.  He's the anti-Matt Cain.

 

[mt8thsw9th]

McCarthy and Francis have GB tilts though Francis' groundball rate is only slightly over league average. His FIP/xFIP is out of whack, but in only 18 innings of relief of course it is. McCarthy is the better bet and better pitcher. But if Francis can junkball his way to the bullpen he'lll get a Yankeeography out of it if the Yankees make the playoffs this year.

 
If there's one thing the Yankees need, having the corpses of Brian Roberts and Derek Jeter up the middle, is ground balls.