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This is kinda bizarre:
NY Mets must address Frank Francisco's problems throwing to bases
Team knows new closer struggles with short tosses
JOHN HARPER
New York Daily News
PORT ST. LUCIE -- In Frank Francisco’s first spring training appearance for the Mets on Monday, he gave up a single and, on the next pitch, pinch-runner Eury Perez took off for second. In a conversation about his new closer a few days later, Terry Collins said he knew the runner would go on the first pitch.
Why?
"Because they know Frankie doesn't throw over," Collins said.
Huh?
"It’s something we’re working on," said the manager.
There was no play at second on Perez Monday night as Steve Lombardozzi singled on the pitch. The point is, though, that he ran because, well, the numbers say it all: base-stealers were successful in 13 of 14 attempts against Francisco last season.
Over the last four seasons, the success numbers are 33-for-36.
So it turns out the Mets have a closer whose reputation is that he doesn’t like to throw to first base to hold runners on, apparently because he can be wild.
A few phone calls to scouts confirmed that its no secret around baseball. Teams run on Francisco at first opportunity, and they bunt on him at times too, believing he's not comfortable making throws -- especially shorter ones -- to bases.
"It’s pretty common knowledge," said one scout.
Meanwhile, a player who played against Francisco in the American League said "everybody knew" that the reliever has had trouble making throws.
So that reminded me: Several days earlier I had seen Francisco make two awful throws to third during drills as the Mets were working on fielding bunts.
I had not thought much of it at the time, but Francisco fielded a bunt and fired his first throw into the ground, skipping it past David Wright. When his turn came up again, he again fielded one and this time sailed the throw well over Wright’s head.
When I went back to Collins to ask about Francisco’s throws, he admitted the Mets knew there was an issue when they signed him as a free agent during the winter for two years, $12 million.
"It’s something we've talked to him about, something he's working hard on," said Collins. "He works on it every day because in the National League, teams are going to run and they’re going to bunt. He's going to be fine."
Even so, Collins acknowledged that he didn't have Francisco throw over to first in that Monday outing against the Nationals, because he wants to give his closer more time to "get comfortable" before asking him to do so in games.
This is not exactly a minor issue, especially for a closer who will be asked to protect his share of one-run leads in the ninth inning, when a stolen base can change everything and bunts can be crucial.
Even so, Francisco has been able to establish himself as a solid reliever and sometime-closer, as he prepares for his eighth year in the big leagues. A year ago with the Blue Jays he blew three saves by late May, losing the closer role, but he didn’t blow a lead after July 1 and had a strong finish, regaining the job and converting all seven of his save opportunities from late August to the end of the season.
"I know I have the ability to do the job (as closer) here," he said on Thursday. "And most important, I’ve got the heart."
Francisco insisted he doesn’t have a problem making pickoff throws but said he knows it's important to hold runners close.
"Because I didn't throw over the last couple of years," he said, "(the Mets) probably think I don’t like it. So we’re working on it. That’s OK. In the National League you’ve got to be able to control the running game."
Pitching coach Dan Warthen said that in the work they have done with Francisco making pickoff throws, "it hasn't been an issue. But he has a little trouble with the bunt plays. We’ve got to keep working on it."
Collins said he is determined to make sure Francisco gets comfortable on both fronts. He said Francisco fields bunts and makes the throw to first routinely, as long as it’s a long-enough throw where he can cut it loose.
He said it’s the shorter throws that give him trouble, such as fielding a bunt to the third-base side and making a throw to third for a force play.
"We’re going to keep working on it because we're not going to give away a force out if we can get it," said Collins. "That can make the difference between winning or losing a game."
In a division where teams like the Marlins, Nationals, and Braves can play small ball, it could also be the difference between success or failure for a closer. |
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