News
Francisco trying to turn season around
Outfielder broke 0-for-12 slump with homer, two RBIs on Sunday
By Matt O'Donnell / MLB.com
07/20/09 12:24 PM ET
CLEVELAND -- Indians outfielder Ben Francisco doesn't need to be reminded of his struggles at the plate. Francisco sees his uninspired stats emblazoned on the scoreboard every time he steps into the batter's box. And he'll be the first to say that he's not performing as well as he should be. The Indians had high hopes for Francisco after he performed solidly in his first significant stint in the Majors last season. They had so much confidence in him that they made him their regular starter in left field. Even with some of their best prospects tearing up Triple-A pitching, Cleveland brass has stuck with its 27-year-old outfielder. How long the Indians can continue to do that depends on Francisco's ability to turn around his season. "This is probably the most I've ever struggled," Francisco said. "I've always been able to figure things out pretty quickly, but I haven't been able to find out something that can carry me for a long stretch." The Indians selected Francisco out of UCLA in the fifth round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, and he slowly worked his way up through the Minor Leagues. By the time he made his Major League debut in 2007, he had become one of the Indians' most promising young hitters. International League managers and Baseball America named him the IL's "Most Exciting Player" after he hit .318 with 12 homers and 51 RBIs for Triple-A Buffalo. He played in 25 games that season for the Indians but wouldn't play regularly for the Tribe until 2008. After he was recalled in May of last year, he stayed with the team for good and hit .266 with 15 homers and 54 RBIs in 121 games. The thought was that he'd improve upon those stats and become a significant contributor for a playoff contender. But Francisco is having his worst offensive season at any level, and the Indians are in last place in the American League Central Division. "It's been a struggle at times," Francisco said. "Obviously, I haven't played as well as I'm paid to. We haven't played well as a team either, which has been doubly frustrating for myself." Francisco is hitting .237 with seven homers and 27 RBIs in 80 games. If he continues at this pace, his numbers will be down in almost every offensive category except stolen bases, despite playing in more games. He showed signs of busting out of his slump in Sunday's loss to the Mariners. Francisco broke an 0-for-12 streak with a two-run home run in the second inning. He was 2-for-4 with two RBIs on the day. But whether that is enough to put his offensive woes behind him remains to be seen. "I just haven't been able to feel comfortable in my swing for any period of time," Francisco said. "My teammates and coaches have been positive with me. It's just baseball. Most guys are going to struggle for a period of time." But the pressure is on Francisco, now more than ever, to figure things out quickly. General manager Mark Shapiro finished a three-day trip to Columbus to evaluate the Indians' Triple-A affiliate. And it wasn't just a trip to see the team's new ballpark. "Mark's down there for a reason," manager Eric Wedge said before Saturday's game against the Mariners. "I don't think we're looking to make a statement. When you look at our position players, you aren't going to want to do a whole lot. There's maybe one or two spots where we can do some things." One of those positions would seem to be left field, where Francisco is playing. Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo are entrenched in the other outfield spots and, with some of the team's most Major League ready prospects being outfielders, Francisco could be the odd man out. Matt LaPorta is one of the Indians' most highly regarded prospects. He has already been to the Majors once this season, and with the way he's hitting for the Clippers, it could be just a matter of time until he's recalled. The Indians believe he is capable of playing a corner outfield spot at the Major League level but currently have him spending the bulk of his time at first base to improve his versatility. Through Sunday, LaPorta is hitting .310 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 67 games for the Clippers. Michael Brantley, one of the prospects the Indians acquired in the CC Sabathia deal, has been hitting a lot better as of late and is second in the International League with 33 stolen bases in 37 attempts. But Francisco said those things are out of his control. "I'm just focused on myself and my teammates," he said. "You just have to fight your way through and make yourself better for it."Matt O'Donnell is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
