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Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo

I am a little suprised that Francisco got the call instead of Gutierrez.  Perhaps the club just wants Franklin to continue getting regular at-bats?  And this will give Francisco a taste of the big-leagues before Cliff Lee is activated.  In any event, nice to have another right-handed outfielder on the roster for the time being.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070501&content_id=236366&vkey=pr_t 422&fext=.jsp&sid=t422

The Cleveland Indians today announced that they have recalled outfielder Ben Francisco from the Buffalo Bisons. To make room on their roster, pitcher Fausto Carmona has been optioned to the Herd.

Francisco, 25, will be making his first career appearance at the Major League level. The outfielder spent all of April with the Bisons and hit .299 (20-67) with a six doubles, a home run, nine RBI and seven stolen bases (no caught stealings). He led the team in doubles, stolen bases and runs scored (14) and was second in walks (11) and on-base percentage (.397)."

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Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
Let me know if I have this wrong...A guy goes on the DL. Since he is inactive, the team gets to bring up someone to take his spot thereby not exceeding the maximum roster size. So, evidently Lee has not been activated thus giving Francisco the open spot vacated by Carmona. However, once Lee is activated, someone else goes down, correct? I would assume that would be Choo or Francisco.

by BoDiaz1974 on May 1, 2007 4:22 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
If you're thinking in terms of the 25-man roster (as in, the big-league team), you're right. If you're talking about the 40-man roster, a player's only taken off that if he's moved to the 60-day DL. So if Lee's arm fell off, the Indians could put someone else on the 40-man to take his place if they wanted while he rehabbed with his new bionic arm.

by zempf on May 1, 2007 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions  

Probably because Gutierrez got a late start!
Hello everyone,

I'm guessing because Francisco started the season injury-free, whereas Gutierrez didn't, even though I'm guessing their at-bats are about the same now because Francisco hasn't been in the lineup the last two games (I believe.)

Plus, Francisco has never been up to the big-leagues before, as you mentioned, so this will help him get acclimated and learn what he has to work on when he gets sent to Buffalo on Thursday.

Just my 2 cents.  :-)

P.S.  Two things:

  1. The weather in Cleveland is okay for the moment, but there is a strong line of storms moving in from the west - the game tonight could be delayed or postponed (that's just my opinion - the Western part of Ohio has a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 P.M.)

  2. Ryan and Jay - love the new title bar - "Gritty Clutchy Leadership 24/7" - classic!  :-)
Go Tribe! :-)

by indiansfan on May 1, 2007 4:26 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
Right.  When Lee is activated after tomorrow's game the team will have to make a corresponding move by sending someone to Buffalo.  And I agree that it would likely be Choo or Francisco.  Not sure which, though my guess would be Choo, since Dellucci is now healthy and left-handed.

by TonyH on May 1, 2007 4:26 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
Argh.  Of course this was supposed to be a reply to BoDiaz's comment.  Sorry 'bout that.

by TonyH on May 1, 2007 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

Didn't mean to forget about Choo!
Hello everyone,

Hmm - that's a possibility - send Choo down since we already have several LH batters; maybe Francisco will be up for an extended stay.  Only time will tell.

Go Tribe! :-)

by indiansfan on May 1, 2007 4:27 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
Maybe this is a showcasing event?  Fransico has next to no value as an Indian, so possibly they are looking to move him for a prospect that could have some decent value to this team...The Mets are relatively thin in OF prospects.
Governor's Cup in '07!

by Brandini on May 1, 2007 4:35 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
the mets are thin in OF prospects ... are you being facetious?  i can't tell.

by ironmanatee on May 1, 2007 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
Sorry, I was being truthful...
However, I was talking about a team that does not have much immidiate prospect help.  There are some very young, very talented players in the system, but probably 3 or 4 years away from making it, let alone adding impact.
Governor's Cup in '07!

by Brandini on May 1, 2007 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
I wouldn't get that they'd call him up just for two games.  Then again, it doesn't cost them anything, and it could help win one of those two games -- so why not?

by Jay on May 1, 2007 4:42 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
The Bisons very possibly have a better rotation than the Yankees at this point.

by Jay on May 1, 2007 4:53 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
I love the smell of hubris in the morning.
Unofficial Andy Marte and Joe Borowski Apologist. My fantasy team - Swindon SpecOps 27.

by woodsmeister on May 1, 2007 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
Ha ha, and the Aeros could give them a run for their money. Well, maybe not all $190 MM.

by fleerdon on May 1, 2007 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
They stated that Delucci's injury was a major factor in Choo getting the initial call. Now that he's healed and Casey's at third until Marte's finished rehab (which will take longer than this week), odds are Choo will get sent down and BF will take Casey's RF platoon role.

I am very much for increased traffic between Buffalo and Cleveland, even for short stints - the "unplanned" part of The Plan has always been how to integrate the young talent the plan produces and relies on into the big leagues when ready. Its easy when your ML club has a lot of holes and isn't winning. When its solid and competitive you need a creative way to do that. Bringing up guys for short spans, rotating exposures is a way to do that.

by mcrose on May 1, 2007 4:56 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
This makes sense. Because if you don't have that second right-handed outfield, you're going to have either Nixon or Dellucci facing a left-hander. It's part of the cost of signing good one-dimensional players - you have to keep a complementary player on the roster.

by Ryan on May 1, 2007 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
You're probably right, and I guess that's fine. I, like most of you, just hate to not see Choo on the roster. To steal a line from Josh Weinstein, Choo kicks ass...he's gritty as shit.

Oh well. I guess Trot can fill the grit quota for awhile.

by Kos @ Let's Go Tribe! on May 2, 2007 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
You might want to change your diet and go with more soft foods.  That sounds abrasive.

by APV on May 2, 2007 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions  

It's almost like the 6-man rotation!
Hello mcrose,

I think it's a lot like having Carmona as the sixth starter or guys like Mujica, Sikorski, Perez, Lara, etc. - if you need an extra arm on short notice, you can rotate them up, keep them up for the 10 days, then sent them back to Buffalo and rotate with either with the guy you sent down initially or bring up someone new.

I could see where that would work with the OF as well; Choo was filling in for Dellucci, but now that he is supposedly healed, he could be the one being sent down because, as Jay mentioned, it does seem a bit odd why Francisco would only get 2 days up here.  Maybe they also plan to work Francisco into the mix now because most project him to be more of a 4th OFer, not play everyday type who shifts around in the OF, playing where needed.  Choo and Gutierrez still project to be possible, everyday starters who would primarily play one OF position (one in RF, one in LF.)

Just my 2 cents.  :-)

Go Tribe! :-)

by indiansfan on May 1, 2007 5:47 PM EDT reply actions  

Re: It's almost like the 6-man rotation!
Gutz looks to me like one of those guys who will make it as a CF if he makes it at all.  He's off to a good start, OBP up to .414.
ken from alexandria

by ken from alexandria on May 1, 2007 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Francisco up, Carmona to Buffalo
Again I love the depth...Another advantage is to showcase talent. I don't think Choo has done much to show he doesn't belong. While Marte is out, Francisco gets a shot to show what he's got. If he fares well, that can only help us down the road should we need to make a deal to get us over the hump.

by BoDiaz1974 on May 1, 2007 7:08 PM EDT reply actions  

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