How good is Bowden Francis going to be moving forward?

[wilko]

Anyone want to change their vote?

 

No. I was right the first time!

[Jimcanuck]

Anyone want to change their vote?

 

Change mine from SP4 to Ace, please.

[BatFlip]

Change mine from SP4 to Ace, please.

 

Same. I am ashamed of myself for calling our ace a potential SP4.

[The Cats Ass]

It's too bad he'll start next season on the IL with "arm fatigue" from supposedly ramping up too fast in spring training, followed by TJS in July.

[John_Havok]

It's too bad he'll start next season on the IL with "arm fatigue" from supposedly ramping up too fast in spring training, followed by TJS in July.

 

you sonuvabitch.

[Spanky99]

It's too bad he'll start next season on the IL with "arm fatigue" from supposedly ramping up too fast in spring training, followed by TJS in July.

 

You shut your whore mouth!!! lol

[Masterbather]

Even if it all falls to s***, we'll never forget the Bowden Francis run of 2024. Like Lonny Bohonos in '99 for Leafs fans. The real ones will always remember.

[Omar]

No. I was right the first time!

 

[Dick_Pole]

Ace because this board has been 100% dead wrong when it comes to these polls on pitchers. Remember the one where people had to pick Stroman or Sanchez as the better pitcher and it was like 75% or something on Sanchez? This poll is the #1 guarantee that he will do well.

[Dick_Pole]

Another thing to his advantage, and maybe it's just his face, but he honestly does not look like he gives a f***. Stieb is out there all sweating like a pig for his attempted no-hitters and this guy is ho-hum whatever. He'd make an excellent closer.

 

He kind of reminds me of Casey Janssen except with better stuff. Janssen punched way above weight class for a while. A fringe pitcher turned effective closer for a few years basically because of confidence. So if Francis has #4 type of stuff, he has the personality that could carry him to #2.

[Stangstag]

Another thing to his advantage, and maybe it's just his face, but he honestly does not look like he gives a f***. Stieb is out there all sweating like a pig for his attempted no-hitters and this guy is ho-hum whatever. He'd make an excellent closer.

 

He kind of reminds me of Casey Janssen except with better stuff. Janssen punched way above weight class for a while. A fringe pitcher turned effective closer for a few years basically because of confidence. So if Francis has #4 type of stuff, he has the personality that could carry him to #2.

 

Oh man, Janssen was a f***ing stud for a couple seasons I forgot. Almost never blew a save, felt super confident with him in there.

[Spanky99]

lol

[Spanky99]

Even if it all falls to s***, we'll never forget the Bowden Francis run of 2024. Like Lonny Bohonos in '99 for Leafs fans. The real ones will always remember.

 

Fringe MLB/AAAA

[L54]

 

Good enough that he can tell the hitters what is coming and they still take

[jaysblue]

7.96 K/9 and 4.49 FIP over 92.2 innings.

 

I voted #3SP when the poll was made and I think his ceiling is a No. 3 starter if everything goes right and with me being optimistic. He's shown to be durable and someone who can give you innings in his short time up in the bigs thus far, which is what I like about him. Seems to have that workhorse mentality. Let's hope he can continue that in 2025.

 

He reminds me of a similar pitcher to Dave Bush kinda and I think he's capable of pitching like how Bush did with the Brewers in 2006 and 2007, which I think we all would take in a heartbeat. That's a realistic comp IMO.

 

Worst case, he's a back-end rotation starter.

 

Otherwise, Bowden Francis has been a great story for the Blue Jays this season and I'm hoping myself to make my way down to the Dome to see one of his starts before the season ends. Really haven't said that about anyone else this season!

[Laika]

Francis is a bit of a command artist I guess

 

I think his K rate could go up if he gets more confidence in his secondaries and throws them a bit more often next year

 

Not that he necessarily has to since the fastball has good shape and can get outs. 50% fastballs will mean lower K rate but it might mean less walks and more efficient outings

 

I guess Bailey Ober and Joe Ryan are comps

 

The Twins would love this guy

[Spanky99]

This guy is bacon pancakes, man!

 

His 2nd half splits are sick, when he was recalled.

[max silver]

7.96 K/9 and 4.49 FIP over 92.2 innings.

 

I voted #3SP when the poll was made and I think his ceiling is a No. 3 starter if everything goes right and with me being optimistic. He's shown to be durable and someone who can give you innings in his short time up in the bigs thus far, which is what I like about him. Seems to have that workhorse mentality. Let's hope he can continue that in 2025.

 

He reminds me of a similar pitcher to Dave Bush kinda and I think he's capable of pitching like how Bush did with the Brewers in 2006 and 2007, which I think we all would take in a heartbeat. That's a realistic comp IMO.

 

Worst case, he's a back-end rotation starter.

 

Otherwise, Bowden Francis has been a great story for the Blue Jays this season and I'm hoping myself to make my way down to the Dome to see one of his starts before the season ends. Really haven't said that about anyone else this season!

 

Francis has an almost perfectly matching 3.50 ERA/3.56 xERA this season. He's a very interesting story as he's been tossing out top of the rotation performances despite greatly diminishing stuff as the season progresses.

[John_Havok]

Francis has an almost perfectly matching 3.50 ERA/3.56 xERA this season. He's a very interesting story as he's been tossing out top of the rotation performances despite greatly diminishing stuff as the season progresses.

 

And doing it without his 95 mph fastball too. I think. A bit is due to fatigue I think so next season we might see a bit more in the strikeout department

[max silver]

And doing it without his 95 mph fastball too. I think. A bit is due to fatigue I think so next season we might see a bit more in the strikeout department

 

Yeah I think it's a mix of fatigue and needing to dial back a bit to maintain a starter's workload. Rodriguez is another guy who I think will likely maintain his stuff better next season with a full offseason to work out with the team in Dunedin.

[connorp]

Pitchers that usually can keep bb% they low are usually going to hang around, at least at the backend, pitching 93. Good backend piece at least

[John_Havok]

Yeah I think it's a mix of fatigue and needing to dial back a bit to maintain a starter's workload. Rodriguez is another guy who I think will likely maintain his stuff better next season with a full offseason to work out with the team in Dunedin.

 

Agreed. I don't see ace upside in Francis. The pure stuff just isn't really there, but his command is definitely good enough to get his stuff to play up a bit.

 

Yariel probably has a higher ceiling from a pure stuff perspective but his consistency and command aren't there. He's a guy who flashes that top of the rotation filth, bit it's too sporadic.