Whoa! I feel nice, like sugar and spice. I feel nice, like sugar and spice. So nice, so nice, I got you. -James Brown
Public Service Announcement: Ok, here we go! Just ten short days my brothers. Ten short days until pitchers and catchers report. Ahhh, baseball. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. It makes me giddy. I feel like Joe DiMaggio. Joltin’ Joe said, “You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.” Colorado Rockies’ pitcher Jeff Francis is looking forward to it. He thinks something wonderful is going to happen.
There was a time, not that long ago, that Jeff Francis was one of the best pitchers in baseball. That time was in 2007 when he put the Colorado Rockies on his back and put them in the position of winning the National League Pennant. The Rockies win the pennant! The Rockies win the pennant! The Rockies win the pennant!
Throughout the 2007 season, Colorado turned to a skinny Canadian kid to keep the ball rolling. Keep the ball out of controlling. Keep the ball heart and souling. In the first postseason start of his career, Francis pitched the Rockies to victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Fightin’ Phills. Next thing you know, he’s pitching in the World Series. Next thing you know, he is sprawled all over the cover of Sports Illustrated. It’s the thrill that’ll getcha when you get your picture on the cover of the Rolling Stone. Wanna see my picture on the cover. Wanna buy five copies for my mother. Wanna see my smilin’ face on the cover of the Rolling Stone.
He might just get that chance once again. Francis just told ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick that his throwing shoulder no longer causes him pain or discomfort. That’s good news. “I feel good,” Francis said. That should make Rockies fans everywhere feel good too.
Public Spectacle:
Peace out homies. Six two and Even!
Need More? Colorado Rockies, Jeff Francis, MLB
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