"We really don't feel there's a medical issue," manager Clint Hurdle said after Tuesday's game. "We're doing this for precautionary [reasons] more than anything."
After tying the Rockies' single-season record with 17 wins last year, the left-hander got off to a slow start in 2008. He didn't win his first game until his ninth start and was 3-7 with a 5.67 ERA when he was forced to miss all of July with inflammation in his left shoulder.
Though his record didn't show it -- he was 1-3 in seven starts -- Francis pitched much better after returning from the disabled list on Aug. 7. He matched a career high by tossing six straight quality outings (six innings, three or fewer runs) since Aug. 13 and had a 2.82 ERA during that span.
"We just feel that the volume of work he's put back in play since he's been back has been so encouraging that we don't want to red-line it to finish things out," Hurdle said.
http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/ar ... p&c_id=col
Looks like he should be able to play in the IBC ...
Jeff Francis
Moderator: Executive Committee
