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mace · 10-23-2010, 12:28 PM

I'm not looking for a protracted statistical battle, but the comparisons of Francisco to Wily Mo have become so frequent that I think it warrants a comment. I can see the ease of the obvious comparison, as young, free-swinging home run hitters. But I really don't think it holds up beyond the superficial similarities.

I know that it's fashionable to pooh-pooh RBIs, but I don't happen to subscribe to that. I think there IS a profile of a good RBI guy, and basically it boils down to total bases. Francisco seems to have that gift, and always has. As a minor-leaguer, Pena had one remarkable season in Dayton, but beyond that didn't show near the consistency that Francisco has. Francisco has improved his slugging percentage every single year in the minor leagues, as he has moved up. Pena didn't do that. Francisco has batted about 20 points higher than Pena in the minor leagues. Francisco doesn't strike out as much as Pena did. And finally, for all the questions about his glove, Francisco still has more defensive value than Wily Mo.

He's just a better player all-around, it seems to me.

10-23-2010, 12:28 PM	#58
mace Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 4,162	Re: Who is Redszone's #6 prospect? I'm not looking for a protracted statistical battle, but the comparisons of Francisco to Wily Mo have become so frequent that I think it warrants a comment. I can see the ease of the obvious comparison, as young, free-swinging home run hitters. But I really don't think it holds up beyond the superficial similarities. I know that it's fashionable to pooh-pooh RBIs, but I don't happen to subscribe to that. I think there IS a profile of a good RBI guy, and basically it boils down to total bases. Francisco seems to have that gift, and always has. As a minor-leaguer, Pena had one remarkable season in Dayton, but beyond that didn't show near the consistency that Francisco has. Francisco has improved his slugging percentage every single year in the minor leagues, as he has moved up. Pena didn't do that. Francisco has batted about 20 points higher than Pena in the minor leagues. Francisco doesn't strike out as much as Pena did. And finally, for all the questions about his glove, Francisco still has more defensive value than Wily Mo. He's just a better player all-around, it seems to me.