Frank Francisco News: Pro Sports Daily

Rangers plan to ease Francisco back into closer's role

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June 18

Dallas Morning News

"The Rangers intend to ease right-hander Frank Francisco back into the closer role after his scheduled medical rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Frisco today. But Francisco, who is on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, believes he will be ready to resume his closing role immediately. "Man, I don't know what pressure means," said Francisco, who last pitched June 3 in New York. "I'm ready right now. You know, I've been working the whole time, and I don't think it's that much different. All I need to get back is my command. That's it." Although Francisco wants to pitch the ninth right away, Rangers manager Ron Washington said it would take him a few games to resume ..."

Rangers' closer placed on DL

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June 15

Dallas Morning News

"The Rangers kept hoping closer Frank Francisco could avoid the disabled list. They gave up hope Sunday, placing the right-hander on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis. It's his second DL stint this season. Francisco hadn't pitched since June 3 and threw from the mound Sunday for the first time since then. The Rangers waited because they thought he was close enough to being ready to pitch to avoid a DL stint. "Once you place a player on the disabled list he has to spend five days down," assistant general manager Thad Levine said. "We had hopes that throughout this process that he wasn't five days away." Francisco will play long toss and have another bullpen session Tuesday. If ..."

Rangers closer Frank Francisco could be back soon

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June 14

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Saturday came and went and closer Frank Francisco was still on the Texas Rangers' active roster. Manager Ron Washington was not surprised. "Sorry you can't write he's going on the DL," Washington said in his pregame media meeting. Francisco didn't throw Saturday, but will "amp it up" today, Washington said. After an off day Monday, the Rangers will reassess Francisco's situation. The right-hander has not pitched since June 3 because of right shoulder tightness. The Rangers have not needed Francisco much lately. The bullpen came into Saturday's game having pitched seven consecutive scoreless innings and the team posted back-to-back shutouts. But that doesn't mean Washington isn't looking ..."

Rangers closer Frank Francisco remains day-to-day with strained shoulder

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June 11

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Rangers closer Frank Francisco is still day-to-day with a strained shoulder. He said he wasn't available to pitch Wednesday and won't be today, either. He threw long toss at 190 feet Wednesday with no problems and is starting to feel better. "Every time I throw I feel it gets better and better," said Francisco, who last pitched on June 3 at New York. "I'm just going to keep doing what they got me doing, and hopefully I'll be ready to go soon." Manager Ron Washington did not say whether Francisco would be the closer when he is healthy, but said left-hander C.J. Wilson is the closer for now. "I'm not going to get into that right now," Washington said. "We'll just have to wait and see how ..."

Texas Rangers pitcher Frank Francisco remains sidelined

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June 8

Dallas Morning News

"Frank Francisco was not available for the third consecutive game with tightness in his shoulder, but the Rangers aren't ready to put their closer on the disabled list. The Rangers will discuss the situation further today, but there might not be urgency. They waited more than a week to put Francisco on the disabled list last month with biceps tendinitis, a move they were able to backdate nine days so he would miss only six. "No one has mentioned to me that it could be a DL," manager Ron Washington said. "We're going to have our doctors check him out again." Francisco pitched Wednesday, earning his 12th save, and warmed up Thursday. Soreness developed Friday, and Darren O'Day pitched ..."

Rangers place closer Frank Francisco on disabled list

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May 17

Dallas Morning News

"Biceps tendinitis didn't bother Frank Francisco during a bullpen session Saturday, but the Texas Rangers placed their closer on the 15-day disabled list anyway. The move is retroactive to May 7. Francisco will be eligible to pitch Friday at Houston. He will miss four games. The extra down time should assure that he will be ready for the rest of the season. "If we had left it 100 percent up to Frankie, he would have pitched," general manager Jon Daniels said. Francisco said he wasn't as sharp in the bullpen Saturday as he had been while posting a 0.00 ERA and nailing down saves in his first nine opportunities. He had not thrown for more than a week. "But I will be," he said. "I was ..."

Rangers' Francisco getting closer to return

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May 16

Dallas Morning News

"Frank Francisco's return from right biceps tendinitis took another step in a positive direction Friday. The closer played catch from 120 feet and also did some throwing off flat ground. Francisco hopes to throw a light bullpen session Saturday before the Rangers will reassess the health of the right-hander. "Everything is fine," Francisco said. Francisco said he doesn't think he'll have to go on the disabled list and will let the team decide if when he's healthy enough to pitch, which could be Sunday. "We'll just see how he recovers," manager Ron Washington said. "We'll go from there. We were hoping that maybe today he could have thrown in the bullpen, but he did throw the 120 with no ..."

Texas Rangers' Francisco might go to DL

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May 13

Dallas Morning News

"Rangers closer Frank Francisco's perfect season has been sidetracked by biceps tendinitis. Francisco, who has nine saves in 14 appearances with a 0.00 ERA, will probably miss the entire Seattle series, and general manager Jon Daniels said the he could end up on the disabled list. "We can't rule that out as a possibility at this point," Daniels said. "Right now we're going to go day to day and see how Frankie progresses and see where the needs are in the pen." Francisco informed the team Saturday in Chicago that his shoulder was sore, and he visited with team doctor Keith Meister Monday, who gave him an MRI. Daniels said the MRI was normal for a pitcher Francisco was given an injection ..."