It's been a rough year for nostalgic Rockie fans, and yesterday we got hit with another sad reminder of just how far that magical 2007 team is cemented in the past. In many ways, Francis' career reflects the Rockies of that era; a stellar 2007 season that he never could quite duplicate.
Our Canadian lefty was only 27-years-old when he showed up to spring training in 2008, but a shoulder injury would ensure that he'd never post an ERA under 4.82 again. Still, through smarts, toughness, and hard work, a diminished Francis found a way to survive at the major league level for another eight years, which is no small task.