Utley and Francisco have something Bruin?

Cliff Lee made the headlines today, but delve deeper and realize that Ben Francisco is the real focal point of this deadline blockbuster.   As classless astute Philly fans will tell you, Chase Utley was drafted out of UCLA in the first round back in 2000.  Francisco was drafted in the fifth round out of UCLA in 2002. Thus, Chase Utley is approximately five times better and two years older than his newly acquired former UCLA teammate. 

Actually, the two were never teammates at UCLA, but they were both UCLA Bruins at some point.  According to Baseball America, Francisco was Cleveland’s #9 rated prospect in 2008.  In 121 games with the Tribe last year, he hit 15 homers and 32 doubles.  The guy has power.   He’s hit just .250 with 10 homers and 13 steals in 2009, but still has the chance to become an above-average major leaguer.   In fact, those numbers sound a little like platoon-player Jason Werth before he worked himself into an everyday role back in 2008.  

Photo Caption: Not Ben Francisco.

Speaking of Francisco, this just in – the San Francisco Giants are looking to trade for Pittsburgh second baseman Freddy Sanchez.  Sanchez is currently being examined by SF team doctors.  Early prognosis on Sanchez has been confirmed as “dirty.”