Who’s afraid of the big, bad SI cover jinx? Not Jeff Francis, the Rockies’ lefty whose 6-foot-5 frame sprawls across the front of this week’s issue of Sports Illustrated.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said repeatedly Tuesday afternoon.
Just last week, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins was on the SI cover in a story touting him as National League MVP. The Rockies promptly swept the Phillies. Mets general manager Omar Minaya made the cover, and his team went on to blow a seven-game lead with 17 to play.
Asked what he planned to do to reverse the curse, Francis said, “Pitch well.” He starts Game 1 of the NLCS on Thursday at Arizona.
As is customary in the Rockies clubhouse, Francis took heat for his SI cover shot, especially from rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
“Tulo told me about it and he’s got the picture above his locker already,” Francis said. “Tulo says we have no shot now.”
