Francisco's Mets will take on the Yankees for three games beginning on Friday, and he had a simple message for his upcoming opponents.
"I can't wait to face those chickens," Francisco told the New York Post. "I want to strike out the side against them. I've done it before."
Francisco did strike out the side against the Yankees in the seventh inning on May 21, 2004. But that, of course, was more than eight years ago, and Francisco has hardly been the reliable reliever this season that he's proven to be at times in the past.
Francisco enters the weekend series with a 1-3 record and a 5.14 ERA in 30 appearances. He is currently pitching for his third team, having pitched one season in Toronto and six seasons in Texas before this year.
The 32-year-old must have realized he was just stoking the fire with his comments, though, as he quickly put a lid on it.
"I think I've said too much already," Francisco reportedly said.
We'll see if the Yankees are able to utilize the extra motivation.
