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Julio Franco Gone.

metirish Jul 12 2007 11:55 AM

] Mets part ways with Franco BY KEN DAVIDOFF ken.davidoff@newsday.com The Mets are expected to remove Julio Franco from their roster today to make room for Lastings Milledge, Newsday has learned. An announcement will be made before today's game. It's not clear whether Franco, who turns 48 next month, will retire, or whether he'll accept an unconditional release and try to find a job elsewhere. In his second season with the Mets, Franco has 10 hits, including one homer, in 50 at-bats, for a .200 batting average. He has recorded a .328 on-base percentage and an anemic .260 slugging percentage. He has essentially served as a player-coach, providing guidance for the Mets' younger players. But with the Mets' offense struggling -- hitting coach Rick Down was fired last night, and Rickey Henderson will join the coaching staff today -- the club apparently decided that it could no longer use a roster spot on Franco. The Mets signed Franco to a two-year, $2-million contract prior to the 2006 season.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 12 2007 11:56 AM

Good!

seawolf17 Jul 12 2007 12:04 PM

Wow... I didn't think this would actually happen. Good luck to Julio, and thanks for the memories. That makes today's [url=http://dugout.progressiveboink.com/archive/jon129.html]Dugout[/url] outdated immediately.

Nymr83 Jul 12 2007 12:05 PM

its about time!

metsguyinmichigan Jul 12 2007 12:07 PM

It's about time, but at the same time it's kind of sad to see it happen. I'd love to have him around as a coach. Is there a limit as to how many coaches you can have?

Edgy DC Jul 12 2007 12:07 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 12 2007 12:08 PM

Julio has been dealing with a sore knee since the Yankee series. It may explain his sluggish effort to get to first the other week, and it may lead to a DL assignment. There's a limit to the number of coaches you can have in the dugout.

Nymr83 Jul 12 2007 12:07 PM

seawolf17 wrote: Wow... I didn't think this would actually happen. Good luck to Julio, and thanks for the memories. That makes today's [url=http://dugout.progressiveboink.com/archive/jon129.html]Dugout[/url] outdated immediately. thats pretty funny, Wilson from Home Improvement was the best.

Nymr83 Jul 12 2007 12:09 PM

]Is there a limit as to how many coaches you can have? theres a limit to how many can be in the dugout (what Keith Hernandez later claimed to be talking about with that woman who didn't belong there)

Johnny Dickshot Jul 12 2007 12:21 PM

I like that the Mets are being so creative and decisive.

bmfc1 Jul 12 2007 12:27 PM

I'm with Edgy: my guess is that the Mets will DL Franco and reinstate him in September when the roster expands.

Centerfield Jul 12 2007 12:27 PM

Good move. Like he did with Jorge Julio, Omar seems to know when to cut a non-productive player loose. Omar Minaya. Good dumper of Julios.

metirish Jul 12 2007 12:34 PM

bmfc1 wrote: I'm with Edgy: my guess is that the Mets will DL Franco and reinstate him in September when the roster expands. You really think that,my guess is that by then he'll be long forgotten,either retired or in a different organization.

Edgy DC Jul 12 2007 12:39 PM

Centerfield wrote: Good move. Like he did with Jorge Julio, Omar seems to know when to cut a non-productive player loose. Omar Minaya. Good dumper of Julios. Jorge Julio, though many wanted him dumped, was instead dealt for an anchor of the Mets' rotation.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 12 2007 12:45 PM

True. Maybe Omar can trade Franco to Florida for Dontrelle. Well, maybe not, but he can at least make the phone call.

Centerfield Jul 12 2007 12:50 PM

If that doesn't work, he should call Isiah Thomas and turn Franco into a first-round draft pick.

Frayed Knot Jul 12 2007 12:55 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 12 2007 01:28 PM

Good move obviously - even as the amount of complaining about Franco compared his roster spot being the cause of Met problems was vastly overblown by many fans. Guess the backup 1st baseman is now Green (even tho both LH) as first Milledge, then hopefully Alou & Chavez, might make his OF innings most scarce in the coming months. This also keeps Malomar Jr around for a while, making the sitting half of the Duke/Shrek tandem more available for pnich-hitting. And, for me personally, this removes the last remaining major leaguer who was ... oh never mind.

bmfc1 Jul 12 2007 01:02 PM

This means that those of us with Extra Innings watching the Mets via an out-of-town telecast, or watching the Mets on ESPN or FOX, will no longer have to hear the phrase "ageless wonder."

seawolf17 Jul 12 2007 01:27 PM

Centerfield wrote: If that doesn't work, he should call Isiah Thomas and turn Franco into a first-round draft pick. The sad thing is that Isiah would actually make that move.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 12 2007 01:41 PM

Frayed Knot wrote: And, for me personally, this removes the last remaining major leaguer who was ... oh never mind. Yeah, me too, I think. Let me check... Nope, Roger Clemens (August 4, 1962) is still older than me. But he is the last Met to have been born before me. Unless, of course, they reactivate Rickey (December 25, 1958) in September.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 12 2007 01:59 PM

Benjamin Grimm Jul 12 2007 01:59 PM

It's on Mets.com, so I guess it's official: ="Marty Noble"] Mets designate Franco for assignment 07/12/2007 3:09 PM ET By Marty Noble / MLB.com NEW YORK -- For weeks, Julio Franco had spoken privately of the need to find work elsewhere and the need to get enough at-bats to allow him to continue his career and reach his objective of playing at age 50. He was convinced remaining in what he considered a role more limited that he had anticipated would undermine his chances. He planned to ask for his release. The Mets beat him to the punch, though; they designated him for assignment on Thursday as part of the midseason roster restructuring. Some 5 1/2 weeks short of his 49th birthday, Franco now is a former Met. If no other club trades for him or claims him off waivers -- and the Mets don't reverse the process, which is quite unlikely -- he will become a free agent in 10 days and begin looking for a place where he will be likely to be given more opportunity to swing for 50. Franco was pleased Thursday afternoon, but a little off balance. "I thought I would surprise them," he said by telephone, "But they surprised me. It's what I need to do, so that part is good for me." Franco played sparingly in his 1 1/2 seasons with the Mets, starting seven games of the Mets' 87 games this season -- four at first base, two at third and one as the DH -- and batted .130 in 23 at-bats. His work as a pinch-hitter was more effective, seven hits in 26 at-bats, but all were singles. He played in 95 games last season, starting 25, mostly at first base. He batted .273 with 26 RBIs in 165 at-bats and was disappointed by the number of opportunities. Despite the disappointment, he considered seeking a contract extension during Spring Training. He never made the request, and when he found his playing time unsatisfactory, he reversed this thinking and weighed leaving. Now he is gone, creating more pinch-hit opportunities for Ramon Castro, who will be freed of the No. 2 catching restriction by the presence of Sandy Alomar Jr. The Mets wanted the veteran catcher and son of their third base coach because of his catching skills and leadership. Castro's hitting played no small role in this set of decisions. He has driven in 17 runs in 19 starts and has 11 hits -- six for extra bases -- six runs and six RBIs in the last eight games in which he had batted.

G-Fafif Jul 12 2007 02:03 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: ="Frayed Knot"]And, for me personally, this removes the last remaining major leaguer who was ... oh never mind. Yeah, me too, I think. Let me check... Nope, Roger Clemens (August 4, 1962) is still older than me. But he is the last Met to have been born before me. Unless, of course, they reactivate Rickey (December 25, 1958) in September. The continuing careers of Clemens and Jamie Moyer are all that stand between me and finally growing up.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 12 2007 02:05 PM

Jamie Moyer, November 18, 1962, is also older than I am.

Edgy DC Jul 12 2007 02:43 PM

Intereesting that he's been talking off the record about his role not affording him enough PT to stay sharp, as I called that right from the beginning. Announcers (Darling, in particular) kept saying all along that he's "one of the best ever at coming off the bench." But implying that he's been a killer pinch-hitter isn't really paying attention to what he actually had been doing during his rennaissance in Atlanta, where he was actually a part-time starter, relieving a string of lefthanded firstbasemen of varying degrees of medicrity of the challenge of facing lefthanded pitchers. He was getting enough work for himself. His career pinch-hitting line --- .279 / .367 / .371 // .738 --- is actually inferor to his total line of .299 / .365 / .419 // .784.

cleonjones11 Jul 12 2007 03:33 PM

More family time for Franco..he certainly wasn't doing much as a Met

metirish Jul 12 2007 05:29 PM

cleonjones11 wrote: More family time for Franco..he certainly wasn't doing much as a Met By that standard a few guys should get cut.

DocTee Jul 12 2007 06:24 PM

While running today, I tuned in to KNBR, the Bay Area sports station. They were talking about the Giants, and how they might change gears in the second half, letting the kids play rather than some vets. One schlub (couldn't get his name through my own huffing and puffing) suggested that Rich Aurilia and Matt Morris would be moved--and mentioned the Mets as a possibility, since: 1. Aurilia is from Brooklyn 2. Aurilia bats RH and can spell Delgado at first and Wright at 3rd (not to mention the other two infield positions) just as Julio did 3. Morris has NY roots and is supposably unhappy with the Bay Area The bait: Lastings Milledge, since the Giants need a "surly LF to replace Bonds" and he is now being "auditioned in NY for the upcoming trade deadline".

Rockin' Doc Jul 12 2007 07:40 PM

The end of Julio Franco's major league career will force me to face the grim reality that I am now too old to play baseball. Clemens and Moyer were both still in tee ball when I made my Little League career. Maybe the White Sox will give Minnie Minosa one last shot.

Edgy DC Jul 19 2007 07:13 AM

Julio Franco, Atlanta Brave.

iramets Jul 19 2007 07:21 AM

Same as it ever was.

metirish Jul 19 2007 07:24 AM

Interesting bit in the Snooze today..... ] OLD FRIEND: Julio Franco signed with the Braves, not that his former teammates were broken up. Randolph suggested the importance of having a veteran clubhouse presence such as Franco's was overstated. "You have to produce," the manager said. "All that clubhouse stuff is overrated." Franco's former teammates went so far as to portray him as a chronic complainer who wouldn't exactly swing the division race by defecting. Franco, who turns 49 on Aug. 23, is expected to be activated today. Franco hit .200 with a homer and eight RBI for the Mets this season.

Edgy DC Jul 19 2007 07:29 AM

While Randolph's statement is absoulutely true, and you can read any degree of rancor or matter-of-factness into it that you're disposed to, I'd sure like to know who those teammates complaining about his complaining were. I realize that the News does whatever it does, but this seems like an unhappy team.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 19 2007 07:32 AM

It does, but why are they unhappy? They seemed to be happy enough last season. Is it because winning isn't coming as easily as it did last year? Or have the clubhouse dynamics changed? It's mostly the same group as last year. Floyd is missing, and Pedro has been absent. Have they added any malcontents?

metirish Jul 19 2007 07:37 AM

I'd hate to speculate why that seems to be the case,but I would think being in a close race would bring them together....seems like that's not what is happening though.

Centerfield Jul 19 2007 07:41 AM

Jose Valentin offered up that Franco was a less than eager participant in the club’s pre-game stretching. He also said Franco wouldn’t hesitate to get in the face of some of the younger players about doing their jobs even though he was hitting .200. “To be a leader for me, it’s not enough to talk all the time,’’ Valentin said. “You have to go out and do it yourself.’’ This from John Delcos blog for the Journal News. http://mets.lohudblogs.com/2007/07/18/franco-clubhouse-influence-overrated/

Edgy DC Jul 19 2007 07:58 AM

That's a pretty good thread. I didn't catch Franco's vow to talk to Reyes. I also missed his alleged lollygag down the line. I thought he just stumbled coming out of the box or something, but enough here have reported him jaking that I'll take their words for it. Miss Cliff? How could you not miss Cliff? He searched for Matsui's purse and everything.

Nymr83 Jul 23 2007 12:21 PM

Franco has been getting starts in Atlanta!

Edgy DC Jul 23 2007 12:27 PM

I don't see why anybody should be surprised, as the Braves have been brutalized by the play of their firstbasemen this year (a .613 OPS). Also, it's easily theorized that part of the reason that he did better in Atlanta than with the Mets is that Atlanta always started him at first against lefties, keeping his bat fresh. It's hardly more surprising than Marlon Anderson getting corner-outfield starts for the Mets. Desperate times, desperate measures.

attgig Jul 23 2007 12:30 PM

and 0-4 with 2k's last night. good job julio!

Centerfield Jul 23 2007 12:39 PM

And a good dose of complaining, albeit at the ump.

Edgy DC Jul 23 2007 10:42 PM

It's just amazing how little good there has said about him upon his departure. Julio Franco disappointed in role with Mets BY KEN DAVIDOFF kenneth.davidoff@newsday.com July 23, 2007, 11:58 PM EDT SAN FRANCISCO -- It's just business, Julio Franco insisted Monday. But the 48-year-old, back with the Braves after the Mets let him go July 12, clearly disagrees with the way the Mets conducted their on-field business. "When you get a month without playing, when you get four at-bats in a month against closers, the best in the league, I don't think anybody's that good," Franco said Monday before the Braves played the Giants at AT&T Park. "I don't think anybody is good enough to have four at-bats in a month against closers and be successful at it. " ... I'm grateful to the Mets. They gave me the opportunity to be part of the organization. To Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya. But as a player, you want to go play." Franco exaggerated slightly about his lack of chances, and significantly about the caliber of his opponents, during what turned out to be his final days with the Mets. After going 0-for-3 in a June 15 start against the Yankees, Franco received six plate appearances -- all as a pinch hitter -- through July 7. He went 0-for-5 with a walk, facing the sextet of Minnesota's Johan Santana, Oakland's Ron Flores, St. Louis' Jason Isringhausen, Philadelphia's Antonio Alfonseca and Houston's duo of Wandy Rodriguez and Dave Borkowski. The Braves have given Franco more of an opportunity, with little to show for it so far. On July 18, the Braves picked up Franco off waivers; in his first game, July 19, he stroked a two-run single in a 10-1 victory over the Cardinals. He then went hitless in his next 10 at-bats. Franco started at first base for the Braves Monday night, hitting eighth. "I prayed to the Lord that he would bring me here, and he did. This is home," Franco said. "This is the organization that gave me the opportunity out of Mexico [in 2001]. I wanted to come back here, and I did. They signed me. Here I am. It was a blessing to come back. "If there's someone that knows how to use me and get the best out of me, it's Bobby [Cox, the Braves' manager]. Coming back here, I only have good memories." For the record, I think he's correct that he was underused, theough he might well have expected it.

Nymr83 Jul 23 2007 11:17 PM

i think he was used about as much as his production warranted being used. he shouldn't have been on the roster this long in the first place, its not willie's fault that he was here and willie has to do what he can with the tools he was provided, if one of those tools sucked i'm glad willie didn't use it much.

iramets Jul 24 2007 02:39 AM

Overused. Shoulda never been signed, in my view--this club had no spot for him, and had to give him all sorts of props he hadn't earned and could (in my view) never earn. Perfect example of the Mets foolishness in signing another franchise's veteran role player, assigning him a different role here, and expecting him to adapt to their needs.

DocTee Jul 24 2007 08:12 AM

He doubled last night and turned a sweeet 3-6-3 Double Play to get Smoltz out of an early jam.

iramets Jul 24 2007 09:02 AM

It's not as if there'll never be a justification for his roster spot,. He'd bat .000 and field .000 for that to be true--and even then there will be those who say "he's coming around" or "he's overdue" or "He always gets off to a slow start" or "he runs hot and cold--stick with him" or some such claptrap. The point is: What can he do, and what can't he? He can still hit a little bit, maybe and he can fill in without utterly humiliating himself at first and, to a lesser degree, at third. That isn't much, even if you toss in the veteran leadership for free. He can't do much more: he can't run, he can't fill in regularly for an injured everyday player, he can't get around on a good fastball, he can't play a crucial defensive position competently--all skills you need, even from the bench.

metirish Jul 24 2007 09:10 AM

DocTee wrote: He doubled last night and turned a sweeet 3-6-3 Double Play to get Smoltz out of an early jam. Good for him,it's not that he can't play,just glad he's not on the Mets anymore.

Nymr83 Jul 24 2007 01:42 PM

DocTee wrote: He doubled last night and turned a sweeet 3-6-3 Double Play to get Smoltz out of an early jam. Is that suprising? he's been a big help to the Braves all year, no reason to stop now. :)