Julio Franco Returns to the Braves
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by Christof
The Atlanta Braves signed free agent Julio Franco to a contract today. Franco was released by the New York Mets on July 12, 2007. Franco is 48 years old and desires to play baseball until he is 50.
Franco became the whipping boy for Mets fans as the Mets struggled to win consistently during the first half of this MLB season. Why the fans blamed a bench player who only ocassionally pinch hit is beyond me, however, that is what exactly occurred.
Personally, it seems to be as though the Mets did not properly use Franco. I think Franco numbers would be better if he was played on a more consistent basis. This will likely occur with the Braves.
Besides playing, Franco brings a tremendous amount of leadership and character to the Braves locker room. These intangibles, although not measured by statistics, are very critical in a close playoff race. Hence, do not be surprised to see that Franco's presence becomes a key component in the Braves ability to win the NL East come October.
