Forgotten Superstars-Julio Franco

Since the Pirates were rained out against the Braves, I thought that this would be the right time for a Forgotten Superstars segment.
The Pirates and Braves will play a doubleheader tomorrow at 12:35, but I am not sure that will happen as the rain is scheduled to continue to fall in the Steel City.

Forgotten superstars will focus today on a personal favorite that recently hung up the spikes at the age of 49!
Julio Franco was one of those rare players that reinvented himself several times over his long career.
Julio morphed from rangy shortstop to the best hitting second sacker in the game, from first baseman to ace pinch hitter, and was excellent at all of them.
The three-time all-star and five-time winner of the Silver Slugger award at his position spent time with seven different teams with his best seasons in Cleveland with the Indians and in Texas as a Ranger after the Indians peddled him for basically 3 busts (one of them former Hagerstown Suns coach Jerry Browne).
Franco spent his development years in the Phillies organization before becoming an Indian as one of the five players (and only one to pan out) that Cleveland acquired from Philadelphia for Von Hayes.

Julio was never a huge power hitter, as he only hit 20 homers once in 1994 in his only season with the White Sox, but was usually good for 10-15 longballs a season, but base hits are what made Franco such a hitting machine.
After his .273 rookie season in 1983, Franco would only hit below .286 only once until 1997 when he was 38 and with the exception, there was an injury-shortened 35 game 1992 season!

Franco was not a base clogger in his younger days as he had 30+ steal seasons on 4 different occasions and was quite fleet until his game began to change due to age.

Franco played in Japan and Mexico from 1998-2000 and appeared to be winding his career down, but returned to the big leagues as a part-time first baseman/pinch hitter for the Braves and continued to surprise observers with his knack for hitting.

However his 2007 was split between the Braves and Mets and the bat looked to be finally slowing down and a few weeks ago with Franco playing for a Mexican League team, the end finally came.

Although I would not be surprised to see him in one more cameo-Can't you see Franco as this generation's, Minnie Minoso?

In other words, every so often showing up for an at-bat or two to add to the records books, etc.....
Julio Franco finished his career with a .298 batting average and just under 2600 hits for his tenure and in my opinion, doesn't quite make the Hall of Fame cut, but still was a terrific player and therefore a Forgotten Superstar.

Pitching Matchups
Game 1
Atlanta:Jair Jurrjens (4-2 2,84 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Zach Duke (1-2 4.60 ERA) 12:35

Game 2
Atlanta:Tim Hudson (5-2 2.90 ERA) at Pittsburgh:John Van Benschoten (0-1 4.91 ERA)

Bullpen Notes

The Pirates decided to move Phil Dumatrait back a day and give the start in Game 2 of the doubleheader to John Van Benschoten.
Game 2 would have normally been Dumatrait's slot in the rotation.

Leo Mazzone sits in Atlanta waiting for a job after Peter Angelos and the Orioles continued to fumble the ball on almost everything that they touch.
Look for Mazzone to be coaching next year and maybe even this year, if some team decides to clean house totally in mid-season.
After all, he is the best in the game at what he does.

One of my favorite rockers, Neil Young, recently has an honor that few are given-Young's name was given to a newly discovered species of spider in Alabama.
Not sure why Young comes to mind when you discover a spider, but interesting nonetheless.

Until next time