Julio Franco Returns

[bluehenbillk]

to the Atlanta Braves!! 13 more months until he turns 50 years old.

[AZGrizFan]

This guy is a FREAK. Plain and simple.

[SuperHornet]

Forget Franco. I'd rather watch old footage of George Blanda. Playing to 48 in the NFL is MUCH more impressive than doing so in baseball.

[bluehenbillk]

wasn't he just a punter at the end? Sean Landeta may keep doing that....

[AppGuy04]

I think this is a dumb move by the Braves. Publicity stunt maybe, but not a smart baseball move

[AZGrizFan]

Forget Franco. I'd rather watch old footage of George Blanda. Playing to 48 in the NFL is MUCH more impressive than doing so in baseball.

Yeah. I hear ya. 48 year-olds in baseball are a fricking dime a dozen, right?

If it was that easy they'd ALL be doing it.

[SuperHornet]

wasn't he just a punter at the end? Sean Landeta may keep doing that....

Blanda never punted. He was a place-kicker. Sure, that's all he did the last couple of years, but he was always listed as a QB-K. In fact, in something like '70 or '71, he came off the bench for an ineffective "Mad Bomber" Daryle Lamonica to lead the Raiders to a win or a tie with either a TD pass or a long FG. He was somewhere around 45 when he did this. And all this after getting blackballed by George Halas.

[lifesapuntreturn]

wasn't he just a punter at the end? Sean Landeta may keep doing that....

Blanda never punted. He was a place-kicker. Sure, that's all he did the last couple of years, but he was always listed as a QB-K. In fact, in something like '70 or '71, he came off the bench for an ineffective "Mad Bomber" Daryle Lamonica to lead the Raiders to a win or a tie with either a TD pass or a long FG. He was somewhere around 45 when he did this. And all this after getting blackballed by George Halas.

It was 5 straight games in 1970.
http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/membe ... ayer_id=29
George Blanda's Pro Football Hall of Fame bio

[Grizalltheway]

I think this is a dumb move by the Braves. Publicity stunt maybe, but not a smart baseball move

I doubt he'll be a regular starter. Probably just play a few games here and there.

[AppGuy04]

I think this is a dumb move by the Braves. Publicity stunt maybe, but not a smart baseball move

I doubt he'll be a regular starter. Probably just play a few games here and there.

You pay coaches for baseball advice, not players

[SuperHornet]

You pay coaches for baseball advice, not players

Then explain the existence of player-coaches and player-managers. Bill Russell (NBA version), Tree Rollins, Pete Rose, and Frank Robinson come to mind very quickly. If something ever happened to Bobby Cox, I wouldn't be surprised if Franco were asked to player-manage the Braves.

[AppGuy04]

You pay coaches for baseball advice, not players

Then explain the existence of player-coaches and player-managers. Bill Russell (NBA version), Tree Rollins, Pete Rose, and Frank Robinson come to mind very quickly. If something ever happened to Bobby Cox, I wouldn't be surprised if Franco were asked to player-manage the Braves.

Sure they exist, but IMO, they shouldn't

[skinny_uncle]

to the Atlanta Braves!! 13 more months until he turns 50 years old.

He belongs in Atlanta. They helped resurrect his career a few years ago. I hope he retires as a Brave. I have vague memories of the Braves letting Satchel Paige com in at age 60 and pitch an inning or so to enable him to get his pension. Best of luck to the "Ageless One".

[lifesapuntreturn]

Franco is hitting below the Mendoza line and the Braves are in a pennant race. If he doesn't start hitting, he'll probably be gone in a couple of weeks. I assume they brought him in because he played well for them a couple of years ago.

As far as the Braves keeping old players on their roster, HOF knuckleballer Phil Neikro pitched for the Braves until he was well into his 40's.

[AppGuy04]

Doesn't matter who he is, he's batting, as of last night .177. They will not make the playoffs with a 1st baseman doing that. They have plenty of talent in Richmond, I'd rather see a young guy than Franco

[GannonFan]

Heck, the Braves should just see if Von Hayes is available - with the way that Franco is hitting they might want to pull a trigger on that trade!

[AZGrizFan]

Heck, the Braves should just see if Von Hayes is available - with the way that Franco is hitting they might want to pull a trigger on that trade!

Ah, the inevitable "Von Hayes" reference.....

[skinny_uncle]

Watched the Braves and Cardinals last night. I just love it when Julio is batting and Bobby Cox is hollering from the dugout "C'mon, kid!"

[skinny_uncle]

Doesn't matter who he is, he's batting, as of last night .177. They will not make the playoffs with a 1st baseman doing that. They have plenty of talent in Richmond, I'd rather see a young guy than Franco

He's up to .192 last I checked. I'll bet he breaks the Mendoza line soon.

[AppGuy04]

Doesn't matter who he is, he's batting, as of last night .177. They will not make the playoffs with a 1st baseman doing that. They have plenty of talent in Richmond, I'd rather see a young guy than Franco

He's up to .192 last I checked. I'll bet he breaks the Mendoza line soon.

Not hard when every hit he gets raises his average 25 points

[skinny_uncle]

Just checked on Julio.
He has a couple of hits tonight and is up to .211.
That Braves uniform just does something for him.
He still has some life in him.

[AppGuy04]

Just checked on Julio.
He has a couple of hits tonight and is up to .211.
That Braves uniform just does something for him.
He still has some life in him.

He may be back to the bench before Tuesday. The Braves are looking at getting Mark Teixeira

[bluehenbillk]

Franco can just flat out hit, glad the Mets cut him loose.

[bluehenbillk]

Dammit, Braves cut him yesterday.

[Bobcat in NC]

Dammit, Braves cut him yesterday.

Jerkoffs (of course, tough to keep Julio when you trade for Teixeira). I love watching Julio play, and have for almost 30 years. When I was a little kid, I watched him play rookie ball for the Butte (MT) Copper Kings back in the late 70s and have been a fan ever since. I just hope hat he can catch on somewhere else within the next year so he can be playing baseball on his 50th birthday (August of next year, I think). ::Insert smilie of old man using his cane to hit a gapper to left::