Home | Search | FAQ
Displaying 1-20 of 20 messages in this thread. |
| Posted By | Discussion Topic: John Franco out for season, may retire! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
King Shit *board owner* | posted on 05-08-2002 @ 9:14 PM |    | |||
| O&A Board Veteran Registered: Feb. 01  | I hate to see this happen. This guy has been a mainstay on the team for as long as I can remember. A great competitor, and one of the down to earth players who always took time for the fans. NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Mets reliever John Franco will miss at least the rest of the season with an injury to his left elbow that could end his 18-year career. Franco, who has not pitched since undergoing surgery on the elbow in December, had an MRI exam Wednesday that revealed the injury to the medial collateral ligament and flexor tendon in his pitching elbow. ``Obviously this is bad news,'' Mets general manager Steve Phillips said. ``This is not something that can heal on its own. John has to consider whether he wants surgery. He is clearly lost for the 2002 season and into next year.'' Franco, 41, was brought to tears when he was given the news before the Mets' game Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants. Phillips advised Franco to take some time before deciding whether to undergo the operation or end his career. The Mets received the news right before gametime, and Franco left Shea Stadium in the middle of the game. ``John is very disappointed,'' Phillips said. ``Things were not right the last couple of days. He was emotional about it. He wants to pitch. That's all he wants to do.'' If Franco decides to have surgery, doctors would first reattach the tendon to his elbow then perform ``Tommy John'' ligament replacement surgery. Recovery time for that kind of injury usually is at least 12 months. ``Plenty of guys have done it, but I'm not sure how many guys have done it at 41 years old,'' Phillips said. ``The older you get, the slower you tend to recover. But I've said it all along: Don't bet against John Franco.'' Franco had scar tissue removed from his elbow in December and was unable to throw without pain all spring. Phillips said that neither the surgery or Franco's urgency to return to the mound caused the new injury. Franco is the longest-tenured Met, joining the team before the 1990 season and the emotional leader of the team. He has the second most saves in baseball history with 422 -- 56 behind Lee Smith's record. ``It is not only a loss on the mound, but also in what he brings to the clubhouse and the bullpen,'' Phillips said. Born in Brooklyn, Franco's New York roots run deep. He went to school at St. John's and lives on Staten Island. Under his Mets jersey, Franco wears an orange T-shirt from the city's sanitation department, where his late father worked. With the Mets, Franco has 274 saves and has pitched in 605 games -- both team records. He was named captain of the team last May. ``John Franco is a Met,'' Phillips said. ``As far as I'm concerned, as long as I'm here there will be offer for him to be here in some capacity. No question about it. Ownership agrees with that.'' With Franco lost for the year, the Mets need to decide whether to add another lefty to their bullpen. Mark Guthrie is the only left-hander currently as the team expected Franco to return. Franco is in the second year of a $10.5 million, three-year contract. The deal is insured and Phillips said the Mets will be responsible for about 20-to-25 percent of the salary. Franco began his career in the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization but was traded to Cincinnati in 1983. He made his major league debut the next year for the Reds and has appeared in 998 career games. He led the NL in saves three times and was selected to three All-Star teams.  I believe in the Faith... that can save me. I believe in the hope and I pray... That someday it may raise me... above these badlands Over The Limit | ||||
| alxelgr8 Oblivious to all things...PERIOD!!!! ...including this status. | posted on 05-08-2002 @ 9:23 PM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jan. 02 | that sucks. He was definatly at the end of his carrer but he could've helped the team this year and next. Itr also sucks that hes going out injured. ***** SU CRACKHEAD***** I don't know... I don't even know what I'm doing here Periods...I don't need no stinkin periods... | ||||
| Austin The Dark Enforcer/Angry Stoned Pimp G.O.O.F.B.A.H.G.S. New World Order Secret Police Chief Proud Inventor of the "Cream Cheese, Peanut Butter and Jelly" sandwich | posted on 05-08-2002 @ 10:20 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Feb. 01 | Ya know, I'm not by any stretch of the imagination a Mets fan, but I really respected Franco as a pitcher and as a player and its a fuckin shame if his career ends like this. :( Have a Question? Or Just wondering why I'm so angry? AIM | E-mail | ||||
| 1888RUSTYTROMBONE It took me 3 minutes to edit nothing | posted on 05-08-2002 @ 10:32 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | It sucks that Franco is done for the season and possibly for his career, and for it to be because of an injury really sucks. | ||||
| Francine Banger | posted on 05-08-2002 @ 10:33 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Dec. 00 | Phillips needs to go out and get another left hander for the bullpen. They cant go the whole season relying on just Mark Guthrie from the left side. | ||||
| Lent Black Rock Coalition Do you have a basketball in your car? | posted on 05-08-2002 @ 10:38 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: May. 00 | - AIM:lentnyc | ||||
| PeterDragon | posted on 05-09-2002 @ 12:27 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | Franco is an example of a player who is measured as much for what he does in the clubhouse as on the field. I didn't see/hear the game, but tuned into "Mets Extra" on the way home. It seems that it was just before game time that Team got the news. They all seemed to take it hard, especially Piazza & Leiter. John Franco was not just a good Met - he was a good New Yorker. A "Hometown Hero" in every sense of the word. For his sake I hope he decides to hang em up. Tommy John surgery at his age seems too big an obstacle to overcome. I know he's been offered opportunities to stay with the team in some capacity. If he does decide to hang em up, the day they honor him will be as big a deal as when they honored Seaver - a must be there event.  2002 Crack Committee Objectives: (You gotta believe....) 1. 94 Wins and NL East Title by the Mets this year 2. Hate the Braves with PASSION 3. All 5 Starters have winning records this year 4. Mets win World Series | ||||
| Bloody Anus P.L.F. Portugese Liberation Front- Liberating Status' everywhere from the Tyranny of Portugal HYBRID THINKS I'M A GENIUS | posted on 05-09-2002 @ 12:35 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jul. 00 | Great job by ESPN, not even mentioning it at all during the game. What the hell?
2002 Crack Committee Objectives: | ||||
| JGNYC Mirc's Dalnet #opieanthony | posted on 05-09-2002 @ 1:51 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Sep. 00 | PeterDragon, great post. John is what everything a player and a person should be. It is clearly unfortunate that his career had to end like this but, we will always remember him as one of the elite on the team. We can only hope that they would retire his number.
| ||||
| Rookie Stature of an Oompa Loompa! | posted on 05-09-2002 @ 10:00 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | I'm not a Mets fan, but I can definitely respect Franco as a ball player and a person. This is really too bad for him. I think he should get the surgery, and shoot for a comeback at age 43. Hey, stranger things have happened, and they say many pitchers come back throwing even harder after TJ surgery. Well, whatever he does, I wish him the best of luck.  Post Whore One Week, Fart In The Wind The Next. This message was edited by Rookie on 5-9-02 @ 10:03 AM | ||||
| I swear it was this big Tussle King | posted on 05-09-2002 @ 10:34 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Mar. 01 | I don't really care for baseball at all, much less any of the teams. But when someone mentioned NY Mets, Franco's name always came to mind. He was a staple of the Mets organization. It's always a shame to see a good guy go out to an injury. ___________________________________________________________________ I'm bigger than the Devil combined with Schindler's list. Sig pic coming soon...kinda soon... | ||||
| Ferret | posted on 05-09-2002 @ 10:55 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Oct. 00 | quote: Did you think there'd would be any other way that his career would end? He's not exactly the "I quit" type of guy.  | ||||
| Syndrummer LOOK!! All my "N"s are capitalized!!! | posted on 05-09-2002 @ 10:59 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Mar. 02 | Speaking of old Met Pitchers...I cant believe Jesse Orosco is still pitching. | ||||
| JohnSlack | posted on 05-09-2002 @ 11:26 AM | | |||
| Psychopath Registered: May. 01 | Maybe he should try hockey now - there is a sport you can wear that big 'C' on your jersey and not look like a total tool. "Philly: It's Camden - with a bell." - Jim Norton | ||||
King Shit *board owner* | posted on 05-09-2002 @ 2:00 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Veteran Registered: Feb. 01 | I definitely envision him staying on as a coach of some sort. He's going to be like Mookie, a Met for life in one way or another. I believe in the Faith... that can save me. I believe in the hope and I pray... That someday it may raise me... above these badlands Over The Limit | ||||
| Subzero316 TERRORIST voted most likely to get searched at the airport Subama Bin Zero (© AntsInMyPants - 2002) Seriously need to rethink my concept of "funny" Alkey is my bitch! I'm havening a hard time fittening in. It's official, I am seriously a complete and utter ass-tool, please anally rape me with a rusty 5 iron wraped in barbed wire. I am the new Balloon Not. Be careful around me ladies, I don't use common sense. | posted on 05-10-2002 @ 12:38 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | I'm not a mets fan, but it will be sad to see him go. Master of the Cold.... | ||||
| rageparty 123...Not so bare anymore since I got a number underneath my name again I also have an imaginary girlfriend. | posted on 05-11-2002 @ 6:53 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Aug. 01 | He was one of the best relievers I had seen. Always a fan of his, he always did what was best for the team.... | ||||
| Cluster F | posted on 05-12-2002 @ 9:36 AM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Oct. 00 | Watching the press conference was very tough the day after the news broke and he was talking about how his kid thought it was his fault. I feel for Franco immensely, he has given his heart and soul to the Mets, and the Metropolitan area. He wasnt always cheered when he was on the mound, sometimes in fact, he could be very frustrating to watch. But, he is John Franco, and he will be associated with the Mets for an eternity. And im damn proud to have been rooting for him. 1. 94 Wins and NL East Title by the Mets this year 2. Hate the Braves with a passion 3. All 5 Starters have winning records this year 4. Mets win World Series (optional) 5. Have Red Sox finish 10 games in front of the Yankees (optional) Crack Committee Members: Cluster F, Rageparty, Bloody Anus, DiamondDust, JayMohrMassage, HammerSavage, PeterDragon, and 1888RustyTrombone...the force is growing. I co-won the Super Bowl Challenge :) | ||||
| PeterDragon | posted on 05-12-2002 @ 10:06 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | quote: I wouldn't say that (Off the top of my head Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage, Dennis Eckersley and Mariano Rivera were better), but Franco had guts & got the job done. In alot of ways he was like Adam Graves -except he came from here and was the epitome of a New Yorker, from his accent to his Dept of Sanitation he always wore under his uniform. It'll be tough to lose both of them in the same year. By the way, Orosco had major arm surgery last year and came back; also today's paper mentioned that as long as he doesn't officially retire, he continues to get salary, and Mets get 70% back from insurance, even if he doesn't get surgery. In typical Franco form, he said that his decision wouldn't be about the money (he has accepted less in the past to stay with Mets) At Shea today Mets showed one of those video clip sequences of inspirational speeches (Hoosiers, etc.) They also had a clip from some movie where the guy says "Lets win this for Johnny", and a few seconds later they had a big picture of Franco. I don't know what movie that clip was from. 2002 Crack Committee Objectives: (You gotta believe....) 1. 94 Wins and NL East Title by the Mets this year 2. Hate the Braves with PASSION 3. All 5 Starters have winning records this year 4. Mets win World Series This message was edited by PeterDragon on 5-12-02 @ 10:14 PM | ||||
| 1888RUSTYTROMBONE It took me 3 minutes to edit nothing | posted on 05-14-2002 @ 11:11 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01 | Franco last I had heard is going to have Tommy John surgery. Well see if he's back next yr. 2002 Crack Committee Objectives: | ||||
Displaying 1-20 of 20 messages in this thread. |