Despite open door, Franco and Mackanin can’t come together
PHILADELPHIA >> Pete Mackanin’s mind and his door are open. And the Phillies’ manager is still waiting for Maikel Franco to utilize both.
Having benched his regular third baseman for a second consecutive game Wednesday night, Mackanin made it clear to the press that he would like him to visit his office for a sit-down. Franco, though, is not interested.
Thus, a baseball problem has become a communications problem. Or vice-versa.
Told that Mackanin would like him to take the initiative, Franco resisted.
“I mean, I’m not that kind of guy,” he said before the Phils’ 7-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies. “I’m not that guy. I’m just trying to stay mentally ready, and if I see the lineup and I’m playing, I’ll go to play. If I’m not, I just try to get relaxed, enjoy the day, and do everything I can do.”
Franco’s tone was not one of defiance. It sounded more like he preferred not to be the kind of player who stomps into the coaches’ room every time the lineup card looks different. Nonetheless, he has no plans to start a conversation with Mackanin, who has no particular plan to return Franco to his regular third-base role.
“It’s kind of a gray area for me,” the manager said. “It’s not a specific plan I have mapped out to where I am doing it for any particular reason. I’m just, ‘I’d like to see if he comes to see me.’”
Would Mackanin prefer that? “Yes.” Then why not suggest that to Franco? “It’s different.”
For the second consecutive game Wednesday, Andres Blanco started at third base. Franco, hitting .221 with six home runs, has not played since striking out twice and going 0-for-3 Sunday in Pittsburgh.
“I have to understand that it’s part of the game,” Franco said. “I know I can do better, but I’m just coming in every day and continuing to work on what I have to work on, like I said, coming in and just trying to get better every day. I know if I can do everything I can do better, something good is going to happen.”
He does not feel, though, that needs to talk with his manager.
“No. No,” Franco said. “I just come in, and if I’m not playing, it’s fine. If I play, I just try to get myself ready to try to do my best in the game. And try to help my team.”
*** Kendrick, out Howie since he April 15 with a strained oblique muscle, is on a rehab assignment in Allentown. Kendrick likely will play four games for the IronPigs.
Not that it is necessarily connected to the Franco situation, but Mackanin said Kendrick would play some third base for Lehigh Valley, in addition to left field and first base. The emergence of Aaron Altherr as an everyday lineup value has compromised some available outfield playing time.
“The most important thing,” Mackanin said, “is that he’s healthy.”
*** The Phillies had won eight of the nine games started by Jeremy Hellickson this season. Not even that worked Wednesday, as Hellickson was touched for a seven-run third inning, including a three-run Carlos Gonzalez home run.
“They have some really good hitters in that lineup,” Hellickson said. “No easy outs. But I kind of beat myself that inning. I was falling behind. Too many walks. Four. When I finally made a good pitch, they would find a way to get hits off those, too.”
Hellickson lasted five innings, walking four and striking out two.
*** Adam Morgan (three) and Joaquin Benoit (one) combined for four scoreless innings. However, Morgan was optioned to Lehigh Valley after the game. A corresponding roster move will be made Thursday.
*** NOTES >> Vince Velasquez (2-4, 5.98 ERA) will face Colorado left-hander Tyler Anderson (3-4, 6.00) at 1:05 Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park … Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff and Zach Eflin will pitch in a weekend series against visiting Cincinnati … Andrew Knapp, playing while Cameron Rupp is being rested, was 1-for-3 with a walk. In his last 11 games, he is hitting .311. He also caught Charlie Blackmon stealing second in the first inning … Mackanin indicated that Rupp will start Thursday afternoon.