Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
To put what Maikel Franco has done for the Philadelphia Phillies so far in perspective, consider that if he played a 152-game season (no one plays 162 games anymore) at this pace, he would finish with 40 home runs, 120 RBI and a .311 batting average.
It is impossible to tell if the 22-year-old third baseman will do that or even better it, but based on his short 38-game season so far, the numbers dictate he deserves a start at third base. With the Phillies taking an off day on Thursday, Franco is hitting .311 with 10 homers and 29 RBI. On top of that, Franco seems to be making a nightly appearance on sportscenter with his defensive stops. Franco will not be the starting third baseman in this year’s All-Star game simply because he is not on the ballot, but in a fairer system in which the players were voting, there can be little doubt he would get serious consideration.
If the National League wants to win and earn the home-field advantage in this year’s World Series, Franco would be the starter. His only real competition comes from three players — Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies, Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals and Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs.
The argument for Franco is stronger than any of those three. While Arenado has 19 homers and 59 RBI, it has taken him 31 more games than Franco has played. His .287 average is 24 points lower than Franco. Carpenter is hitting .280 with two less homers than Franco, even with the benefit of playing 27 more games. Bryant, playing in 62 games, also has the same number of homer as Franco and is hitting only .279.
Numbers do not lie and they make the most compelling case for Franco to start. It might be too late for him to win the vote, but that doesn’t diminish the argument that he deserves the honor.
Mike Gibson is a Phillies writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
