GaryMrMets
03-06-2004, 01:55 AM
http://www.nj.com/mets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/107847096473000.xml
Mets: Now it's 'coach' Franco, too
Friday, March 05, 2004
BY DAVID WALDSTEIN
Star-Ledger Staff
JUPITER, Fla. -- Several Mets relievers were surprised yesterday when John Franco appeared in the bullpen at Roger Dean Stadium, a clipboard in his hand and a walkie-talkie tucked into his belt.
Franco wasn't scheduled to pitch and no one had seen him on the bus. But he was indeed supposed to be in the bullpen yesterday, not to pitch, but to begin his unique new career as a captain/reliever/bullpen coach.
For the first time since Joe Torre was player/manager in 1977, the Mets have a player/coach -- if not in title, then at least in deed.
Franco, who was beaming yesterday after his first stint in charge of the bullpen, said his new duties could be the first step in what he hopes will be a future career as a pitching coach or manager.
"Maybe," he said. "I really enjoyed it."
Franco won't have the official title of coach, and his duties will be limited because obviously he will have to pitch. But he will now have more administrative responsibilities than just being the captain and unofficial chief of the bullpen. He will answer the phones, keep track of pitch counts, get players up on the mound to begin warming up, and will also watch guys throw, all of which is secondary to his role as pitcher.
But it is a definite baby step toward a career on a coaching staff.
"It's a nice steppingstone," manager Art Howe said.
The Mets want Franco to do the job because for the first time in years they won't have an official bullpen coach. Bullpen catcher Nelson Silverio will be the staff member in charge, but when he is behind the plate warming up pitchers, Franco will step in as a kind of vice bullpen coach.
Franco said he and the Mets discussed the idea over the winter after former bullpen coach Rick Waits was reassigned to become the club's main roving instructor and the Mets decided not to replace him with a full-time bullpen coach. Franco was receptive to the idea, but few players even knew it was happening.
"I think guys were surprised to see him there in the first place," reliever Ricky Bottalico said. "My guess is he wants to coach. But in a way, he's been a coach already for a number of years."
The reports out of the bullpen yesterday were that Franco got off to a solid start.
"He did a good job," Bottalico said. "He got me up. He told me when I was going in, got me ready in plenty of time and it was really smooth. It was his first day doing it, but it was also not really his first day. Like I said, he already was like a coach. He's been around for a long time and he knows what's going on as much as any manager or pitching coach. This is already his team."
Franco's assistance in the bullpen will be needed more on the road than at home. When they are playing at Shea Stadium the Mets will have a second bullpen catcher, which means Silverio will have more time to do the administrative side of the job.
But on the road the Mets will only have Silverio and fellow bullpen catcher Dave Raccaniello, which means Franco will be called upon more often to assist with the coaching duties.
"It's definitely something that we will need more on the road," Howe said. "He'll be able to help out on the phones, unless he has to pitch."
Howe was asked if he thought Franco would become a manager.
"I don't know," he said. "I know he wants to stay in the game. He'll be a great pitching coach."
Franco is in his 15th consecutive season with the Mets and has been captain since 2001. He has 424 career saves, second-most on the all-time list and most for lefties. He will turn 44 in September and, with the retirement of Jesse Orosco, is now the oldest player in the majors. At some point, he will have to retire, but this could be the beginning of a seamless transition from player to coach.
"Let's face it," Bottalico said. "He's Mr. Met."
Mets: Now it's 'coach' Franco, too
Friday, March 05, 2004
BY DAVID WALDSTEIN
Star-Ledger Staff
JUPITER, Fla. -- Several Mets relievers were surprised yesterday when John Franco appeared in the bullpen at Roger Dean Stadium, a clipboard in his hand and a walkie-talkie tucked into his belt.
Franco wasn't scheduled to pitch and no one had seen him on the bus. But he was indeed supposed to be in the bullpen yesterday, not to pitch, but to begin his unique new career as a captain/reliever/bullpen coach.
For the first time since Joe Torre was player/manager in 1977, the Mets have a player/coach -- if not in title, then at least in deed.
Franco, who was beaming yesterday after his first stint in charge of the bullpen, said his new duties could be the first step in what he hopes will be a future career as a pitching coach or manager.
"Maybe," he said. "I really enjoyed it."
Franco won't have the official title of coach, and his duties will be limited because obviously he will have to pitch. But he will now have more administrative responsibilities than just being the captain and unofficial chief of the bullpen. He will answer the phones, keep track of pitch counts, get players up on the mound to begin warming up, and will also watch guys throw, all of which is secondary to his role as pitcher.
But it is a definite baby step toward a career on a coaching staff.
"It's a nice steppingstone," manager Art Howe said.
The Mets want Franco to do the job because for the first time in years they won't have an official bullpen coach. Bullpen catcher Nelson Silverio will be the staff member in charge, but when he is behind the plate warming up pitchers, Franco will step in as a kind of vice bullpen coach.
Franco said he and the Mets discussed the idea over the winter after former bullpen coach Rick Waits was reassigned to become the club's main roving instructor and the Mets decided not to replace him with a full-time bullpen coach. Franco was receptive to the idea, but few players even knew it was happening.
"I think guys were surprised to see him there in the first place," reliever Ricky Bottalico said. "My guess is he wants to coach. But in a way, he's been a coach already for a number of years."
The reports out of the bullpen yesterday were that Franco got off to a solid start.
"He did a good job," Bottalico said. "He got me up. He told me when I was going in, got me ready in plenty of time and it was really smooth. It was his first day doing it, but it was also not really his first day. Like I said, he already was like a coach. He's been around for a long time and he knows what's going on as much as any manager or pitching coach. This is already his team."
Franco's assistance in the bullpen will be needed more on the road than at home. When they are playing at Shea Stadium the Mets will have a second bullpen catcher, which means Silverio will have more time to do the administrative side of the job.
But on the road the Mets will only have Silverio and fellow bullpen catcher Dave Raccaniello, which means Franco will be called upon more often to assist with the coaching duties.
"It's definitely something that we will need more on the road," Howe said. "He'll be able to help out on the phones, unless he has to pitch."
Howe was asked if he thought Franco would become a manager.
"I don't know," he said. "I know he wants to stay in the game. He'll be a great pitching coach."
Franco is in his 15th consecutive season with the Mets and has been captain since 2001. He has 424 career saves, second-most on the all-time list and most for lefties. He will turn 44 in September and, with the retirement of Jesse Orosco, is now the oldest player in the majors. At some point, he will have to retire, but this could be the beginning of a seamless transition from player to coach.
"Let's face it," Bottalico said. "He's Mr. Met."