Mackanin benched Franco for the second consecutive game Wednesday night against the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park. Franco entered the game hitting .221 with six doubles, six home runs, 28 RBIs and a .657 OPS in 171 plate appearances. His .643 OPS as a third baseman ranks 23rd of 24 qualified third basemen in baseball.
"I'd like to see if he comes to me, rather than me going to him," Mackanin said.
Mackanin had the same hope last season, when he benched Odubel Herrera three of four games in San Francisco and San Diego. But Herrera never talked with Mackanin because he had no idea he had been benched for struggling.