BETHLEHEM, Pa. - It was a popular theory last season - one that was supported by Phillies manager Pete Mackanin - that Maikel Franco was trying to do too much for an offense that did not have much else.
Franco's batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage all dipped in a season of mixed results. It seemed that Franco felt the weight of trying to salvage an offense that was one of the worst in baseball. So consider the third baseman one of the biggest winners of an offseason that brought the Phillies a pair of veteran hitters - Michael Saunders and Howie Kendrick - to slot into the middle of the order with himself and Tommy Joseph.