Maikel Franco on slump-busting game and O's tough schedule

By Steve Melewski

Orioles

May 18, 2021, 12:35pm

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When a player has just four hits over a 13-game stretch, that is a definite slump. But when the same player has three hits, including a homer and double, in the game that follows, that could be a slump breaker.

That is the hope and goal for Orioles third baseman Maikel Franco. He went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Sunday as the O's beat the Yankees 10-6. His two-run homer in the eighth provided some nice late insurance, extending Baltimore's lead from 8-5 to 10-5.

Franco hit No. 4 and had gone 15 games without a home run. He produced his first multi-extra-base hit game of the season and his first since Sept. 10, 2020 for Kansas City at Cleveland. He also snapped a streak of eight straight games without an RBI.

In the 13 games before Sunday's breakout, he was 4-for-51 with one RBI, producing a line of .078/.130/.098/.228.

"You know, it happens in baseball," Franco said this afternoon during a Zoom interview. "Everybody has those situations and I've been in the tough situation. But the last day for me, I just feel much better at the plate. I see the ball better. I drive the ball to the other way. I had a line drive to the left side and a homer. Made me feel good, made me feel better and I think everything is going to be all right right now."

In 37 games, he is batting .211/.273/.352/.625. His OPS+ of 75 is 25 percent under league average. In 2020, when he played in every game for the Royals, his .778 OPS produced an OPS+ of 108 - above league average.

"Understand it's going to happen and I have to be positive every single day," Franco said. "I have to be 100 percent confident, believing in myself. And that's what I've been doing. ... At the end of the day, I just come in, get prepared and do everything I can do to get better and try to stay away from a slump. Try to be consistent, try to be focused and don't give up, don't give any at-bats away. Just try to do your best when you go out there and that's what I do right now. So the other day, that's a great day. I think I'm finding my swing and everything is going to be the right way."

The Orioles added Franco as a free agent in mid-March. He got a one-year deal for $800,000 with another $200,000 possible through incentives. He said everything has been looking up for him with his new team.

"It's been amazing, man. It's been really good," said Franco. "So those type of players that I have here, I get confidence and I've got a good relationship with everybody. That's a good thing for me. They support me well. Everybody does a really good job with me and I feel blessed and I feel proud to be in the organization. Just want to keep doing what I can do to help my team win every single day."

Franco discussed the Orioles' tough schedule through 40 games, where they are 17-23. They have played 20 of those games against New York and Boston, and Tampa Bay arrives tonight. That means the O's played 53 percent of their games against those two clubs in the first 25 percent of the year.

"I mean, the first 40 games, we played 20 versus Boston and the Yankees and they are really good teams," he said. "You know, but at the end of the day, man, it's about we're in the big leagues, you know what I'm saying? We have to grind it every single day. I know this team is young, but don't take anything for granted. Go out and compete, no matter what. No matter who is on the mound. And be consistent and be positive every day and the results are going to be there. Be tough and compete."

The American League East is currently the only division with four clubs with a winning record and the only one with four clubs with 20 or more wins, as four have 22 or more. Now the O's face the team that played for the World Series last October.

"They've got a good team, no question. Good hitters and a really good pitching staff," Franco said. "For me, as a team, we have to just stay positive all the way down. Doesn't matter which team we will face. Be you every single time, try to just go out every single day and complete and do everything the right way. If we do the little things and we do everything the right way, we've got a chance to play a really good game and that is everything it's about. Coming in every single day and compete and be ready and be tough every single day."