Is This The End For Our Hero?

We didn't get a chance to get into this yesterday, but we really need to give a full-throated, stand-up salute to Julio Franco, who very well might have played his final game.

The Mets designated Franco for assignment yesterday, and in the worst cut of all, it was for that whipper-snapper Lastings Milledge. Franco's gonna be 49 years old next month, and his agent says he plans on continuing to play, if he can find someone to sign him. (The Cardinals will probably sign him just to avoid having to bring up Ankiel.)

If this is all for Franco, though, man, we're really going to miss him in every way. To honor him, we direct you to the great Progressive Boink tribute. We're lost without him.

Franco Is Cut But Won't Quit [NY Daily News] Julio Franco's Career In Pixels [Deadspin]