Categories: News

Maikel Franco briefly suspended by Dominican Winter League team

Maikel Franco is playing in the Dominican Winter League for the Cibao Giants. According to reports, the Giants suspended him three games “for violating the organization’s discipline code.”

That violation was apparently partying until 6 a.m. when his team has a 4 p.m. playoff game. Three other players were out with Franco and also suspended.

Franco apologized for his behavior, and the suspension was lifted.

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Of course this doesn’t look good – it’s easy to say that if you’re playing for a team, don’t party until the wee hours of the morning before a playoff game. That said, Franco is still 25 and in a situation where it’s tempting to hang out and party all night. I’ve been there, and maybe you have, too.

I’m not going to rake the guy over the coals for this, but it’s a sign that there’s still some growing up he has to do. He has to really prove his value this year, or that’s the end.

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Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.

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