Sure, the New York Mets are missing two experienced starters. They still have Tom Glavine, though, and his stellar pitching performance put them on the brink of a first-round sweep.

By MIKE FITZPATRICK NEW YORK - General manager Omar Minaya and the New York Mets wanted Julio Franco so badly they gave a 47-year-old backup a two-year contract. "There are guys that are special as far as longevity," Minaya said.

By Emily Kaiser CHICAGO (Reuters) - Atlanta Braves first-baseman Julio Franco is getting tired of people asking him how he feels, or when he will get the hit that earns him the title of oldest Major League Baseball player to belt a home run.

TORONTO (Reuters) - Julio Franco belted a grand slam homerun and Horacio Ramirez pitched seven sharp innings as theAtlanta Braves took a rain-shortened 7-2 decision from theFlorida Marlins in National League action in Miami on Monday.

MIAMI - Julio Franco seemed to be showing some signs of slowing down during April and May. The 46-year-old Atlanta first baseman has shown in June that he clearly can still play the game.