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This year counts, too, G. Yes it does.
And even if "Vote Franklin in '13" doesn't mean much in '13, say a win or two (at least), it might mean a bunch in '14 because Nick will be a seasoned dude by then.
I suppose folks could argue that he's more likely to do a Charboneau and rip as a rookie while crashing as a sophomore so therefore you keep him down until '14. But how often does a lack of exposure really become a good thing?
I just don't see the risk in all of this. If he becomes a mashing Pedroia-type IF then he'll be cheap anyway, as you'll get 3 "free" years and then the more expensive arb years. On a yearly average, he will still be very affordable. Let him go after that if you wish.....or trade him for shiney things, because somebody smart (say, Beane, Boston or NY) will always pay for a mashing LH hitting middle IF.
And if he doesn't become that good, well he's still better than Andino/Ryan/not-even Mendoza, right now, and you just wait a season for Miller to get here. Hardly a loss, I say.
By the end of this Pirate series we will have played 36 games. That = 108 2B/SS/3B starts. Two of the worst bats in the majors will have started at least 43 of those possible starts. That will not do. Looking at track records there is almost no indication that Ryan or Andino will suddenly reverse their augering-in tracks.
Beyond that, the risk in bringing Franklin up is largely conjectured/what-iffed/hypothetical. Unless you think he can't hit MLB pitching, the benefit is real.
Make it so.
moe