A big question turned into a strength of the 2009 Cardinals as Ryan Franklin seized the closer’s job and solidified the bullpen.
The 2008 St. Louis Cardinals missed the post-season for the second consecutive year, something that hadn’t occurred since 1999. A major reason why was a bullpen that could not find a reliable ninth-inning man and amassed an amazing total of 31 blown saves, 12 games lost in extra innings and 13 walk-off losses, all MLB-worsts.
What a difference a year makes. The 2009 relief corps represented one of the strengths of the team, albeit often overlooked in the shadows of National League Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols and Cy Young Award contenders Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.
It didn’t begin well.
Coming into 2009 spring training, manager Tony La Russa declined to name a closer and training camp competition did not clarify the situation. Jason Motte was given the first opportunity and blew the opening day save. Since-traded Chris Perez didn’t step up, so Franklin just quietly took the reins and strengthened his hold every time out. The situation was finally so obvious that before too long into the season, even the cautious La Russa had to admit that Franklin had indeed become his closer.
Before long, Franklin was most appropriately named to the National League All-Star Team, his first such recognition at the ripe old baseball age of 36. At that point, he was 21 for 22 in save opportunities and had an ERA of 0.79.
Franklin was named the MLB Delivery Man of the Month in August after converting 11 of 12 chances while not allowing an earned run. On September 1, the Cardinals announced Franklin signed a contract extension for $6.5 million plus incentives covering 2010 and 2011. Feast quickly turned to famine, however. In his ten outings after September 1, Franklin walked ten, yielded 15 hits and allowed seven runs for a 6.75 ERA. He went 2-2 and was just 3-for-6 in save opportunities.
Despite that month-long late season slump, Franklin and his billy goats gruff facial hair finished with 38 saves, third-best in the league and the best by a Cardinal since 2005. His conversion rate was fifth-best in team history for a closer with 30 or more saves. Franklin placed second in the NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year competition in his first full season as a closer and second among NL closers with his 1.92 ERA.
Here are some of Franklin’s impressive results in tabular form, with his 2008 numbers offered in contrast. Note how Franklin improved in every category possible in the year-to-year comparisons.
| Franklin 2009 | Number | Percent | Franklin 2008 | Number | Percent | |
| Saves/opportunities | 38/43 | 88.4% | Saves/opportunities | 17/25 | 68.0% | |
| Inherited runners stranded | 14/16 | 87.5% | Inherited runners stranded | 13/22 | 59.1% | |
| First batter retired | 45/62 | 72.6% | First batter retired | 52/74 | 70.3% | |
| ERA | 1.92 | ERA | 3.55 | |||
| Won-loss | 4-3 | 57.1% | Won-loss | 6-6 | 50.0% | |
| Strikeouts-to-walks | 44/24 | 1.83:1 | Strikeouts-to-walks | 51/30 | 1.70:1 |
Even with a much younger supporting cast in 2009, the stability of the closer undoubtedly solidified the entire pen. Comparing this group to last season’s again demonstrates a marked improvement in every measure.
| Cardinals bullpen 2009 | Number | Percent | Cardinals bullpen 2008 | Number | Percent | |
| Saves/opportunities | 43/58 | 74.1% | Saves/opportunities | 42/73 | 57.5% | |
| Inherited runners stranded | 187/245 | 76.3% | Inherited runners stranded | 165/226 | 73.0% | |
| First batter retired | 341/480 | 71.0% | First batter retired | 330/498 | 66.3% | |
| ERA | 3.67 | ERA | 4.20 | |||
| Won-loss | 22-18 | 55.0% | Won-loss | 22-31 | 41.5% |
While that is not all due to Franklin, as the leader of the pen, he deserves considerable credit for the solid 2009 contribution of the Cardinals relief corps.
La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan attributed Franklin’s late season woes to fatigue from pitching too frequently. They are interested in acquiring another bullpen veteran who could step in and close during those days when Franklin would be unavailable in 2010.
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The fatigue thing seems a little iffy. That was the least innings Franklin has thrown in 8 years. As closer, it would seem he would have had less up and downs in the bullpen than the last couple of years.
By looking at the big picture numbers, I can see what you mean, CC. It certainly seemed he hit the wall in early September. Here are a couple of potential theories. He was 36 years old last season, on the natural downside of a player’s career. Another is that many believe all relief outings are not created equal. The higher pressure of the ninth inning role has proven to be something not every pitcher can handle. I could see how that might take more out of some. My observation of Franklin is that he is a a very quiet, even-keeled guy, but what is bubbling inside, I don’t know.
I have seen others suggest the contract extension took the pressure off, but I don’t subscribe to that theory. Franklin was already under club control for 2010, so the new deal effectively just added a year and a bit more money. Nice, but hardly a huge swinger in terms of financial security.
There are a lot of individual sub-plots shaping up for the 2010 season, how Franklin fares and how Tony uses him will be interesting. Also whether the young guys coming back, Mott, Boggs, Hawk, Walters emerge as something other than serviceable low cost pen guys. And whether the next wave, Garcia, Ottavino fare any differently when they come up. There is not going to be room for everybody even if nobody else is signed.
The Beltran story is interesting on several levels. Possibly unauthorized by the team, possibly not needed. Possibly Boras wanting Beltran to get it done now so he will have a full healthy season in 2011 running up to free agency. The Mets having spent big on Bay now being without their $18.5M a year center fielder into May. Wonder if Boras will pitch Ankiel?
McGwire is/was an experienced weight lifter, it seem strange that he wouldn’t acknowledge the strength benefits of steroids since he must know they exist.
On the other side of that coin, If Mcgwire was truly trying to bulk up and gain strength he would have been using them for more than 4 weeks during 1998. Do we believe the 4 week part of the story?
bb, that Beltran story sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Troy Glaus, the sequel.
Combined with a little Ray Lankford. The timing is similar to Glauss but was Glauss’ surgery unauthorized?
I don’t think anyone wanted to make a spectacle out of it, but I am pretty sure Glaus did it on his own.
Beltran will have his work cut out for him to match the time on DL. Here’s hoping he can do it.