TOWER GROVE — It used to be a pitch that St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin would reserve for playing catch with fellow reliever Russ Springer. Franklin would try to time it just right, right when Springer would least expect it and then — whiffle! — he’d get the knuckleball. It became tradition, Springer said, for Franklin to throw two or three before he call it a day.

“He’s superstitious,” Springer explained.

Franklin had fooled around with the fluttering pitch for years, and he always threatened to uncork one in a game as a starter with Seattle. By his count, he had thrown it three times total in games before last season. And then the opportunity came at Wrigley Field on August of last season. He had Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano on a full count and he floated the free-swinger a knuckleball. Soriano nicked it and then flew out on the next pitch. Franklin said he won’t hesitate to use the knuckleball again, and he reiterates his reasons for practicing it in Part 2 of the new-toy interview with the All-Star closer.

In the previous edition — Part 1 can be found here — Franklin discussed his fastballs and curveball. In this video interivew he talks about his off-speed stuff and that knuckler.

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