FROM THE FANFEST — Through his years in the majors and through all his roles in the majors, St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin has collected pitches like some collect jerseys or others collect service time.

A few spring trainings ago, Post-Dispatch photographer Chris Lee and myself worked on a photo essay of Franklin’s handful of grips. He has a variety of fastballs, a slider, a curve and the pitch he dusted-off at Wrigley Field in a…

DOWNTOWN — Almost three years to the date before the St. Louis Cardinals current outfielder phenom Colby Rasmus was born in Georgia, a once- and always-young Cardinals lefthanded-hitting phenom rookie was about to launch a game-winning home run in the 10th inning.

Andy Van Slyke, starting at third base and batting No. 3, already had three runs scored and two hits when he came to the plate in the 10th inning of the August 18, 1983…

DOWNTOWN — The story as you’ve read it often in print and heard it more often on the radio is that St. Louis Cardinals Adam Wainwright was pulled into the video room earlier this season by teammate Chris Carpenter to see where his season was going awry.

It’s the arm angle, of course. Wainwright has felt better ever since.

Wainwright saw in one clip how his arm was up higher — like it used to be when…