THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Last year Ryan Franklin struggled in the closer’s role, as did almost everyone else the Cardinals tried there. This year Franklin has pretty much been nails. Has Franklin made physical adjustments to find greater success or were his problems last year more psychological? Is there any reason to believe he can’t continue to see success this season?

JOE STRAUSS
It’s always easier to pitch when you’re not looking over your shoulder, and Franklin had Jason Isringhausen there last year. There was some uncertainty how long anyone would hold that role. That is far more the reason for Franklin’s success this season than anything mechanical. That situation simply isn’t present this year.

DERRICK GOOLD
Ryan Franklin conceded late last season that he was uncomfortable closing when Jason Isringhausen was healthy and present in the bullpen because he respected Isringhausen as the incumbent, the team’s preferred closer, and the elder statesman of the bullpen. When Isringhausen wasn’t there, Franklin was mostly fine as the club’s closer. You connect the dots. As with almost any reliever in the bullpen, it always helps to know your role and always hurts to look over your shoulder. For much of last season, there were fistfuls of relievers who didn’t know the former and did too much of the latter. This season, Franklin can read the assignments, see that the ninth is being held for him and know there’s no need to wonder if someone is coming up from behind — or if someone more deserving is lurking.

He’s not filling in for the once or future closer. He is the closer. Big difference.

RICK HUMMEL
Last year, Franklin might have been looking over his shoulder a bit. Jason Isringhausen had been the longtime closer and then when Isringhausen asked out of that role, Franklin was thrust into it but may have felt he was just holding the fort until Isringhausen came back. Franklin may think the job is his now. And don’t forget, he did have 17 saves last year, so he wasn’t a total washout.

GERRY FRALEY (National baseball writer for FOXsports.com, Sportingnews.com and USAToday)
Franklin has been successful to date because he has been more of a strikeout pitcher, especially against right-handed hitters. A year ago, right-handed batters hit .285 with only 30 strikeouts in 186 at-bats against Franklin. Going into tonight’s game at Washington, he has held right-handed hitters to a .118 average with six strikeouts in 17 at-bats. He has tied up right-handed hitters with increased down-and-in movement on the sinking fastball.

The fewer balls put in play against a closer, the better his chances of preserving a narrow lead. If Franklin can continue to rack up strikeouts at his current rate of one per inning, he could mantain as the closer. If he goes back to being the pitcher who averaged only 5.83 strikeouts per nine innings last season, he will have problems.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Franklin looks great right now. He’s painting the corners with regularity, his fastball has great life and he’s been a stabilizing force for the team’s bullpen. That said, there is cause for concern — Franklin’s 2nd half splits. From 2006-2008, Franklin was a 7-6 pitcher with a 2.87 ERA and 12 saves in 19 chances before the All-Star break. After the break? Try on 9-11 with a 4.80 ERA and just 6 saves in 15 chances for size.

I know the past doesn’t predict the future — thank God for that — but when you’re looking for performance patterns in a 36-year-old reliever I don’t think it’s being “negative” to see cause for concern with those splits.