Re: ST LOUIS CARDINALS NEWS AND NOTES
STLtoday - Notes: Franklin backs taxed bullpen
Notes: Franklin backs taxed bullpen
05/17/2008
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May 4, 2008 -- Cardinals relief pitcher Ryan Franklin
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FRANKLIN BACKS TAXED BULLPEN
It?s been clear for several days, but the absence of closer Jason Isringhausen for a of minimum 15 days brings a permanence to Tony La Russa?s plan for the ninth inning.
"The guy," the manager said, "is Franklin."
La Russa plans to use Franklin as the acting closer in the immediate future, relying on the veteran?s experience as the Cardinals? eighth-inning guy this season and last. The test will be Franklin?s stamina for the role, which neither player nor manager believes will be an issue. "He?s probably not as strong (as Isringhausen)," La Russa said. "He?s wiry strong."
"It?s good to know (about closing), because I want to be prepared," Franklin said. "It?s not going to be any different than the job I?ve been doing, really ? I have to get three outs, under pressure. It just changes when I start getting ready."
Franklin has pitched on back-to-back days five times this year, and like the rest of the bullpen it?s the days, not the innings, that have been taxing. The Cardinals are nearing the end of a run of 20 consecutive days and will have played 46 games with two off days. The bullpen had been one of the least-used, by innings, a week ago, but the relievers have now thrown 30 innings in the past 11 games. Their ERA was 6.60 in that time, and it jumped from the bottom five in innings pitched to 17th, at 1252⁄3.
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"The factor that really needs to be considered is how many days we?ve played since an off day," La Russa said. "We let (Ron) Villone take a beating Thursday so we wouldn?t have a fatigued bullpen."
LOHSE EXPECTS TO START SUNDAY
Kyle Lohse expects to make his start as scheduled Sunday, wondering again Friday what the fuss is about the soreness he?s felt in his right shoulder. La Russa prefers to be cautious, saying he still planned to hold rookie Mike Parisi out of Friday?s game as a ready backup. Lohse has mentioned shoulder discomfort before this season and acknowledged he?s doing more treatment that usual.
"But what?s normal?" he said. "I?m not doing a normal thing throwing a ball. I?ve never missed a start (because of) injury, never been on the DL. Why would Sunday be any different?"
Said La Russa: "He?s had this before. Then he probably knows . . . if it?s sore and not hurt, big difference. It?s not something you ignore. If the day comes and he?s not ready to go, I?d rather pitch the kid."
MISSING MILES
La Russa is looking for a game this weekend to get infielder Aaron Miles a start, having gone the last week without putting the switch-hitter in the lineup. Miles hit .419 last season against the American League, the fifth-best average in the majors during interleague play. Recently Miles "has got the short end of the coin flip," La Russa said. "He could have played any of these games. We have to pick a spot."
AL REYES RETURNS
The last pitch Al Reyes threw as a Cardinal came on the last regular-season afternoon of old Busch Stadium and was the pitch that sent the righthander for a second Tommy John surgery. Back in 2005, Reyes was the Cardinals? steady setup man, producing a 2.15 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 622⁄3 innings. The next year he didn?t throw a pitch ? but he did sign a contract. Tampa Bay offered him a deal that would allow him to rehab and return as a Ray. After a 26-save turn last year as Tampa Bay?s closer, he returned from the disabled list (biceps tendinitis) this past week to the familiar setup role. "It was their patience," Reyes said. "They signed me to help me rehab, to help me recover and then to give me a place to pitch in 2007."
EXTRA BASES
Before and during today?s game, wives of Cardinals players will be collecting donations for the sixth annual Komen Collection, a breast cancer awareness fundraiser to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. Wives will be wearing pink jerseys signed by their husbands, and the jerseys will be auctioned off during the game inside Game 3. During his previous visit to St. Louis, Rays manager Joe Maddon said he took to the old Busch Stadium to "run the deep fly route" like Mel Gray. His take on his team?s first visit to the Cardinals? 2-year-old ballpark: "Very impressive. Very cozy. . . . They captured what the Cardinals are all about with this ballpark." . . . Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett rejoined the team Friday after spending a day away to attend to a family matter.
FLOYD IN A PINCH
The Rays? Cliff Floyd is hitting .367 this season and is six for 15 since returning from knee surgery, but because of the knee he?s only been used as a designated hitter. He?ll see time this weekend as a pinch hitter, his manager said. "We?re covered there," Maddon said. "We want to put the best defensive team out there as much as we can."