"btw: there was a story the other day that snell is trying to come back."

I'll preface my reply with a statement that I've always like Snell's stuff, but his problem has always been between his ears. He couldn't even handle the rigors of starting once every fifth day for the Pirates and the Mariners. I can't imagine he'd be successful in a playoff-type atmosphere.
It's too early for shopping. There are probably a couple of guys who will be available in July, but then we're back on the Shelby Miller merry-go-round again. The issue I have with Franklin is I don't know if his problems are fixable (if that's even a word) at this point. He's never had great velocity to begin with, and if he loses his ability to locate, he's nothing more than a beer league pitcher. I don't know if it's worth finding out if that will ever come back, but knowing La Russa, he'll probably give him every opportunity.

I agree that it is clearly Boggs or Batista.  They are not going to throw Sanchez in the closer just because he had two good outing.  Plus if you do that then you run the risk of over exposing him and forcing him to make the adjustment once the league get a book on him in the spotlight. 

TLR and Duncan like closers who have several pitches, Motte doesnt.   I prefer Boggs but my guess is that Batista get first crack.  He has done it before and I dont think TLR really likes Boggs that much.  I think that dates back to his days as a starter. 

Franklin is clearly done.  If hitters done expand the strike zone and get themself out Franklin is toast.  I doubt the plug is pulled this soon.

Another thing they have to consider--if Franklin comes into a save situation, he's liable to come in to some boos.  At the very least he will come into a grumbling crowd.  But if he blows a save on this homestand, he's going to come off the field to a chorus of boos.  I seem to remember that when this was happening to Izzy, Larussa felt pretty bad about it.  I suspect they're going to find another option for this homestand. 

I wouldn't be all that surprised if Franklin came up with some mysterious "ailment" that allowed him to go on the DL for a couple of weeks to try to regain his bearings.  That way TLR doesn't have to publicly "demote" Franklin, even though we all will know exactly what's happening.

One can only hope.  When does Tallet come off the DL.  The timing should be about perfect.

Matt Holliday is a god.

forsberg_us wrote:

Another thing they have to consider--if Franklin comes into a save situation, he's liable to come in to some boos.  At the very least he will come into a grumbling crowd.  But if he blows a save on this homestand, he's going to come off the field to a chorus of boos.  I seem to remember that when this was happening to Izzy, Larussa felt pretty bad about it.  I suspect they're going to find another option for this homestand. 

I wouldn't be all that surprised if Franklin came up with some mysterious "ailment" that allowed him to go on the DL for a couple of weeks to try to regain his bearings.  That way TLR doesn't have to publicly "demote" Franklin, even though we all will know exactly what's happening.

Plausible scenario. Almost everything I've read about Franklin going back to when he whined about being demoted from the Phillies' rotation in 2006, indicates he's supremely confident in his abilities, moreso than he should be.

One other thing working against Sanchez is that apparently, on some nights, rather than throwing 94-95, he comes out throwing 88-90. At least that was the report from the minor league coaches. Non one has been able to figure out when or why, but they're trying to get as much video as they can to try to figure it out.

artie_fufkin wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Another thing they have to consider--if Franklin comes into a save situation, he's liable to come in to some boos.  At the very least he will come into a grumbling crowd.  But if he blows a save on this homestand, he's going to come off the field to a chorus of boos.  I seem to remember that when this was happening to Izzy, Larussa felt pretty bad about it.  I suspect they're going to find another option for this homestand. 

I wouldn't be all that surprised if Franklin came up with some mysterious "ailment" that allowed him to go on the DL for a couple of weeks to try to regain his bearings.  That way TLR doesn't have to publicly "demote" Franklin, even though we all will know exactly what's happening.

Plausible scenario. Almost everything I've read about Franklin going back to when he whined about being demoted from the Phillies' rotation in 2006, indicates he's supremely confident in his abilities, moreso than he should be.

"I don't know if I'm looking at the wrong damn game or not, but I thought I made a good pitch," Franklin said."

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_91fabab6-3337-55b6-b52c-6f05b33a7d36.html

"who has pitched well against us (in like . . . 2002, maybe)."

I remember the Cards were able to get to him. They always seemed to solve Johnson, too. It was Schilling who killed them in '01. Those two games against Morris in '01 were epic. Tony Freakin' Womack.