Ryan Franklin had a pretty exceptional 2009 season, all things considered. He finished with a 1.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 38 saves in 43 chances, filling a role for the Cardinals that looked to be a major question mark this time last year. But reporters this spring have decided to focus instead on the four saves he blew down the stretch and the nine earned runs he allowed in his last 9 2/3 frames of the regular season, and Franklin is sick of hearing about it, or something.
Listen, Ryan, nobody likes hearing about their shortcomings, but trying to control the message is rarely worth the effort. Just ask Tiger Woods. Perhaps we should have learned our lesson about the Cardinals closer when he voiced his unconscionable frustration over MLB’s new gun policy a few weeks ago.
