Frank talk on Franklin

The Cardinals are looking at some young pitchers as fallback options for closer Ryan Franklin. The 37-year-old Cardinals closer had a career year in 2009, one we don't expect him to duplicate or even approach. Even Franklin is backing the backup idea.

Franklin, a first-time All-Star last year whose ERA hovered around 1.00 until early September, welcomes the help. He called it a "good idea" and said he just wanted to be part of a winning team.

Fantasy Impact: We're not high on Franklin moving forward, but he's on a good team and he pitched well for the majority of last season. Jason Motte and Mitchell Boggs get mentions in the article, and they seem like potential options as the next guys in line. Boggs might end up the Cardinals fifth starter, although Dave Duncan seemingly likes him in a relief role. Motte got first crack as Cardinals closer last season, and failed rather obviously. Franklin is the guy going into the season, but his grasp on the closer role is less than dead-bolt. Let's be honest, teams don't talk about backing up a closer unless they assume they might have to do exactly that.

Perez to push for closer role in STL

The St. Louis Cardinals have the most interesting bullpen in baseball. With the call-up of Chris Perez, St. Louis has three options for saves. Perez will battle Jason Motte and Ryan Franklin for the closer role while Kyle McClellan likely slides into the rotation in place of the injured Chris Carpenter.

Fantasy Impact: Get. Perez. Now. He's only 23, but he can bring the heat. Perez is the sexiest option between the three. Hold your breath and hope he can string together a few solid outings to inherit the role full-time. You'll be glad you took a chance on the future relief star.

Franklin named "Closer For a Day"

Had the Cardinals entered a save situation Tuesday night, Tony La Russa would have turned to Ryan Franklin for his closer, not Jason Motte. Motte, the Cardinals rookie closer, blew his first opportunity at a save on Monday, giving up 4 runs in the ninth. La Russa said Franklin would go Tuesday because Motte threw 29 pitches in the loss.

So before the second game of a four-game series Tuesday, manager Tony La Russa planned to give the hard-throwing right-hander a day off.

Ryan Franklin, who had 17 saves last year while the Cardinals struggled to find a replacement for Jason Isringhausen, was the likely choice to close Tuesday.

Fantasy Impact: The high pitch count certainly has merit, and Franklin never got a chance to close with the Cardinals whipping the Pirates, 9-3. Motte should be back in the closer role on Wednesday. If he's not, then something's up.

Motte can't mop up the Pirates

Cardinals closer Jason Motte blows his first save opportunity of 2009, giving up four runs in the ninth as the Cardinals fall to Pittsburgh, 6-4.

Fantasy Impact: Motte did have the Pirates down to their last strike before the wheels fell off. Then he proceeded to give up four runs for a 36.00 ERA. If this keeps up, Ryan Franklin is the heir apparent to the job in St. Louis.