4 new signings announced

bccran · 01-10-2007, 07:01 PM

Here are the signings:

Mark Mulder (major league)
Ryan Franklin (major league)
Rick Ankiel (minor league - ST invite)
Jobert Cabrera (minor league - ST invite)

The Franklin signing probably signals an end to the Weaver era.

Ewttexas · 01-10-2007, 07:47 PM

Not particularly true, Cranny. It could signal a trade using a reliever to get a real alternative until Mulder returns.

bccran · 01-10-2007, 08:39 PM

Could be, but I think they are committed to Izzy in the pen as the closer and
Wainwright in the rotation. That means they need a starter until Mulder comes back. Franklin is a proven major league starter. He threw between
190 and 210 innings for Seattle in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Last year he was relegated to the bullpen in Cincy and Philly. He has changed from a fly ball pitcher to a ground ball pitcher. I may be wrong, but he is the ideal candidate for Duncan as a starter.

Ewttexas · 01-10-2007, 11:33 PM

Thanks Cranny. I just read an article that said that he would be given evry chance to make the rotation.

Coop · 01-11-2007, 07:55 AM

I'm glad cranny. I did kind of want to see Weaver next year.
Walt comes through for us with good picks.

BrotherBri · 01-11-2007, 10:44 AM

It is still possible that Weaver will re-sign. The Franklin contract just takes Boras's gun away from our heads.

I would love to see Narveson and Weaver fill out the rotation, with Wainwright closing until the All-Star Break, letting Izzy ease back into the role -- and prove to us he can handle it. Franklin and Wainwright would provide insurance against Narveson proving unready, Wells proving stubborn/ineffective, and Wells or Reyes proving fragile. This approach would give us not only depth for the whole season, but depth that could be traded in July to give the order or rotation or pen the piece that we're missing.

The other great possibility with these signings is that it gives us so much depth that we could package some bullpen excess -- Thompson, Looper, Hancock, Flores -- with OF excess (J-Rod or Schu) and Encarnacion into a spring trade that would get the OF that would make a difference.

ArRedbird · 01-11-2007, 10:56 AM

Franklin and Mulder take the final
two slots on the 40-man roster, correct?

These observations on Franklin:
He can start or relieve.
One source comments
that he has great command and
gets out in front in the count.
But after 60 pitches in a start,
he usually gets hit hard.

Anybody with starting/relieving ZIPS or PERCOTA
numbers for Franklin?

ArRedbird · 01-11-2007, 12:09 PM

From the Baseball Think Factory and Dan Szymborski,
posted Oct. 25, 2006.

ZiPS for Ryan Franklin
figuring 41 G, 22 starts
161 ip
188 h
29 hr
57 bb
84 k
5.70 ERA.

Don't know if those figures change when
a pitcher moves from one team (Reds)
to another (Cards).

GoCrazyFolks · 01-11-2007, 02:41 PM

I'm glad to see Ankiel get another shot with the Cards. I just can't help but root for the guy. Where do you guys see him at the beginning of the year? Springfield or do you think he might make the jump to Memphis?

Franklin could end up being a pretty good signing. He may be a perfect candidate for a Dave Duncan make-over. At very least he should be able to hold down Mulder's spot until mid-year.

Looks like the Cardinals front office had a pretty good day.

Kodiak · 01-11-2007, 03:51 PM

Wasn't Franklin a big prospect back when he was coming up? Either way, he is a solid addition.

My guess is that Ankiel starts out in AA, depending on how he does in Spring Training. I really hope he can stay healthy and do well as a hitter. I always have had hope that he'd become a pitcher again and put the past where it belongs....

bccran · 01-11-2007, 04:13 PM

It's probably not the easiest thing in the world to go from one league to another and from a starter to reliever at the same time. I would tend to look at Franklin's 2003-2005 stats in Seattle as a starter and adjust the ERA down
by a half run. His ERA for the years 2003-2005 was 4.49. That would hopefully put him at right around a 4.00 ERA under Duncan.

ArRedbird · 01-15-2007, 02:38 PM

New ZiPs for Franklin were just posted:

ERA W L G GS INN H ER HR BB K
4.90 8 10 41 22 156 171 85 23 54 78

Kodiak · 01-15-2007, 03:09 PM

Never underestimate Duncan's influence

ArRedbird · 01-16-2007, 01:19 PM

Kodiak -- i was thinking the same thing
about Duncan's influence. R. Franklin's
ZiPs ERA est. before Duncan: 5.70
ZiPs ERA est. with Duncan: 4.90

That's a big jump statistically speaking.

ZiPs probably also calculates in the Cardinal defense.

01-10-2007, 07:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
bccran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 40	4 new signings announced Here are the signings: Mark Mulder (major league) Ryan Franklin (major league) Rick Ankiel (minor league - ST invite) Jobert Cabrera (minor league - ST invite) The Franklin signing probably signals an end to the Weaver era.

01-10-2007, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ewttexas Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 691	4 Signings Not particularly true, Cranny. It could signal a trade using a reliever to get a real alternative until Mulder returns.

01-11-2007, 10:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
BrotherBri Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 46	******* It is still possible that Weaver will re-sign. The Franklin contract just takes Boras's gun away from our heads. I would love to see Narveson and Weaver fill out the rotation, with Wainwright closing until the All-Star Break, letting Izzy ease back into the role -- and prove to us he can handle it. Franklin and Wainwright would provide insurance against Narveson proving unready, Wells proving stubborn/ineffective, and Wells or Reyes proving fragile. This approach would give us not only depth for the whole season, but depth that could be traded in July to give the order or rotation or pen the piece that we're missing. The other great possibility with these signings is that it gives us so much depth that we could package some bullpen excess -- Thompson, Looper, Hancock, Flores -- with OF excess (J-Rod or Schu) and Encarnacion into a spring trade that would get the OF that would make a difference. __________________ Just a thought ...

01-11-2007, 10:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
ArRedbird Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 568	40 Franklin and Mulder take the final two slots on the 40-man roster, correct? These observations on Franklin: He can start or relieve. One source comments that he has great command and gets out in front in the count. But after 60 pitches in a start, he usually gets hit hard. Anybody with starting/relieving ZIPS or PERCOTA numbers for Franklin?

01-11-2007, 12:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
ArRedbird Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 568	ZiPS From the Baseball Think Factory and Dan Szymborski, posted Oct. 25, 2006. ZiPS for Ryan Franklin figuring 41 G, 22 starts 161 ip 188 h 29 hr 57 bb 84 k 5.70 ERA. Don't know if those figures change when a pitcher moves from one team (Reds) to another (Cards).

01-10-2007, 08:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
bccran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 40	Could be, but I think they are committed to Izzy in the pen as the closer and Wainwright in the rotation. That means they need a starter until Mulder comes back. Franklin is a proven major league starter. He threw between 190 and 210 innings for Seattle in 2003, 2004, and 2005. Last year he was relegated to the bullpen in Cincy and Philly. He has changed from a fly ball pitcher to a ground ball pitcher. I may be wrong, but he is the ideal candidate for Duncan as a starter.

01-10-2007, 11:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ewttexas Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 691	Thanks Cranny. I just read an article that said that he would be given evry chance to make the rotation.

01-11-2007, 07:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Coop Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Memphis Posts: 3,955	I'm glad cranny. I did kind of want to see Weaver next year. Walt comes through for us with good picks.

01-11-2007, 02:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
GoCrazyFolks Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 167	I'm glad to see Ankiel get another shot with the Cards. I just can't help but root for the guy. Where do you guys see him at the beginning of the year? Springfield or do you think he might make the jump to Memphis? Franklin could end up being a pretty good signing. He may be a perfect candidate for a Dave Duncan make-over. At very least he should be able to hold down Mulder's spot until mid-year. Looks like the Cardinals front office had a pretty good day.

01-11-2007, 03:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kodiak Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 746	Wasn't Franklin a big prospect back when he was coming up? Either way, he is a solid addition. My guess is that Ankiel starts out in AA, depending on how he does in Spring Training. I really hope he can stay healthy and do well as a hitter. I always have had hope that he'd become a pitcher again and put the past where it belongs....

01-11-2007, 04:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
bccran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 40	It's probably not the easiest thing in the world to go from one league to another and from a starter to reliever at the same time. I would tend to look at Franklin's 2003-2005 stats in Seattle as a starter and adjust the ERA down by a half run. His ERA for the years 2003-2005 was 4.49. That would hopefully put him at right around a 4.00 ERA under Duncan.

01-15-2007, 02:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
ArRedbird Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 568	New ZiPs on Ryan Franklin New ZiPs for Franklin were just posted: ERA W L G GS INN H ER HR BB K 4.90 8 10 41 22 156 171 85 23 54 78

01-15-2007, 03:09 PM	#13 (permalink)
Kodiak Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 746	Never underestimate Duncan's influence

01-16-2007, 01:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
ArRedbird Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 568	Kodiak -- i was thinking the same thing about Duncan's influence. R. Franklin's ZiPs ERA est. before Duncan: 5.70 ZiPs ERA est. with Duncan: 4.90 That's a big jump statistically speaking. ZiPs probably also calculates in the Cardinal defense.