Franklin or Downs, WHIR

[cubbieball10]

At the start of the season, I had Soria and Francisco as my closers. When Soria went down, I nabbed Franklin off the WW and put him into my lineup for the week (+1 to you if your WW closer picked up a save yesterday).

I like the idea of rostering a 3rd closer (esp. as an insurance policy/back up plan for Soria). Would you keep Franklin as your 3rd closer or does he lose the gig at some point to Perez/Motte? The rumblings are that Downs will still be the closer after Ryan returns from injury, so do you prefer Downs over Franklin as a long term candidate to stay in the role of closer. And who is the better candidate in the short run?

Leave a link and I'll do my best to help.

[MadDog36]

Franklin is a good sell high.

[sarthaz]

I think both situations have about the same chance for change, but I believe Downs is a better pitcher than Franklin, and his team's other options are worse, so I prefer Downs.

Please help me in return:
viewtopic.php?t=381566

[jase218]

I feel otherwise. I like Franklin more than Downs. Downs is a really good pitcher, but LaRussa loves his vets. Franklin only had 1 save before last year and he ended up with 17. His ERA was bad but it was largely due to his walks. If you look at his stats this year, he has REALLY come down on the walks. I think LaRussa will use Motte and Perez in less pressure situations earlier in the game. I do worry that LaRussa will use a closer by committee at some point but that doesn't scare me as much as Ryan keeping the closer gig for you. The Blue Jays are paying Ryan like 9 mil per year. You don't just throw that guy into a set up role. Downs is a great set up guy and I think the manager will keep him there b/c it is often just as imp as the closer. I think there is a lot of loyalty for Ryan.



Help with mine?
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=381459
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=381454

[nolanwood]

Downs is easily the better pitcher and who knows if/when BJ is healthy again. Franklin is not a K pitcher, and the Cardinals are playing way over their heads at the moment and lead the league in errors - eventually this will catch up to them.