Cardinal Ryan Franklin On The Game 2 Debacle, Matt Holliday Returning, John Smoltz's Love For St. Louis, And His Future As The Cardinal Closer
Ryan Franklin joined us on The ITD Morning After yesterday, and he had a variety of things to say that will likely be of interest to not just Cardinal fans...but baseball fans all over the country.
Franklin said the horrific loss that was the NLDS Game 2 did stick with him, but being with his family since Sunday has helped him keep perspective. And, on top of that, Franklin said, "I didn't think I made one bad pitch that whole inning there."
With so many pieces already in place for 2010---even if Matt Holliday doesn't come back---Franklin says the Cardinals have to be a favorite. But, it's his opinion that Holliday will be back in St. Louis...if he has it his way.
"Holliday definitely wants to come back. I think it's a matter of whether he's going to let his agent take over, or he's going to have a little more say so than his agent would like him to. If it's the latter, then I think he's going to be a Cardinal. But, if Scott (Boras) takes over, then we'll see him on TV in New York or L.A. or somewhere like that," Franklin said.
And what about John Smoltz? Well, Cardinal fans may be quite happy to hear what Franklin had to say...but not necessarily Braves' fans.
"I've talked to Smoltz quite a bit, and you know, he played in Atlanta 20 years. And, he said that he enjoys and likes St. Louis better than Atlanta hands down."
Franklin's troubles over the last seven weeks of the season were well documented. And, despite his outstanding first four-and-a-half months, it's fair to wonder about the status of his role going into next season.
I asked Franklin if he expected to be the Cardinal closer next season, and he said, "I think I should be. I might be a little upset if I'm not. But, I'm not going to throw a temper tantrum."
The insideSTL.com Poker Tournament This Sunday At Harrah's
I know many of you are building your Sunday around the showdown in Jacksonville between the Rams and Jaguars, but if you're interested in participating in the
insideSTL.com Poker Tournament And League, it all gets underway at noon at Harrah's.
The buy-in is $130, and we have 100 spots available. Now, 100 people have reserved their spot, but we only have one alternate as I type this on Thursday night...which means inevitably a few people will probably be jackoffs and just not show up without letting us know. So, if you want to play and partake in the league, email me to reserve your spot at tmckernan@insidestl.com. The fun and games get underway with mandatory registration by no later than 11:30 Sunday morning at Harrah's.
Abuse of Column For Personal Gain
I've got two things that I'll use my little space on the Internet for this week:
1. I finally moved from Kirkwood earlier this week, and with my move came the following items I'd be interested in selling:
-a 52" Philips LCD TV
-a Pioneer receiver
-a Pioneer sub-woofer
I'd like to sell all three as a package. They were purchased last year. If you're interested, email me at tmckernan@insidestl.com.
2. It's either Las Vegas or Columbia, Missouri for us next weekend. Not really sure yet. U2 plays in Las Vegas next Friday night...and since we got jacked off by our seats in Chicago last month...and because we thoroughly enjoy Las Vegas...Anna-Marie and I may be heading to Las Vegas next week. However, if we could get a quality place to stay next Friday and Saturday in Columbia for Homecoming, we'd take that. I'm willing to overpay for a good place to stay next Friday and Saturday nights. So, if you're interested in making some cash and giving up your hotel room or whatever the fuck it is you may have to offer that would meet the standards of my hotel snobbery, email me at tmckernan@insidestl.com.
Me vs. Producer Joe: Week 6
It's time for more fun and games with picking this weekend's games. Producer Joe had a big week last week of 4-1 to improve to 14-11 on the year, and I also had a winning week of 3-2 to improve to 16-9 on the year. However, my Lock of The Week lost, so I'm 2-3 on that pick this season, and considering that's the one I actually really try to research...it illustrates why wagering on sports is not necessarily a sound financial decision. Nonetheless, I'll try and get back on my A game with the Lock of The Week this week...and continue my 64% success rate on picking against the spread in 2009.
Missouri +7 @ Oklahoma State
Producer Joe: I am back to winning people money after a 4-1 week (14-11 overall), so I have a bit of confidence especially after hitting a 3 game World Cup Qualifying Parlay on Wednesday.
Gary Pinkel's men are heading to Stillwater after suffering their first defeat of the season last Thursday Night and I expect big things. Mr. "I'm 40, I'm a Man" should have had a talk with his star receiver about telling the truth because OK ST isn't the same team without Dez Bryant. I am sure Dez is sorry, not for lying, because I am sure after the 3rd try to get it right it was never going to sink it, but for possibly
watching his draft status drop like Andre Smiths' did last year. Zach Robinson is still a talented QB, but there are a lot of talented QB's in the Big 12 and I would like to see him play with Bryant against someone other than Grambling State and a crappy A&M team.
The Tigers are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 road games while OK ST is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games & 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record. Time for a Joyride with the Tigers this week. Missouri +7
McKernan: Well, here we are on October 16th, and I still don't know if Missouri is any good. It's tough to gauge a team when they play what turned out to be average (Nevada) to bad teams (Illinois, Bowling Green, and Furman) in September...and then played in dreadful conditions against Nebraska. Even had they held on to their 12-0 lead on the Cornhuskers last Thursday, I still wouldn't have been sure. But, I am certain of this: Oklahoma State isn't very good. I still think the Tiger defense is greatly improved. The key will be getting the running game going and protecting a most likely not-100% Blaine Gabbert. I like the Tigers in this one. Missouri +7
Oklahoma +3 vs. Texas in Dallas
Producer Joe: The beauty of an early kickoff means you can get your bankroll started before the 2:30 games here in St. Louis. I like the Sooners for a number of reasons, but the first one is obviously the fact that Sam Bradford is back at QB after a tune-up last week against Baylor. I don't care that OK has lost two games this season, they will find a way to win the Big 12 South this year and will be back in the Championship game in December, and I think maybe just maybe they will find a way back into the National Championship game because I think a lot of teams at Texas is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 as a favorite (which is also true for their last 6
games overall as well). Bob Stoops gets it done against a clueless Mac Brown in Dallas this weekend. Sooners +3
McKernan: Did Producer Joe just write the longest run-on sentence since Quin Snyder stepped down? Dumbshit Boy calls Mack Brown "clueless" all while spelling his name wrong. Good enough for me. Texas -3
Rams @ Jaguars -9.5
Producer Joe: This is the week that the Rams go winless for a full season of games. Quite an accomplishment really, to somehow not win a game in their last 16 played. It seems like a big number to lay, especially after the Jags got their dicks rubbed in the dirt 41-0 against the 2009 NFC West Champion Seahawks, but it is the Rams after all. Maurice Jones-Drew is pissed off at the offensive scheme in Jacksonville and I think he will see plenty of the ball just to shut him up for week which means bad things for the Rams. Hey, remember when the fun thing to do while watching games was to wait for Alex Barron to fuck up the snap count? Well I am enjoying watching the team fumble away chances to score a little bit more. It almost seems pointless to throw out trends, but here are a couple: The Rams are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 on grass and are 8-22 ATS in their last 30 games as a road dog of 3.5-10.0. I guess the silver lining in all of this is that the only people in the country that have to watch this game are those located in Rams Country.
Jaguars -9.5
McKernan: I know the Rams are comically horrific. But, the Jaguars are like the Missouri Tigers of the NFL. I still don't know how good they are...or how bad they are. Two weeks ago, I watched them school the Titans. Last week, the Seahawks handed it to them 41-0. So, the idea of them being a nearly 10 point favorite against the Rams is strange...but also an illustration of how little Las Vegas thinks of "the effort" the 2009 Rams are showing. The Jaguars' defense is dreadful, and so I'm going to take my chances and bet that the Rams will score 17 points and the defense won't allow more than 24. I also think there's a chance that this game will set the NFL back 50 years from the 25 years the Bills and Browns set it back last Sunday. For fuck's sake. Rams +9.5
Ravens @ Vikings -3
Producer Joe: After falling back to 3-2 after two consecutive losses, the Ravens are going to be ready to play against the Vikings this week. It won't matter. Part of getting to play the Rams is not only getting to chalk up a W, but you also don't really have to play that hard against them. Seriously, it is almost like getting a bye week without really having to take a week off, and this coming on a short week for the Vikes as well. They will be rested and ready to play against an always tough Baltimore D, but the Vikings have too many weapons I believe. If its not Adrian
Peterson, it's Visanthe Shiancoe, or it's a developing Percy Harvin, or it's Chester Taylor, or it's Sidney Rice, or it's Bernard Berrian.....you get the point. You wonder why Favre wanted to come to Minnesota outside of getting to play Green Bay twice a season? The Vikings are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 as a favorite and Baltimore is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 in October. Brad Childress looks like a molester with his beard but he will cover again this week. Vikings -3
McKernan: I'm not sold on the Vikings. I know the record looks good, but they looked strangely weak at times in allowing the Rams to move the ball last week. And, they dodged the bullet of a 49ers team that I'm not so sure about either. And, remember the crap game they played against the Browns in Week 1? On the other side of things, I think the Ravens are a legitimate team. But, most importantly, I think the spread is shifty and too low...which means it's too good to be true...which means take the opposite. Ravens +3
Lock of The Week
Producer Joe : Arkansas +24.5 @ Florida
There is no doubting that Florida is the best team in the SEC East this season, but after a huge game last week in which they had to travel to LSU, I think they will have a bit of a let down. They will still win, but it won't be nearly as comfortable as they would like against the Hogs. 24.5 points are just too many against this Arkansas team. Bobby Petrino might be one of the worst humans in the world, but his teams are always entertaining on offense and they are coming off a big win against Auburn last week. Sure Tebow will be better than he was last week, but I think Arkansas will be able to score enough points in this one to make it interesting. Arkansas is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games in October and 6-2 ATS in their last 8 as an underdog. That is good enough for me, and if this broad is around then everyone wins. Arkansas +24.5
McKernan: Navy -7 @ SMU
I'll be honest. I don't know a fucking thing about either one of these teams. But, I do know that when a local with some inside word feels passionately about a team one way or another, I pay attention. It's kind of like when I was working in Little Rock 10 years ago, and I saw Missouri was an underdog of 30 or so at Kansas State...and I knew at that point the Tigers had packed it in. Sure enough...not only did they get embarrassed 66-0, Larry Smith's wife came down out of the stands and screamed at the players for giving up. Ahhh yes...local knowledge. I felt the same way about the Tigers going up to Lincoln and beating the hell out of Nebraska last year. Sometimes---maybe two or three times a year---I feel incredibly confident about a local team one way or the other. In this case, a friend of mine who follows this crap feels incredibly strong about Navy. It's all about trust...because it sure as hell isn't about my knowledge of whoever the hell plays for these schools. Navy -7
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