Preview: Cardinals at Brewers
Last Updated: Sept. 9, 2002
On Deck
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers (51-93) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (82-61).
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Where: Miller Park.
Broadcasts: TV - Fox Sports Net cable. Radio - WTMJ-AM (620) and a statewide network.
The lowdown: Wayne Franklin is the latest of Milwaukee's recent acquisitions to get a tryout. The converted reliever is making his first big-league start and first appearance since May 1, 2001. The Brewers got Franklin along with infield prospect Keith Ginter from the Astros for infielder Mark Loretta. The Astros had several young starters ahead of Franklin and needed infield depth, and Loretta wasn't in Milwaukee's plans, anyway. If Franklin, a converted reliever, shows something over the final three weeks, he probably is in line for a shot at the 2003 rotation. He had a 5.94 earned run average in 36 relief appearances for the Astros in 2000 and '01. The Cardinals plan to activate starter Matt Morris (left hamstring) from the disabled list for the game.
BREWERS: LHP WAYNE FRANKLIN
Record: 13-9, 3.12 ERA (Class AAA New Orleans)
2002 starts: First
Career vs. Cardinals: 0-0, 3.86 ERA
Best pitch: Fastball
CARDINALS: RHP MATT MORRIS
Record: 15-7, 3.29 ERA
2002 starts: 29th
Average outing: 6 2/3 innings
Season vs. Brewers: 0-1, 2.57 ERA
Career vs. Brewers: 6-2, 2.08 ERA
Best pitch: Fastball
By the numbers
141 -- Strikeouts for Wayne Franklin at Class AAA New Orleans, most in the Pacific Coast League.
179 Innings pitched by Franklin at New Orleans, second most in the PCL.
157 Strikeouts, in 1882/3 innings, for Matt Morris.
- Michael Cunningham
Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sept. 10, 2002.
Franklin
0-0, .00
from sportsnetwork preview:
Wayne Franklin counters for the Brewers. Franklin, who will be making the first start of his career, was acquired from the Astros in the deal that sent Mark Loretta to Houston.
The 28-year-old lefthander has appeared in 36 games in the big leagues -- all in relief -- and is yet to record a decision. After converting to a starter in Mexico during winter ball, Franklin opened this season with Houston's Triple-A New Orleans affiliate. He was 13-9 with a 3.12 earned run average in 27 starts for the Zephyrs, leading the Pacific Coast League with 141 strikeouts.
This will be Franklin's first appearance in the big leagues this season.
Cardinals fans can purchase tickets Saturday for a chance to witness some October celebrations. (Cardinals/Scott Rovak)
They're movin' on up
By MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM
of the Journal Sentinel staff
Last Updated: Sept. 3, 2002
Chicago - Left-hander Wayne Franklin was happy to escape the shadows of Houston's surplus of promising young starters. Outfielder Jim Rushford was just happy to be in the big leagues at all.
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired Franklin on Tuesday as one of the two players to be named in the trade of Mark Loretta to the Astros last week. Rushford arrived from Class AAA Indianapolis, where a big August earned him his first promotion to the majors at age 28.
Brewers manager Jerry Royster has tentatively scheduled Franklin to start against St. Louis Tuesday at Miller Park. Franklin had a 5.94 earned run average in 36 relief appearances for Houston in 2000 and 2001.
The Astros converted Franklin to a starter this season, and he said he taught himself to throw a changeup and cut fastball and also made some adjustments to his slider. He started the season at Class AAA New Orleans and was third in the Pacific Coast League in ERA (3.12), second in innings (179) and first in strikeouts (141).
At the big-league level, the Astros have three gifted young starters in Roy Oswalt, Kirk Saarloos and Carlos Hernandez, in addition to 25-year-old Wade Miller.
"There was a definite logjam," Franklin said. "It is kind of a breath of fresh air to get out of there."
Rushford, a native of Park Ridge on Chicago's northwest side, was in the lineup against the Cubs Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Rushford signed with the Brewers after the 2000 season and spent 2001 with high Class A High Desert and Class AA Huntsville.
"I never thought the day would come," Rushford said. "I guess I will get the nerves out of the way right off the get-go."
Rushford, who bats left-handed, was named the player of the year by Indianapolis after hitting .316 with seven home runs and 68 RBI. He batted .364 with 17 RBI in 22 games in August.
"His numbers indicate he is very worthy of a September call-up," Royster said. "So he's in there."
Etc.
Royster said he planned to give right-hander Nick Neugebauer, who made his first post-rehabilitation start on Sunday, two extra days of rest before his next start. The Brewers are off on Thursday, which was to be Neugebauer's fifth day, and Royster said right-hander Ben Sheets would start Friday, left-hander Glendon Rusch on Saturday and Neugebauer on Sunday. . . .
Royster said he was eager to get right-hander Ben Diggins back on the mound after he struggled to throw strikes in his debut on Monday. "He has had no history of wildness, and he was wild," Royster said. "These young pitchers are fragile. We have got to take care of them."
Last Updated: Sept. 9, 2002
On Deck
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers (51-93) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (82-61).
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Where: Miller Park.
Broadcasts: TV - Fox Sports Net cable. Radio - WTMJ-AM (620) and a statewide network.
The lowdown: Wayne Franklin is the latest of Milwaukee's recent acquisitions to get a tryout. The converted reliever is making his first big-league start and first appearance since May 1, 2001. The Brewers got Franklin along with infield prospect Keith Ginter from the Astros for infielder Mark Loretta. The Astros had several young starters ahead of Franklin and needed infield depth, and Loretta wasn't in Milwaukee's plans, anyway. If Franklin, a converted reliever, shows something over the final three weeks, he probably is in line for a shot at the 2003 rotation. He had a 5.94 earned run average in 36 relief appearances for the Astros in 2000 and '01. The Cardinals plan to activate starter Matt Morris (left hamstring) from the disabled list for the game.
BREWERS: LHP WAYNE FRANKLIN
Record: 13-9, 3.12 ERA (Class AAA New Orleans)
2002 starts: First
Career vs. Cardinals: 0-0, 3.86 ERA
Best pitch: Fastball
CARDINALS: RHP MATT MORRIS
Record: 15-7, 3.29 ERA
2002 starts: 29th
Average outing: 6 2/3 innings
Season vs. Brewers: 0-1, 2.57 ERA
Career vs. Brewers: 6-2, 2.08 ERA
Best pitch: Fastball
By the numbers
141 -- Strikeouts for Wayne Franklin at Class AAA New Orleans, most in the Pacific Coast League.
179 Innings pitched by Franklin at New Orleans, second most in the PCL.
157 Strikeouts, in 1882/3 innings, for Matt Morris.
- Michael Cunningham
Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sept. 10, 2002.
Franklin
0-0, .00
from sportsnetwork preview:
Wayne Franklin counters for the Brewers. Franklin, who will be making the first start of his career, was acquired from the Astros in the deal that sent Mark Loretta to Houston.
The 28-year-old lefthander has appeared in 36 games in the big leagues -- all in relief -- and is yet to record a decision. After converting to a starter in Mexico during winter ball, Franklin opened this season with Houston's Triple-A New Orleans affiliate. He was 13-9 with a 3.12 earned run average in 27 starts for the Zephyrs, leading the Pacific Coast League with 141 strikeouts.
This will be Franklin's first appearance in the big leagues this season.
Cardinals fans can purchase tickets Saturday for a chance to witness some October celebrations. (Cardinals/Scott Rovak)
They're movin' on up
By MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM
of the Journal Sentinel staff
Last Updated: Sept. 3, 2002
Chicago - Left-hander Wayne Franklin was happy to escape the shadows of Houston's surplus of promising young starters. Outfielder Jim Rushford was just happy to be in the big leagues at all.
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired Franklin on Tuesday as one of the two players to be named in the trade of Mark Loretta to the Astros last week. Rushford arrived from Class AAA Indianapolis, where a big August earned him his first promotion to the majors at age 28.
Brewers manager Jerry Royster has tentatively scheduled Franklin to start against St. Louis Tuesday at Miller Park. Franklin had a 5.94 earned run average in 36 relief appearances for Houston in 2000 and 2001.
The Astros converted Franklin to a starter this season, and he said he taught himself to throw a changeup and cut fastball and also made some adjustments to his slider. He started the season at Class AAA New Orleans and was third in the Pacific Coast League in ERA (3.12), second in innings (179) and first in strikeouts (141).
At the big-league level, the Astros have three gifted young starters in Roy Oswalt, Kirk Saarloos and Carlos Hernandez, in addition to 25-year-old Wade Miller.
"There was a definite logjam," Franklin said. "It is kind of a breath of fresh air to get out of there."
Rushford, a native of Park Ridge on Chicago's northwest side, was in the lineup against the Cubs Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Rushford signed with the Brewers after the 2000 season and spent 2001 with high Class A High Desert and Class AA Huntsville.
"I never thought the day would come," Rushford said. "I guess I will get the nerves out of the way right off the get-go."
Rushford, who bats left-handed, was named the player of the year by Indianapolis after hitting .316 with seven home runs and 68 RBI. He batted .364 with 17 RBI in 22 games in August.
"His numbers indicate he is very worthy of a September call-up," Royster said. "So he's in there."
Etc.
Royster said he planned to give right-hander Nick Neugebauer, who made his first post-rehabilitation start on Sunday, two extra days of rest before his next start. The Brewers are off on Thursday, which was to be Neugebauer's fifth day, and Royster said right-hander Ben Sheets would start Friday, left-hander Glendon Rusch on Saturday and Neugebauer on Sunday. . . .
Royster said he was eager to get right-hander Ben Diggins back on the mound after he struggled to throw strikes in his debut on Monday. "He has had no history of wildness, and he was wild," Royster said. "These young pitchers are fragile. We have got to take care of them."
