Neighbors of former St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin have quietly begun asking each other when they last saw the bearded relief pitcher, who accumulated 82 saves between 2008 and 2010 after a remunerative career as a Seattle Mariners starter. After a set of appearances in which he didn't quite look right, according to local man Rob Neyer, whose mother's basement is nearby, Franklin hasn't been seen around town since May 1, when he lost his third game of the season to the Atlanta Braves.
↵Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak recently suggested Tony La Russa check up on Franklin, just in case. "We'd like to get Franklin into that mix," Mozeliak said, adding, "does he need someone to deliver some groceries? I could go pick him up some things, if you think—"
↵Dave Duncan, who's been living with Franklin since 2007, said he had no idea where Franklin was, probably on vacation, maybe, or at his sister's. "But don't check in the backyard," he told journalists. "I'm doing some planting there. Of plants."
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