Remember Rick Ankiel?

[Sylvanfan]

Cardinals pitcher uncorked 5 wild pitches in an inning in a playoff game and lost his confidence. This after he had put up a terrific first season as a pitcher in the bigs. Well there was a thread about him making a comeback as an outfielder within the Cards system before we changed forum software. He was called up today and hit a three run homerun tonight. Give the guy credit for being able to make his way back to the majors as a hitter. Saw a good feature on him on SportsNet not too long ago talking about this and it was pretty interesting. Nice to see him have a good debut tonight.

[Jiggy_12]

He hit like 30+ homers in the minors this year didnt he?

Pretty good for a pitcher. I remember those wild pitches too. That was so embarrasing to watch. I thought I literally watched a career end.

[ricoFlame]

yeah, there was a thing on him on sportsnet connected a while ago. apparently he has become an impressive hitter.

[Gugstanley]

I hope he can have a successful MLB career. He would be a great assest if he could hit like he is and pitch every 5th day

[dionfan]

Originally Posted by Gugstanley

I hope he can have a successful MLB career. He would be a great assest if he could hit like he is and pitch every 5th day

He's not a pitcher anymore, he converted to the outfield a couple years ago.

No matter what he may be able to accomplish the rest of his baseball career, he will always be remembered for his collapse in the 2000 NLDS/NLCS. I remember watching it when it happened and feeling sorry for the guy, but also dumbfounded as to how this could happen to a professional ballplayer.

However, at the same time its quite hilarious to see replays of his wild pitches. That was quite something.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by dionfan

He's not a pitcher anymore, he converted to the outfield a couple years ago.

No matter what he may be able to accomplish the rest of his baseball career, he will always be remembered for his collapse in the 2000 NLDS/NLCS. I remember watching it when it happened and feeling sorry for the guy, but also dumbfounded as to how this could happen to a professional ballplayer.

However, at the same time its quite hilarious to see replays of his wild pitches. That was quite something.

I think he meant it in a hypothetical world, he could pitch every 5th day and play a position the other 4.

He has the talents/tools to be a modern day Babe Ruth, it was really tragic to see his pitching career go down the drain in such spectacular fashion.

Even crazier that he didn't manage to play all of 2006 either.

His line in AAA is most disturbing as well, right before he retired: 4.1 IP, 3 Hits, 10 ER, 17 Walks, 4Ks, 12 Wild pitches.

[Flickered Flame]

Rick homered two more times today. A great story, and a good story for the Cards who could use as much good news as they can get.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Rick homered two more times today. A great story, and a good story for the Cards who could use as much good news as they can get.

yeah, and with that catch, he was th highlight reel for todays game. good on him.

[Jiggy_12]

I can definitely see a moving being made out of this.

Pretty cool story.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

I can definitely see a moving being made out of this.

Pretty cool story.

Add in his drug smuggling, wife beating dad and I am sure hollywood will eat up his story.

[Resolute 14]

I remember the Cards demoting him from AAA to A a week before he was scheduled to pitch in Calgary in 2001. I never forgave them for denying me the chance to heckle Ankiel.

Good to see him make a comeback like that though. Would have been a shame to see his major league carreer end on a note like that.

[ricoFlame]

he is just a great athlete, that's really what it all boils down to. good ball player.

[tanguay'sstillgood]

Ya, I'm happy for Rick, too. I was telling his story to my roommate tonight (not a baseball fan), and I found a couple things that were very interesting.

First, here's a pretty cool Youtube video done a few years back:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_7PzR9H_54

Second, I found an article written in 2005. It's a good read.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...el-ex-pitcher/

My favourite part is when the author predicts the success of his position swap/comeback:

So what happens next for Rick Ankiel? He says he’s going to try his hand as a full-time hitter, and there are some wishful thinkers who’d have you believe that Ankiel is a legitimate “blue chip prospect” with the bat. These people will tell you that Ankiel has a lifetime minor-league slugging percentage of .575, that he yanked 10 homers as a part-time DH in the Appalachian League, and that he just may be the second coming of another Cards pitcher-turned-outfielder named Stan Musial.

But it’s silly for anyone – and this includes the St. Louis Cardinals – to indulge this fantasy. By the time he was Ankiel’s age, Musial had already won two MVP awards. Ankiel, on the other hand, has struck out in exactly one-third of his at-bats in the major leagues. His on-base percentage above A ball is a miniscule .252. He is not a real hitter by any conceivable stretch of the imagination. It’s unfortunate, then, that Ankiel is flirting with the outfield, because it won’t allow him or the Cardinals to truly turn the page. He’ll be just another spring training curiosity, grist for sportswriters on a slow day in March – like Garth Brooks in a Padres uniform, only more depressing.

On a related note, I am now looking for video of Chuck Knoblauch's adventures at second base but can't find any on youtube. If anybody can track some down online, could you let me know please? Thanks folks...I really hope this isnt the request that finally stumps CP.