Remember how amazing his stuff was?! I heard the Cardinal's are trying to groom him into an outfielder because he still has good batting skills. Despite his control problems that one year I think the Cardinals should have just worked on him more than they did. He had amazing stuff. What's your opinion on what happened?
2007-01-29 15:24:06 · 17 answers · asked by joethemetaldude 4 in Sports ➔ Baseball
he was an excellent pitcher that lost his stuff because of his mind. like rocker but a in a different way. he let the injury he had get into his head and when he came back he never regained his stuff. but the cards didnt give up on him too soon. he has been in the minors trying to come back ever since he left the majors. i believe the cards finally gave up on him at the end of last year. he was in the minors for at least three years, its kind of hard to keep trying on somebody when they are not showing any real improvement towards getting back to what they used to be.
2007-01-29 16:10:17 · answer #1 · answered by jeremy b 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, he had a great rookie year at age 21 in 2000. When he totally lost it against the Mets, any baseball fan had to feel bad for him, and most of us probably knew that no pitcher ever comes back from those problems. I know that they sent him down to rookie ball the next season where he DH'd when not pitching, and that he played the outfield in 2005. He missed the whole year last season, and I don't think the Cardinals are bringing him back.
It is really, really sad. Lefties don't come along like that very often, and he also seemed like a really good kid. The Cardinals did work with him, for about four years after that, but once he started thinking about throwing strikes again, it was all over.
2007-01-30 00:53:05 · answer #2 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ankiel was at Spring Training with the Cards down in Palm Beach Florida last year. I saw him DHing that game. I think I may have heard of his release though. But it wouldnt surprise me if he was still floating around the organization. Ankiel also had some character issues. His dad was in prison for dealing drugs and I think Rick himself maybe be battling some demons as well.
But yea hell of a pitcher that rookie season. I believe he threw game 1 of the NLCS that year.
2007-01-30 01:01:19 · answer #3 · answered by Boomer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you got it you got it but there are times where you just can't throw. Ben Petrick was a catcher for the Rockies and had the same problem throwing to the pitcher. Ankiel's only saving grace is that he had a good bat and that is why they are trying him in the OF. They did resign him after the cut him in the winter.
2007-01-30 12:40:24 · answer #4 · answered by berta44 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG!!!! Ankiel's curveball was amazing!!!! And he was left-handed. He was the next Koufax. Then during the 2000 Playoffs, his Dad got into trouble with the law and it messed up his mental game. Real Shame. He will never make it back up as an outfielder, the minor leagues are just using his name to sell tickets. Real Shame.
2007-01-30 01:33:15 · answer #5 · answered by Robert R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This guy is a good athlete, and good athlete's are not always pitchers. Just ask David Wells who is still reallin. This guy couldn't hit a broad side of a barn when he was throwin, however he has a good stick and is a much better everyday player than a pitcher. His chance of making the squad in April is about 20% if that high.
2007-01-30 04:20:47 · answer #6 · answered by tehamacountykid 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dude his contro problems were unbelievable. it loked like he was intentionally doing it. the ball would literally go over the catchers head. tere was no way he could have come back from that as a pitcher mentally. and plus theyre gonna need an outfielder now that edmonds is getting old
2007-01-30 04:35:45 · answer #7 · answered by sjdesai1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he was released. I don't know where the hell he is now. I know that last year he was with the Cards Single A team. In 05 he spent most of his season at (AA) Springfield. I live in Springfield, so I got to see him play a few times. He's not that good. I think it was just a mental thing about his pitching. Its very weird what happened to him.
2007-01-30 00:07:13 · answer #8 · answered by Cardinals = Greatness 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, he developed Steve Blass disease. Couldn't throw a strike to save his soul. I thought he got hurt last year and missed the whole year, didn't he? I know the Cards were trying to turn him into an Outfielder.
2007-01-30 00:31:44 · answer #9 · answered by yooper4278 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I briefly remember him, he was a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.
2007-01-29 23:58:16 · answer #10 · answered by joshb2k4 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋