Ankiel had his chance; Cards must move on
By Bernie Miklasz of the Post-Dispatch
03/09/2005
If for some inexplicable reason Ankiel went unclaimed, then the Cardinals would have nothing to lose by letting Ankiel learn a new trade in the minors. But it would be a travesty to carry Ankiel all summer in St. Louis, on a veteran team that wants to redeem itself in the World Series, swaddling him in a big-league uniform that he didn't deserve at this point. It's time to let Ankiel move on with his life. The Cardinals did their part. Now they need to get out of the day-care business.
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No longer a freak show, Ankiel could find new life in outfield
BY JEFF GORDON, Post-Dispatch Online Sports Columnist
03/09/2005
Rather than setting himself up for another Big Fall in a game environment, Ankiel chose a new course. Scouts always told him he has the arm, the bat and the athletic tools to become a fine major league outfielder. So he decided to change jobs.
Can the Cards afford to keep him on the big league roster as an outfielder?
That’s doubtful, since he needs to go someplace -– we’d suggested extended spring training, then high Class A ball, moving up to Class AA in July -- and start succeeding as a hitter. More than anything, Ankiel needs to regain his athletic confidence.
Will the Cards lose him on waivers?
Maybe, because some team may try to claim him and convince him to give pitching another try. Other baseball folks may believe a change of scenery, not a change of position, is all Ankiel needs.
Let’s hope that is not the case.
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Ankiel's days as a Card numbered?
By Joe Strauss Of the Post-Dispatch
03/09/2005
There will be few at-bats this spring for Rick Ankiel. "I can't give them to him because he's not going to make our team," manager Tony La Russa said.
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Misc Quotes
- "You're not going to able to walk into a big league camp and win a spot," La Russa said. "But he has talent and I wouldn't put anything past him."
- Joe McEwing of the New York Mets, who played with Ankiel in the Cardinals organization in 1998 and 1999, had a bit of advice. "Just work," McEwing said. "It's going to take a lot of hard work and repetitions, but one thing about it is that he's a good athlete."
- "He's said he's not going to pitch," Jocketty said. "If somebody claims him to be a pitcher, it'll be a costly error."
- "It's a shame, all his talent, not that it's wasted because he's a great athlete and who knows what he can do," said pitcher Matt Morris, perhaps Ankiel's closest friend on the team. "But I hope one day he gets back to pitching."
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There's a precedent here.
In 1957, Cardinals rookie Von McDaniel pitched a two-hit shutout in his major league debut. He wound up the season with a 7-5 record and a 3.22 ERA. Oh, one more thing: he was 18 years old.
McDaniel never won another game in the majors. He missed most of 1958 with an injury, and spent 1959 in the Florida State League. He pitched well that season, going 13-5 ... and he also played in the field, and batted .313 with 10 homers and 71 RBI. That basically ended McDaniel's career as a pitcher, but he spent six more seasons in the minors as a power-hitting infielder.
That's about what I think will happen to Rick Ankiel. He's immensely talented, but almost certainly not talented enough to hit major league pitching with any sort of consistency. He's the new Von McDaniel. -- Rob Neyer
