Editor's Note: Ankiel coverage is all the news for now, maybe everyone will remember we have other players to track as well soon. Have a great weekend.
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Competition to replace Ankiel begins in earnest
By Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch
03/10/2005
JUPITER, Fla. - The subtraction of Rick Ankiel from the Cardinals' bullpen equation leaves the club with simple math, according to pitching coach Dave Duncan: find one lefthander to go with Ray King.
Duncan had held open the possibility of Ankiel claiming the role of innings eater and spot starter until Wednesday's surprise announcement that the lefthander would pursue a second-chance career as an outfielder. Thursday, after the Cardinals played a morning intrasquad game and an afternoon exhibition against the Houston Astros, Duncan said it had become "very likely" that only one among Mike Myers, Carmen Cali, Randy Flores, Bill Pulsipher and Hector Mercado would survive.
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Walker returns to Cards' lineup
BY DERRICK GOOLD
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/11/2005
JUPITER, Fla. -- Larry Walker prepared as if he was going to have another day of working out and easing his back into baseball, but instead he had a far easier day than imagined: He played.
Out since the start of camp with a back strain, Walker made his spring debut Thursday with two at-bats and four innings in the Cardinals' 4-2 victory over Houston.
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BY THE NUMBERS
10 -- Number of road victories (against one loss) posted by RHP Jeff Suppan last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"He's 5-foot-6 3/4. But he plays like he's 6-foot-3." -- David Eckstein's father, Whitey Eckstein, on the new Cardinals shortstop.
One watch of Cardinal rookie Anthony Reyes and it's easy to see how he punched out 140 in 111 innings in the Florida State and Southern Leagues. Wow. The veteran pitchers claim he could be a tremendous hitter. "He has a swing like Albert Pujols," Mulder said. Strong words.
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ESPN Sports Nation Online Poll
Will Rick Ankiel ever make a regular-season MLB roster as an outfielder?
34% say yes
64% say no
