September, when rosters expand from 25 to 40 man rosters, for most teams usually means a chance to evaluate their farm systems and give some top prospects a chance to get their feet wet in the Major Leagues, and for some to get their injured players back in the game. But for two players this september is more important than just a chance to see the big show, for one player, a second chance at what was supposed to be the beginning of a promising career, and for another player, what may be one last opportunity at not only a career milestone, but to show he still has some Baseball left in him.
On Wednesday the St.Louis Cardinals called up P Rick Ankiel and the Anaheim Angels called up the "Big Cat" 1B Andres Galarraga, for both players in different ways it has been a long road back to the big leagues.
For Rick Ankiel it's his first time back with the Cardinals since may 2001, Ankiel made six starts for the Cardinals that season and walked 25 men in 24 innings pitched including 5 wild pitches, but the nightmare really began in october 2000, in the first game of the NDLS against the Atlanta Braves Ankiel not only struggled to find the plate, but the Catcher as well, he threw 2 scoreless innings to start the game but in the third inning walked 4 batters and threw 5 wild pitches, it did not get better from there, in two more post-season appearences he would walk 7 more batters and throw 5 more wild pitches. Injury's have played a big part of Ankiel's slow progress in returning to the Majors, he missed the entire 2002 season with a sprained elbow and had Tommy John surgery last season, but in his brief rehab this season at 3 minor league levels Ankiel is 2-1 and has 0 wild pitches, prompting his promotion back to the Cardinals.
For Andres Galarraga it was illness not injury that kept him out of the game for much of this season, last november Galarraga had recurrence of the non-hodgkins lymphoma that caused him to miss the entire 1999 season, he had a stem cell transplant in februrary, and has worked hard to get himself back into playing shape for a chance to prove he can still play the game, on august 4th the Angels gave him that chance, signing Galarraga to a minor league contract and assigning him to AAA Salt Lake, where he showed he definitly can still hit the ball, in 25 games he hit .304 drove in 19 runs and hit 4 out of the park. Galarraga, 43, is 2 Home Runs shy of 400, a number he would like to reach, but that may prove difficult on an Angels team with several players vying for at bats at the 1B and DH positions. Angels Manager Mike Scioscia has said the Troy Glaus will get most of the AB's at DH and Darin Erstad is the everyday 1B but thinks Galarraga gives them a solid option at either position should one of them require a day off. but with all that Galarraga still has that trademark ear-to-ear grin and is just happy for what could be one last chance to play big league Baseball and maybe a chance at playing in the World Series.
On Wednesday the St.Louis Cardinals called up P Rick Ankiel and the Anaheim Angels called up the "Big Cat" 1B Andres Galarraga, for both players in different ways it has been a long road back to the big leagues.
For Rick Ankiel it's his first time back with the Cardinals since may 2001, Ankiel made six starts for the Cardinals that season and walked 25 men in 24 innings pitched including 5 wild pitches, but the nightmare really began in october 2000, in the first game of the NDLS against the Atlanta Braves Ankiel not only struggled to find the plate, but the Catcher as well, he threw 2 scoreless innings to start the game but in the third inning walked 4 batters and threw 5 wild pitches, it did not get better from there, in two more post-season appearences he would walk 7 more batters and throw 5 more wild pitches. Injury's have played a big part of Ankiel's slow progress in returning to the Majors, he missed the entire 2002 season with a sprained elbow and had Tommy John surgery last season, but in his brief rehab this season at 3 minor league levels Ankiel is 2-1 and has 0 wild pitches, prompting his promotion back to the Cardinals.
For Andres Galarraga it was illness not injury that kept him out of the game for much of this season, last november Galarraga had recurrence of the non-hodgkins lymphoma that caused him to miss the entire 1999 season, he had a stem cell transplant in februrary, and has worked hard to get himself back into playing shape for a chance to prove he can still play the game, on august 4th the Angels gave him that chance, signing Galarraga to a minor league contract and assigning him to AAA Salt Lake, where he showed he definitly can still hit the ball, in 25 games he hit .304 drove in 19 runs and hit 4 out of the park. Galarraga, 43, is 2 Home Runs shy of 400, a number he would like to reach, but that may prove difficult on an Angels team with several players vying for at bats at the 1B and DH positions. Angels Manager Mike Scioscia has said the Troy Glaus will get most of the AB's at DH and Darin Erstad is the everyday 1B but thinks Galarraga gives them a solid option at either position should one of them require a day off. but with all that Galarraga still has that trademark ear-to-ear grin and is just happy for what could be one last chance to play big league Baseball and maybe a chance at playing in the World Series.