Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

[rubisco43]

but tries to make the Cardinals as an outfielder.

No link but it's considered "breaking news" on the MLB front page of espn.com.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

but tries to make the Cardinals as an outfielder.

No link but it's considered "breaking news" on the MLB front page of espn.com.

Considering he has no pro experience playing the OF I think the chances are slim that he's going to make the club.

He's a career .207 hitter.

This guy fell off the wagon and he's never recovered.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

but tries to make the Cardinals as an outfielder.

No link but it's considered "breaking news" on the MLB front page of espn.com.

Considering he has no pro experience playing the OF I think the chances are slim that he's going to make the club.

He's a career .207 hitter.

This guy fell off the wagon and he's never recovered.

[bergie56]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/03/09/bc.bbn.cardinals.ankiel.ap/index.html

This is very odd. Is he a good enough hitter?

[bergie56]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/baseball/mlb/03/09/bc.bbn.cardinals.ankiel.ap/index.html

This is very odd. Is he a good enough hitter?

[Birdsonbat]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

He could definitely develop as a good hitter, never starter material in my mind. From other message boards I've read, a lot of people believe it may be a move to help him clear waivers as he is out of options and would most likely be claimed as a pitcher. Ankiel does sound rather sincere though in his decision. Such a waste of talent imho.

[Birdsonbat]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

He could definitely develop as a good hitter, never starter material in my mind. From other message boards I've read, a lot of people believe it may be a move to help him clear waivers as he is out of options and would most likely be claimed as a pitcher. Ankiel does sound rather sincere though in his decision. Such a waste of talent imho.

[priceless]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

He should have made this decision after the 2000 postseason ...

2000 Division playoffs: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 5 WP
2000 NLCS: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 WP

11 walks and 9 wild pitches in 4 innings has to be the all-time wildness record. Ouch!

[priceless]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

He should have made this decision after the 2000 postseason ...

2000 Division playoffs: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 5 WP
2000 NLCS: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 WP

11 walks and 9 wild pitches in 4 innings has to be the all-time wildness record. Ouch!

[Birdsonbat]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

He should have made this decision after the 2000 postseason ...

2000 Division playoffs: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 5 WP
2000 NLCS: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 WP

11 walks and 9 wild pitches in 4 innings has to be the all-time wildness record. Ouch!

The guy is a mental case, and he definitely wasn't helped by being run out there in the playoffs by LaRussa and Duncan. His progress back from surgery was so promising and I was really hoping to see him in the rotation to start the year until Morris was healthy, but I guess he'll just be one of those guys that never fulfilled his potential.

[Birdsonbat]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

He should have made this decision after the 2000 postseason ...

2000 Division playoffs: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 5 WP
2000 NLCS: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 WP

11 walks and 9 wild pitches in 4 innings has to be the all-time wildness record. Ouch!

The guy is a mental case, and he definitely wasn't helped by being run out there in the playoffs by LaRussa and Duncan. His progress back from surgery was so promising and I was really hoping to see him in the rotation to start the year until Morris was healthy, but I guess he'll just be one of those guys that never fulfilled his potential.

[Discrimihater]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

heh...interesting. I thought he'd kicked his wildness problem, for the most part...guess he didn't think so.

[Discrimihater]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

heh...interesting. I thought he'd kicked his wildness problem, for the most part...guess he didn't think so.

[WatchdogXC]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

I've always heard that he could be a good hitter, but if that was the case, you would have liked to have seen him make the move earlier. He is still young at 25, but that is old for making a big change like that. I remember when he pitched at A ball after he was trying to make it back that he played the outfield or DHed days that he didn't pitch sometimes.

I would have liked to have seen him stick with pitching. He did pretty good from what I heard last year when he was called up other than one bad outing and is still 25. He was awesome his rookie year.

I really can't think of anything I've seen to compare this to.

[WatchdogXC]

Re: Rick Ankiel retires as pitcher

I've always heard that he could be a good hitter, but if that was the case, you would have liked to have seen him make the move earlier. He is still young at 25, but that is old for making a big change like that. I remember when he pitched at A ball after he was trying to make it back that he played the outfield or DHed days that he didn't pitch sometimes.

I would have liked to have seen him stick with pitching. He did pretty good from what I heard last year when he was called up other than one bad outing and is still 25. He was awesome his rookie year.

I really can't think of anything I've seen to compare this to.