Rick Ankiel's Comeback

[Bald Bull]

Saw that Rick Ankiel hit his 27th home run yesterday for Memphis, the Cardinals Triple-A team. He's tied for the Pacific Coast League lead in that category. I know he always had the rep of being a good hitter, but for this guy to reinvent himself as a power-hitting CF at the Triple-A level after his collapse as a can't-miss pitching prospect is amazing. He's still only 28. In my opinion, if he can make the bigs and sticks somewhere, even if it's not as an everyday player, it's a helluva comeback story. Any thoughts?

 

[Rickys The Best]

I saw that...wonder why he hasn't got a callup yet. Perhaps he's a textbook case of a career AAAer? Or perhaps he has no options left?

 

[Beaker]

The way the Cards are playing, and with not much protection in the lineup for Pujols, I'm surprised they haven't called him up yet. I'm guessing they'll give him a shot as a September call-up, if not earlier.

 

[sportschick]

I believe he hasn't been called because if they have to send him back to the minors, he has to pass waivers, which means they'll most likely lose him.

 

[Starman]

Probably the nearest historical precedent would be Smoky Joe Wood, who had a Verlander/Gooden-like start to his career in 1909-1912, blew his arm out in 1913, then returned to the majors as a decent-hitting OF in 1917, playing until 1922.

Obviously Ankiel wasn't that domianant as a pitcher, but it has been done before.

 

[boots]

Probably the nearest historical precedent would be Smoky Joe Wood, who had a Verlander/Gooden-like start to his career in 1909-1912, blew his arm out in 1913, then returned to the majors as a decent-hitting OF in 1917, playing until 1922.

Obviously Ankiel wasn't that domianant as a pitcher, but it has been done before.

How about Stan Musial. And Ankiel was a good pitcher until he got Steve Blass disease.

 

[PhilaYank36]

Probably the nearest historical precedent would be Smoky Joe Wood, who had a Verlander/Gooden-like start to his career in 1909-1912, blew his arm out in 1913, then returned to the majors as a decent-hitting OF in 1917, playing until 1922.

Obviously Ankiel wasn't that domianant as a pitcher, but it has been done before.

How about Stan Musial. And Ankiel was a good pitcher until he got Steve Blass disease.

Very good point, boots. I think you could count the people who knew that Musial was a top left-hander in the Florida State League on just both hands.

And to answer a previous question: yes, the Cardinals are out of options on Ankiel. Power numbers in the PCL are usually inflated (check out the ballparks, altitude and overall pitching quality), but the Cardinals basically have no hope in making the playoffs, so bring him up. Hell, do it before the trading deadline and maybe they'll be able to get someone of value for him if he performs well.

 

[Batman]

The Cards have protected him so much in his comeback, too, that I wonder if that plays a part in their decision. The minute he gets called up, all of the warm fuzzy stories about his comeback also serve as reminders of what happened to him in the first place. Gotta wonder what the attention will do to his psyche.

 

[boots]

They can only keep him in a shell for so long. I wonder what his presence in the St. Louis clubhouse will be. I'm sure there is some resentment.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

They can only keep him in a shell for so long. I wonder what his presence in the St. Louis clubhouse will be. I'm sure there is some resentment.

Resentment? For what?

 

[Double Down]

What's interesting is that Ankiel will do some print interviews, but told ESPN to eff off when the Mouse wanted to do one of their set-to-music weep jobs on him recently. I had to smile when I heard that.

 

[buckweaver]

They can only keep him in a shell for so long. I wonder what his presence in the St. Louis clubhouse will be. I'm sure there is some resentment.

Doubtful. He didn't screw up their playoff chances in 2000, because they actually swept the Braves when he went berserk in the NLDS.

And there's only a few guys left from the 2004 team -- a pennant winner, I might add -- when Ankiel made his last appearance in the majors, pitching 10 innings. Pujols, Rolen, Edmonds, Carpenter, Taguchi, Izzy, Randy Flores.

 

[Starman]

Ankiel is 28 years old. No point in keeping him in the minors much longer. If he's ever going to make it back to the majors, it has to be soon.

 

[OnTheRiver]

If I recall correctly, Ankiel's got a lot of pop, but he's got some big holes in his swing, too (he's got 78 Ks and 22 BBs in 331 ABs.) ... that may be playing a part in their delay in calling him up.

 

[boots]

If I recall correctly, Ankiel's got a lot of pop, but he's got some big holes in his swing, too (he's got 78 Ks and 22 BBs in 331 ABs.) ... that may be playing a part in their delay in calling him up.

He's out of options.

 

[Starman]

If I recall correctly, Ankiel's got a lot of pop, but he's got some big holes in his swing, too (he's got 78 Ks and 22 BBs in 331 ABs.) ... that may be playing a part in their delay in calling him up.

What's his OBP and OPS? Strikeouts are just outs. You hardly ever strike out into a double play (although it has been done.)

 

[ballscribe]

In 2007, 78ks in 332 at-bats is nothing for guys who dig the long ball.

As for the former pitchers-turned sluggers, I believe the Babe was once a serviceable big-league hurler, not that it was a crisis or injury that forced his hand.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

If I recall correctly, Ankiel's got a lot of pop, but he's got some big holes in his swing, too (he's got 78 Ks and 22 BBs in 331 ABs.) ... that may be playing a part in their delay in calling him up.

He's out of options.

So you go from saying team members will resent Ankiel to saying he's out of options?

 

[OnTheRiver]

If I recall correctly, Ankiel's got a lot of pop, but he's got some big holes in his swing, too (he's got 78 Ks and 22 BBs in 331 ABs.) ... that may be playing a part in their delay in calling him up.

What's his OBP and OPS? Strikeouts are just outs. You hardly ever strike out into a double play (although it has been done.)

No idea on his OPS but his OBP was below .330 last I heard ...

 

[Mayfly]

Paging Chris Coste to the Rick Ankiel thread.