In the anthology of great baseball mysteries, the best contemporary story is that of St. Louis Cardinal Rick Ankiel, a young pitcher who still shows remarkable potential. There’s only one catch: Ankiel has declared himself an outfielder. For an eighteen year-old draftee, perhaps this wouldn’t be so strange. For Ankiel, who put up All Star-type numbers in his rookie season in 2000 (11-7, 3.50 ERA with 137 hits, 90 BB and 194 K in 175 innings), it’s downright mind-boggling.
Rick Ankiel has an incredibly live arm, as his 2000 stats show. On his best days, most of his stuff should be illegal. The lefty from Fort Pierce, Florida made the Cardinals’ playoff rotation that season. In his playoff start against Atlanta in the National League Divisional Series, the Cardinals got off to a big early lead for the rookie, but Ankiel still could not relax. He uncorked more wild pitches than the network heads at UPN have heard over the years, and never really had meaningful innings again. Still, Ankiel was only 21 years old at the time, so it seemed like a trip to the minors to work on some things would be a good idea; he’d be back.
Ankiel didn’t make a quick return to The Show. Injuries and confidence and control problems retarded Ankiel’s recovery, though as a Cardinals’ fan I always believed Boy Wonder would be back. That return seemed imminent in 2004, when Ankiel posted solid numbers in the minors and returned to the Cardinals for some very promising work: 10 innings pitched, 10 hits, just 1 walk and 9 strikeouts. His ERA was 5.40. While nobody expected him to crack a very good Cardinals’ starting rotation, it seemed Ankiel — especially as a lefty who could take Steve Kline’s bullpen spot — would get a chance to shine in 2005.
But Ankiel, on the door step of an opening day roster slot, declared himself out of pitching for good, stating he wants to play outfield. Ankiel’s a great hitter by pitcher standards — .250 with 2 homers in 68 at-bats in 2000 — but it seems unlikely he’ll make it big wielding the lumber. He’ll start at AA this season, assuming he clears waivers. A year ago, Ankiel would have been snapped up by any team in the league. Now, it is unlikely anyone would want him.
What a waste.
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Ankiel Goes Deep for Cards Minor League Squad
Nathan Novak at 2:43 pm
