March 09, 2005
Moving Out
Rick Ankiel is now an outfielder.
Cardinals lefthander Rick Ankiel, once deemed the game's most promising young arm, will convert from pitcher to outfielder, effective immediately.
The Cardinals confirmed the move Wednesday morning shortly after rain washed out what was scheduled to be Ankiel's spring debut in a B game against the Florida Marlins.
"We are fully supportive of Rick's decision to convert to an everyday outfielder," Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said in a prepared statement. "Rick will continue to train with the major league club this spring, and we look forward to seeing his development as a full-time batter and outfielder."
Is he going to replace Reggie Sanders or So Taguchi? When Babe Ruth made this move, he already proved he could hit. Here's Ankiel's career numbers. Good for a pitcher, not good for an outfielder. I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this story soon.
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Posted by David Pinto at
11:25 AM
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Pitchers
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TrackBack (1)
does anyone have his MLE stats as a hitter from his time in the minors? That's probably a better sample size to go on.
In 2001 at Johnson City (App. League) he hit the crap out of the ball: .286/.357/.638
Of course, that's a pretty low level league, so take it with a grain of salt. I can't find any of hit batting stats from before he first came into the majors (1999).
Oh yeah, he had 105 at bats at Johnson City in 2001, so it's not that big of a sample size.
Regardless, the Cardinals wouldn't go along w/this move if they didn't see something worth noting, either.
Also bear in mind, he's gotten hurt pretty much every year as a pitcher. He hasn't pitched much, either, since 2001. Maybe 80 innings at most a year. Usually much less than that.
Smokey Joe Wood's first 90 at bats weren't so good either, but he had some good hears in the outfield-- I think it made a difference when he stopped pitching...
Does anyone think this is a ruse designed to slip him through waivers so he can start the season in AAA ?