Rick Ankiel is back!

[RubeBaker]

A three run home run in his outfield debut for the Cards. I'm glad to see this guy back. Not since Chuck Knoblauch forgetting how to throw to first have I seen a player come across such a huge mental blockage. I mean, how does somebody just seem to lose complete control?

Anyhow, it's amazing that he was able to make it back at all, let alone make it back at a whole new position. But how successful do you think he will be? I say a useful utility outfielder at best because he spent so many years working on pitching instead of hitting. But then again, there's some guy named Ruth who went from pitching to the outfield. Anyway, your thoughts?

[natsnsoxfan]

Ok/decent starter, maybe one ASG, great story nonetheless.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Great story but he hit only .267 with over 90 Ks in the Pacific Coast League. A .267 BA in the PCL doesn't bode well for Ankiel.

[ColbyPants]

He's got good enough power to be a Wily Mo Pena like fourth/fifth outfielder that shows flashes of what he could be (or might have been). either way the fact that he came back to the bigs at all after changing from pitcher to position player in this era of specialization is a great story.

TomC

[sharrock]

His AAA numbers look like Rob Deer so he may be a good 3/4 OF with good power but lots of Ks and a lower OBP. Not sure what his defense is like but he appears to be a good athlete.

I'm rooting for him. He seems humble and realistic about his comeback. Quite a turn from his meltdown as a pitcher. A great baseball city like St. Louis will latch on to him and he should have a chance to carve out a nice little career.

[STLCards2]

Great story but he hit only .267 with over 90 Ks in the Pacific Coast League. A .267 BA in the PCL doesn't bode well for Ankiel.

Greta point. I was at the game last night, and when I tried to explain to the excited fans that Ankiel will be a poor hitter with some power occasionaly, they looked at me like I insulted their moms or something. Ankiel might be a servicable 4th/5th outfielder or pop-of-the -bench guy. Nothing else. I hope I am wrong, though.

[Brian McKenna]

Just the comeback is a great story and a rare one. Can't think of any others off the top of my head since WWII.

[ESPNFan]

Just what the doctor ordered after this week. A true feelgood story and a guy everyone can get behind.

I hope Rick enjoys this stay in the bigs for as long as it lasts:applaud:

[KHenry14]

I couldn't be happier for Rick. What a great example for ballplayers everywhere. :applaud:

[hiddengem]

He's got great talent no doubt..but he has a hole in his swing up in the zone. We figured that out against him this year and he had a tough go when we were in town. Once pitchers figure out that he has a tough time handling that pitch Rick will have to make an adjustment. But I think he'll be able to make it.

[RubeBaker]

Holy crap!!! 2 more homers tonight! Are you kidding me???

[Edgartohof]

He ought to just retire right now - leave on top!!!

(just kidding about that by the way)

Congrats to him, and hope he can keep it up!!!

[Old Sweater]

Plus he had a web gem catch in the game yesterday.

[cardsfanatic]

I'm happy Ankiel is back and doing alright. But I'm not getting swept up in Ankiel mania. The guy had fewer than 700 minor league at-bats as a position player only and he wasn't setting the world on fire, either. He might be a solid platoon player and a decent backup OF'er. I'm not sold on him being anything more than that right now, though.

[BoofBonser26]

I'm happy Ankiel is back and doing alright. But I'm not getting swept up in Ankiel mania. The guy had fewer than 700 minor league at-bats as a position player only and he wasn't setting the world on fire, either. He might be a solid platoon player and a decent backup OF'er. I'm not sold on him being anything more than that right now, though.
We all know that. When it's all said and done, Ankiel will probably be well below average.

But for now, I, at least, have chosen to enjoy the ride. :clapping

[hellborn]

He's got great talent no doubt..but he has a hole in his swing up in the zone. We figured that out against him this year and he had a tough go when we were in town. Once pitchers figure out that he has a tough time handling that pitch Rick will have to make an adjustment. But I think he'll be able to make it.

I guess I'm surprised that info would need to be relearned at the ML level...is the flow of dope on players just not that good from the minors to the majors, or do the ML pitchers just not care to listen?

I think that he'll hang around for a while, and ESPN will love to show any highlights that he can produce...but, his OBP in AAA was pretty low. If he can patch up his holes and show that power often enough, he should have a bench job.

[west coast orange and black]

boofbonser26: But for now, I, at least, have chosen to enjoy the ride.

same here. his hard work and determination is a good story.
i hope that his ks are more about him pressing in the beginning, wanting to do well.

[Barry(US)Bonds]

It's so hard to make judgements about transition players like this because it happens so rarely. i really like ankiel though. I say his OBP comes around like his power did and even if it doesn't but he hits with the power he has in the minors he'll still be a + ball player for any club...I am really excited about this guy. I know he completely melted down and all, but what do people think about him possibly filling in as a few innings per year pitcher? I know it sounds crazy, but If I was a Cardinals fan I would be pumped to see a power hitter on my team go out there and throw an inning or two every once in a while...would harkon back to days of old...or little league

[wogdoggy]

He's got great talent no doubt..but he has a hole in his swing up in the zone. We figured that out against him this year and he had a tough go when we were in town. Once pitchers figure out that he has a tough time handling that pitch Rick will have to make an adjustment. But I think he'll be able to make it.

saw him whiff on some high heat out of the zone,,when he learns to lay off that he'll be super dangerous..what a return!!!!

[BaseballDude89]

So he has played in:
1999
2000
2001
2004
2007

That's weird: 5 seasons in 9 years?

[StanTheMan]

So Taguchi is 38 years old. I see him playing that type of role, at best. Injury fill in on occasion, and a pinch hitter from the left side late in games.

He will stay up for the rest of the season, as he is out of options and must pass through waivers if he is sent down again....

[flash143817]

He has great natural ability, but I get the sense this story will end up being too good to be true. I personally hope he makes it successfully, but it seems unlikely to me.

For one thing, numbers-wise, he has some glaring red flags.

One is that he doesn't walk all that often. He isn't terrible at it, but he isn't that good either. Pitchers will realize that soon enough and stop throwing him strikes. It will be on him to be very disciplined once that happens.


A second thing is that his BA isn't very good. A .267 BA in an extreme hitter's league like the PCL is nothing to write home about for a future major leaguer. Basically, he appears to be HR or nothing when it comes to hitting. A Dave Kingman clone offensively. You can get away with that when you have high walk totals and a corresponding high OBP, but he doesn't have that right now. His OBP was barely over .310 in the minors.

You often see guys called up and get off to hot starts because pitchers are throwing them mostly fastballs. Then pitchers get wise and start giving them the heavy diet of off-speed pitches and it makes a lot of guys drop off offensively. I suspect this will be the case with Ankiel. He will have to learn to either hit the off-speed or lay off of it if he wants to make it long term.