Rick Ankiel....what are his chances?

[Lofunzo]

Interesting spring for this guy. He goes from maybe pushing Morris out of the rotation to being groomed as an extra OF.

[hybrid]

ALso, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he hit a homer in each of his first two ML starts?

He did have 2 HR's in 2000, though I'm not sure if they were in his first two starts or not.

[Pogotheostrich]

Interesting spring for this guy. He goes from maybe pushing Morris out of the rotation to being groomed as an extra OF.

Just wait until TB picks him up off of waivers and Pinella is screaming at him to pitch or go home.

[j_d_mcnugent]

if anyone cares he batted in an intersquad game today. singled in first at bat off of brad thompson. got a broken bat groundout in second at bat vs. jim journell.

[Mordraken]

For a pitcher, he wasn't that bad. He had a couple of homers during his full year, and hit for a decent average (especially considering he'd only get 3 ABs every 5 days). I doubt he'll make the team as an OFer, but don't doubt that some other team will pick him up off waivers... I believe he is out of options, so either he makes the team or he'll be released.

Too bad. I had him through his one and only season, and he helped me win a championship. The mind is a funny thing.

[Havok1517]

I say another team picks him up off waivers and makes him pitch again, I just hope it works out, what a waste of talent. Wonder what Leo in Atlanta or Don in Cincy could do with him???

[Lofunzo]

Did I miss something here?? By not making the team, I took that to mean that he would be sent down to the minors. Is he actually going on waivers??

[Havok1517]

yes, he is out of options and will be put on waivers and sent down if no other team claims him, but someone will.

[wkelly91]

Ankiels Hitting Stats: Next Stats >>

SEASON TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
1999 St. Louis Cardinals 9 10 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 .100 .100 .100
2000 St. Louis Cardinals 33 68 8 17 1 1 2 9 26 4 20 0 0 .292 .382 .250
2001 St. Louis Cardinals 6 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 .111 .000 .000
2004 St. Louis Cardinals 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .500 .000 .000

Career Totals 53 87 9 18 1 1 2 9 27 6 29 0 0 .258 .310 .207

It has happened before....but not often. Bobby Darwin had some reasonably good years after starting as a pitcher.

Bobby Darwin OF updated through Tuesday, February 15, 2005 12:00 AM EST

Pitching Stats: Next Stats >>

SEASON TEAM W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO IP H R ER HR HBP BB SO
1962 Los Angeles Angels 0 1 10.80 1 1 0 0 0 --- 3.1 8 6 4 0 0 4 6
1969 Los Angeles Dodgers 0 0 9.82 3 0 0 0 0 --- 3.2 4 4 4 0 2 5 0

Career Totals 0 1 10.29 4 1 0 0 0 --- 7.0 12 10 8 0 2 9 6

Hitting Stats: Next Stats >>

SEASON TEAM G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
1962 Los Angeles Angels 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 .000 .000
1969 Los Angeles Dodgers 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000
1971 Los Angeles Dodgers 11 20 2 5 1 0 1 4 9 2 9 0 0 .318 .450 .250
1972 Minnesota Twins 145 513 48 137 20 2 22 80 227 38 145 2 3 .326 .442 .267
1973 Minnesota Twins 145 560 69 141 20 2 18 90 219 46 137 5 2 .309 .391 .252
1974 Minnesota Twins 152 575 67 152 13 7 25 94 254 37 127 1 3 .322 .442 .264
1975 Minnesota Twins 48 169 26 37 6 0 5 18 58 18 44 2 0 .307 .343 .219
1975 Milwaukee Brewers 55 186 19 46 6 2 8 23 80 11 54 4 1 .300 .430 .247
1976 Boston Red Sox 43 106 9 19 5 2 3 13 37 2 35 1 0 .216 .349 .179
1976 Milwaukee Brewers 25 73 6 18 3 1 1 5 26 6 16 0 0 .321 .356 .247
1977 Boston Red Sox 4 9 1 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 4 0 0 .222 .333 .222
1977 Chicago Cubs 11 12 2 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 5 0 0 .167 .250 .167

Career Totals 646 2224 250 559 76 16 83 328 916 160 577 15 9 .311 .412 .251

[Havok1517]

An announcer said that is the way Stan Musial started, hey Babe Ruth too. Not saying Ankiel is anything on par with those all-time greats, but it has happened.