Rick Ankiel

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

Like the others said, he'll start out in the pen with the departure of Kline. If he shows promise I think they want him back in the starting rotation, but it will be a gradual process, nothing too quick I wouldn't imagine.

[RAmst23]

I completely agree that if ankiel produces during ST he will start. The talk around StL(my home town) is that they'd like to see Ankiel back and starting again, and I think if he produces when given the chance he'll be slotted in at the back of the cards rotation.

Williams and Morris won't be back, and the Cards do have some extra $$ to throw around, if Johnson doesn't come I'd expect to see a Clement on the roster...

What's with all the glorifying of Pavano anyway? one good year and everyone wants to lock him up for 5.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

What's with all the glorifying of Pavano anyway? one good year and everyone wants to lock him up for 5.

I agree. I would rather have Clement than Pavano, but both bring the power pitching the rotation definitely needs. Personally I'd want someone else to take the chance on Pavano, but with the SP FA market so thin, you'd be crazy not to at least take a look IMO.

[Pedantic]

What's with all the glorifying of Pavano anyway? one good year and everyone wants to lock him up for 5.

I agree. I would rather have Clement than Pavano, but both bring the power pitching the rotation definitely needs. Personally I'd want someone else to take the chance on Pavano, but with the SP FA market so thin, you'd be crazy not to at least take a look IMO.

I don't consider either of them power pitchers. Both work in the low-90's, I believe.

[wrveres]

Interesting about Marquis. I hadn't heard that the Cards were disapointed with him ..

I guess that makes two organizations now that he couldn't get along with ? ..

Wonder if the Cards are interested in Darryl May. May for Marquis ... I would take that deal.

Oh, And if Marquis get out of line, we can just get David Wells to crush his skull ..

[Pogotheostrich]

I don't consider either of them power pitchers. Both work in the low-90's, I believe.

They do but Clement ranked 6th last year in K/9 with a 9.45 and relies mostly on his fastball. I would consider that a power pitcher but everyone defines it a little different.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

I don't consider either of them power pitchers. Both work in the low-90's, I believe.

They do but Clement ranked 6th last year in K/9 with a 9.45 and relies mostly on his fastball. I would consider that a power pitcher but everyone defines it a little different.

That's more or less what I meant. Their both power pitchers compared to the rest of the Cardinal's rotation. Marquis is the only one who consistently gets into the mid 90's.

[pomplona's finest]

Haha. Ankiel will be this year's late round steal.

[Rkiivs]

And of course there's rumors that he may be part of a package to the Dbacks for RJ.

[j_d_mcnugent]

And of course there's rumors that he may be part of a package to the Dbacks for RJ.

i dont know that i would really call that a rumor. i read an article on yahoo where a writer suggested the cards offer haren, ankiel, calero and something else for RJ. it is now evolved from suggestion to rumor. i would be very very surprised if haren or ankiel were involved in a trade. more likely suspects include marquis, wainwright, brad thomson, john gall and so on.