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Posted By	Discussion Topic: Cardinals Send Ankiel to Minors
Froy King Shit *board owner*	posted on 05-11-2001 @ 8:12 PM
O&A Board Veteran Registered: Feb. 01	ST. LOUIS (TICKER) -- Five more pitches to the backstop was enough for the St. Louis Cardinals to see of Rick Ankiel. The erratic lefthander was optioned to Class AAA Memphis of the Pacific Coast League on Friday after another shaky outing. On Thursday, Ankiel walked five batters, threw two wild pitches and fired five balls to the screen behind the plate in just three innings of an 11-5 win over Pittsburgh. "It's not fun here competing the way I'm competing right now," Ankiel said before departing. "It's a good opportunity for me to go down there and try to get it right and come back soon." Like most of the season, the rest of Ankiel's pitching line was an afterthought. He gave up three runs and three hits while striking out two in his sixth start of the season. Considered the top pitching prospect in baseball two years ago, Ankiel returns to the minor leagues with an 0-1 mark and a 7.13 ERA. Through 24 innings, he has given up 25 hits while walking 25, striking out 27, hitting three batters and throwing six wild pitches. "Going backwards a step and thinking about him going out there again, we're just trying to use good judgment," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "I think he understands and believes he'll take the assignment and do whatever it takes in Memphis. We'll make do until he's ready." Last year, Ankiel was second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. Using a hard fastball and sharp-breaking curve, he went 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 175 innings. But the 21-year-old fell apart in the postseason. In a Game One start of the Division Series against Atlanta, he walked six and threw five wild pitches in 2 2/3 innings. Ankiel made two appearances in the League Championship Series against the New York Mets but walked five and uncorked four more wild pitches in just 1 1/3 innings. He had only 12 wild pitches during the regular season. The Cardinals tried to put Ankiel's struggles to rest during spring training. Before he appeared in a game, Ankiel joined manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan in a news conference that was nothing more than a pre-emptive strike. They stressed that questions about Ankiel's wildness would not be answered. The Cardinals managed to win two of Ankiel's six starts, including a promising outing on April 8, when he gave up two runs while walking three and striking out eight in five innings. Ankiel did not get past the fifth in any of his six appearances. The Cardinals tried to get Ankiel to work out his problems at the major league level, choosing to go with 12 pitchers. St. Louis replaced Ankiel by recalling outfielder Luis Saturria from Memphis, where he was hitting .170 with four home runs, seven RBI and 23 strikeouts in 31 games. ~Matt/Froy from Jersey Official Protector of Gay Marco & SwampJunk...if he ever decides to post.
Francine Banger	posted on 05-11-2001 @ 10:06 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Dec. 00	Its over Johnny, for this guy.
Faceman ...And now the battle between us and them has begun. JYD-4-LIFE.	posted on 05-11-2001 @ 10:12 PM
O&A Board Veteran Registered: May. 00	i got rid of him off my fantasy teams and now this happens. i should really start playing the horses:) This time I'm 'a let it all come out This time I'm 'a stand up and shout I'm 'a do things my way It's my way My way, or the highway
mikeWOW I got a staple in my ass and all I got was this status	posted on 05-12-2001 @ 10:47 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Sep. 00	i think he'll definlty come around, well i hope so
Austin 3:16 The Dark Enforcer/Angry Stoned Pimp G.O.O.F.B.A.H.G.S. New World Order Secret Police Chief Proud Inventor of the "Cream Cheese, Peanut Butter and Jelly" sandwich	posted on 05-12-2001 @ 10:49 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Feb. 01	[understatment]Ankiel needs to improve on his accuracy and control[/understatement] But seriously he needs to train and hopefully he will improve. Graduate of Sephiroth's school of newbies, thanx for the sig bud. E-mail Me
adolescentmasturbator	posted on 05-12-2001 @ 11:10 PM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01	The problem is that everyone touted Ankiel as the next Nolan Ryan and he was rushed out and he didn't get to develop. Email me at [email protected] or [email protected] IM me at stickysituation2 or pinkorag The Fourth International Is At Hand. The Beautiful Hand of Socialism Will Come and Sweep Away the Imperialist Pigs. Crush Your Oppressors.
bluetarp	posted on 05-13-2001 @ 12:09 AM
O&A Board Regular Registered: Jan. 01	I watched that really bad game he pitched in the playoffs last year. It was genuinely painfull. I really felt bad for him. Maybe it's like the mental thing Knoblauch was going through with his throwing. Unfortunately, you don't just take a pitcher, and make him an outfielder. Some people think I'm a psycho, everybody else knows it!

Displaying 1-7 of 7 messages in this thread.