|
|
|
|
Baseball Primer Newsblog— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand
Friday, June 22, 2007
“I want to go up there and stay there and play for years,” [Rick] Ankiel says. “I don’t want this to be a novelty where people say, ‘Wow, look, he made it back’ and then I go away.”
...
Now a month shy of turning 28 and one of only two remaining players in the organization from the 2000 NL Central Division championship team, Ankiel is ready for something else.
“I’m 27 now,” he says. “I need to prove I can play or get out of the way.”
...
One Cardinals official recently described Ankiel as Memphis’ best player “by a long shot.” Two rival scouts who attended a recent Redbirds home stand shared the sentiment.
“I don’t want to put any limitations on him,” Memphis manager Chris Maloney says. “He’s going to be a very good big-league player. He’s going to be a run producer. He should if he keeps improving.”
...
Predominantly a pull hitter, Ankiel has struggled against some of the Pacific Coast League’s top pitching — he struck out in nine of 12 at-bats in a recent series with pitching-strong Nashville — but devours anything less. He followed the Nashville series by belting three home runs in last Saturday’s game at Iowa.
Ankiel is currently hitting .274/.310/.584 at AAA Memphis (226AB, 19HR, 12BB, 56SO)...
NTNgod
Posted: June 22, 2007 at 06:32 AM | 80 comment(s)
| Login to Bookmark
Related News: General, St Louis
|
Support BBTF
Thanks to
Mike Emeigh
for his generous support.
Bookmarks
You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.
Hot Topics
Newsblog: OT: NBA Monthly Thread, February 2012 (352 - 4:41pm, Feb 09)Last: Fourth True OutcomeNewsblog: Oil Can Boyd says he used cocaine with Red Sox (43 - 4:39pm, Feb 09)Last: billyjackNewsblog: Sources: Cubs’ Starlin Castro Accused Of Sexual Assault (5783 - 4:39pm, Feb 09)Last: RayDiPernaNewsblog: WHYGAV: Burnett to Pirates a Good Idea? (10 - 4:38pm, Feb 09)Last: snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster)Newsblog: NYT: Alderson Remakes Needy Mets From Bottom Line Up (19 - 4:36pm, Feb 09)Last: toratoratoraNewsblog: RICH HARDEN TO MISS 2012 DUE TO SHOULDER SURGERY (11 - 4:35pm, Feb 09)Last: DannyNewsblog: The Book Blog: MGL: Today on Clubhouse Confidential (58 - 4:35pm, Feb 09)Last: DA Baracus: dramatic facepalming in a 3 piece suitNewsblog: Guelph Mercury: Argos will likely be turfed out of Rogers if Jays get grass (18 - 4:32pm, Feb 09)Last: Enrico PallazzoNewsblog: Fangraphs: Cameron: The 10 Worst Transactions Of The Winter (78 - 4:31pm, Feb 09)Last: Nasty NateNewsblog: Justice: 5 things that could make the 2012 season a successful one for the Astros (24 - 4:30pm, Feb 09)Last: Davo the MagnificentNewsblog: Strange Times in Baseball: 1891-1895 (8 - 4:22pm, Feb 09)Last: Steve NNewsblog: NY Daily News: Brian Cashman's accused stalker says Yankees GM misled feds on steroid probe (39 - 4:21pm, Feb 09)Last: Something OtherNewsblog: ESPN: Law: Top 100 Prospects (paywalled) (4 - 4:19pm, Feb 09)Last: Slivers of Maranville (SdeB)Transaction Oracle: 2012 ZiPS Projections - Texas Rangers (18 - 4:16pm, Feb 09)Last: Jarrod HypnerotomachiaPoliphili(Teddy F. Ballgame)Newsblog: 'Duk: Tim Lincecum slims down with swim routine, loses appetite for McDonald’s (270 - 2:53pm, Feb 09)Last: phredbird
|
|
Reader Comments and Retorts
Go to end of page
Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.
One thing's for sure, I can't think of a better human interest story in baseball than Rick Ankiel. Putting aside his baseball history, from all accounts he's a really good guy and great to be around, on and off the field. If you can't root for guys like Rick Ankiel, why bother watching sports?
Then I looked it up and they're leading the PCL in ERA by a sizeable margin (3.64 to Fresno's 3.98) and are tied for lowest WHIP. Huh.
FREE JOE THATCHER, though!
(LH reliever signed out of the Frontier League a year or so back)
From what I've heard from spring training quotes, apparantly he still has absolutely nasty stuff. Most of the pitchers he's played catch with have had him (not through their doing all the time) throw his curve, and they say it's the best curveball they've ever seen.
That said, he just can't face hitters anymore. So If he fails as a major league hitter, I think he'll just be a career AAAA player. He has the same swing as mine (with a greater bat speed of course) and if he fixes his huge hole he has, he'll be much better, probably 3 more walks and 15 less strikeouts.
That said, he needs to improve before he's anything more than a bat off the bench. His numbers translate to about a .250 OBP and .470 SLG, which won't get it done in MLB unless you're a catcher or SS. The slugging is nice, but a .250 OBP will just kill you. That would be an OPS+ in the mid-90s, which isn't terrible (Juan Encarnacion-esque), but with such an extrememly low OBP and a (presumed) lack of defense, you wouldn't want him to get much playing time.
I hope he improves his eye at the plate. He seems to have legit power, so even being able to keep his OBP around .300-.330 would make him pretty useful, at least as a 4th outfielder.
In the majors he walked once every 14.5 ABs
In AAA he walks once every 18.8 ABs
If he still walked at the rate he did in the majors, that would add almost 20 points to his AAA OBP. His translated OBP still wouldn't be pretty, but it would be a step in the right direction.
Good luck to the lad. He's persistent. And that is an admirable trait.
I know. It's all small sample sizes at this point. I just thought it was interesting.
BTW I hope Rick plays the outfield better than Kieschnick.
That seems unduly harsh. The young man has worked through his issues and is trying to succeed in his profession. Not dissimilar to Jim Eisenreich. I don't think Jim is/was a "headcase wacko".
And whatever he may have said once upon a time in the recent past he has done nothing but focus on getting better at the game in a completely different role. That speaks to the grit of the individual.
What am I missing?
"I know God reached down and turned my right arm into a thunderbolt, and I've never had control problems in my life. But now I have this block, and I can't do it, I just can't throw strikes. I know I've proven I can do it before, and its not mechinical or physical but I'm walking proof of the million dollar arm and the ten cent head, so I'm going to quit"
Sorry, I can't wish for the best for a guy who has that conversation. I root for guys who battle adversity, and who win. Not guys who give into it, and just happen to be so damn talented they can find another way to get by, but not be the world beater he could have been.
Given HIS family, that would probably be no problem for him to tell them that.
Of course not, because they impowered him to be the spoiled whiney crybaby headcase wacko that he is.
Oh by the way, "if anyone claims me off waiver i'm retiring." wah - I'm taking my ball and going home.
Whatever it is I would guess it's similar to what happened to Neighborgall in college- I'd like to see Rauseo diagnose him...
I'm not sure if you're saying you think Rick Ankiel had a pampered family life or if that's just a normal cause for this type of "situation." But his family life was anything but pampered.
I'm not trying to diagnose anyone. Just explaining to Harvey why I don't root for him.
Dan, Obviously I didn't expect to Ankeils dad as a ex-con, however, that doesn't really change my thoughts that he was likely pampered. My mother is a teacher, I worked for a time as a substitute while trying to figure out what I wanted to do. The town I we worked had an unusually large class divide. Some of the most spoiled, pampered, children were the ones who grew up with home situations similar to Ankiels.
also, it's "affectionately" and "empowered." you slovenly drunk.
Dan, Obviously I didn't expect to Ankeils dad as a ex-con, however, that doesn't really change my thoughts that he was likely pampered. My mother is a teacher, I worked for a time as a substitute while trying to figure out what I wanted to do. The town I we worked had an unusually large class divide. Some of the most spoiled, pampered, children were the ones who grew up with home situations similar to Ankiels.
That comes off like you're saying that you had it really hard while anyone you don't happen to like had it easy and was pampered. And the guy didn't quit. He has worked really hard to go down a different path, one that he doesn't have the same natural ability. I have no definite idea of what keeps him from throwing strikes. But I know it has happened to a number of people who did just quit. Or who worked really hard, doing everything right and still failed. Your expectation that if someone is mentally tough and works hard that everything will turn out fine is as unbelievably stupid as the idea that anyone who fails is a spoiled, pampered kid who lacks character. Failure, when doing everything right, happens. If you haven't yet experienced that, it would likely do you some good.
For what it's worth, I don't love the way he reacted - when he was 20 - to public humiliation and, likely, his first real failure. But he has rebounded marvelously and has recovered a great deal of dignity.
I think you'll have a hard time labeling me a liberal nut-job but have at if you like.
The brain is a funny thing.
I honestly don't know if someone who was pampered growing up would endure riding buses in the minor leagues, getting interviewed all the time about his situation, deal with failure at the minor league level, cope with taunts from onlookers in the minor leagues, and pretty much reinvent himself as a ballplayer. I don't associate that type of behavior with someone who was coddled at some point in their life.
Barring Ankiel being some "trust fund" kid who has been able to finance some form of "finding himself" the last seven years, I fail to see the signs of narcissism or self-absorption.
But again, I am not a diehard Cardinal follower so perhaps there are other stories out there of which I am unaware.
And yes, when my son was nine and the power was out and I had him stay with me on the farm while everyone else went to their grandmother's and it was January and we slept in the barn with small fires burning up and down the concrete aisle to keep the hogs warm and he started to cry around midnight I told him to stop. I was there and I told him everything was going to be fine. This was an adventure. What is there to worry about? But I never called him on it the next day for being afraid. Kids, heck adults, get afraid. And sometimes no matter what you do you can't get past it.
Matt, when did he say this to his family? Oh, that's right, you made it up.
Anyway, this isn't about being a "liberal nut job", it's about not being a moron. Do you really think Ankiel's problems come from not working hard enough, or not being smart enough? The guy underwent TJ surgery and then, after converting to the outfield, knee surgery as well. And your claim that he never had control problems before isn't really accurate...not Mark Wohlers control issues, but the guy did walk 90 in 175 innings as a rookie.
I don't have any knowledge of what goes on inside Ankiel's head, and I certainly wouldn't presume to tell him what he owes his family or what he should say to them. But it seems to me like he is pursuing the path that gives him the most certainty of being a solid major league player again, rather than taking the path with the higher potential reward but higher risk. Given what a fourth outfielder in MLB makes, I could see him believing that was the financially responsible path to take.
Matt, how do you explain the amount of time you spend posting on BTF to your family?
Yes, but- where has it been established that Ankiel has a mental disorder? There is a non-zero chance that Matt is at least partially right.
Personally I irrationally dislked Ankiel when he first came up for the same reason I rooted against Drew (all 3 of em) and Van Poppel and a few others.
Now I have mixed feelings...
Maybe you need to read some Tolstoy or Chekhov, or just a dictionary--try the entry for "empathy."
Good luck to Ankiel. I hope he succeeds.
Anyway, sure there is chance he's just a loser and scared little spoiled kid. But, as Harvey described, it sure is hard to see any evidence for it.
In baseball terms, throwing strikes and locating pitches is a skill. It's a very important skill. There have been lots of rifle-armed shortstops and outfielders who wouldn't have made good pitchers because they couldn't do it. Whether it's mostly physical, mostly mental or a combination, Ankiel doesn't seem to have that skill. Acknowledging that and working hard at something else is, IMO, an admirable trait. Sheer bloodymindedness is, general, stupid. And the sign of the spoiled.
I don't dislike Ankiel and I am fine with him doing fine. But I do think the opportunity he has is not in line with any sort of potential. Potential is a funny thing after all -- there are those who are always remembered for their potential but rarely do you hear/read anything about players who have fulfilled it. You rarely hear, "Boy, Player X is sure meeting his potential!"
So in a way, I can see where other minor league ballplayers, working with less, knowing they are on a much shorter time line would have reason to be jealous or angry.
I always think it's funny seeing people use non-zero arguments on this website - this is almost like reading about infinite improbability drives.
And just to make sure I don't begin any flame wars: Matt might be right, I just think that it's more likely to be another explanation. There is no way to prove it without someone violating HIPAA and looking at Ankiel's medical records, or unless Ankiel publicly announces his underlying problem.
Really, because African-Americans like Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden never get second or third or fourth chances in America.
I oprefer to use Bistro Math myself
If Ankiel was an African American Outfielder in the Mets or Devil Rays system, many people would be questioning whether he deserved a second chance, let alone a ninth, or tenth or whatever.
I don't know...guys like Gooden and Strawberry got plenty of second chances, too. Granted, they had proven more at the ML level, but Ankiel clearly has world-class power and if he can put it all together he'll be a very useful major leaguer. I don't think anyone is giving him second chances out of the goodness of their hearts. They think he can be a good major league player and are giving him a chance out of self-interest.
I have had/do have the yips and I think there is a good possibility I have some form or variant of SAD as well.
Er, where is the African American OF in the Mets or Devil Rays system who has been booted to the curb after one failure?
Not booted to the curb, but criticized and maybe dismissed. I don't really remember what was said after Ankiel's first series of failures, but I don't think it was as harsh as Dukes or Milledge or Young.
I guess the cases are completely different, that was sort of spur of the moment. I retract that.
A lot of the reaction in this thread was fairly predicatable, and why I didn't really want to go into it.
Of course, before Tourette's was commonly diagnosed, understood and treated kids were just blamed for not being able to control their tics. So, if someone comes up for a name for Ankiel's problem and diagnoses a few other cases, can MHS start rooting for him? Until his disorder gets a proper name, he should feel free to keep bashing him for lack of mental toughness.
I think you lack the mental toughness to fight for your opinion.
Hey, no problem; not everyone's mentally tough enough to press unpopular views.
He'll have an interesting BB-ref page when he comes back though.
If Ankiel provides significant value as a majopr leaguer in pretty much any role, I think it's an incredible moral victory. I think he's already "won" in the sense that he's worked so hard to be a baseball player with the odds so stacked against him when he could have bought a car dealership or something and allowed himself to fall into obscurity.
He's one of my favorite stories in baseball and I hope he succeeds against every team but the Mets.
Perhaps I'm in the minority, but if Ankiel has some sort of emotional/mental problem that he's fighting past, I think that makes him more praiseworthy, not less so.
Maroth must really not have much trade value - the article doesn't even say who's going back.
The comments on Rosenthal's article are priceless:
Hey Ken, nice story!! Did they get him for free?
They pay you for half a story?
At least this was free....
I bet 28 other GMs did too.
-- MWE
It puts you in the minority of "everyone but MHS."
As for you, MHS, I just cannot believe how ridiculous it is to play the role of the besieged martyr when your INITIAL "contribution" to the thread was this: I don't ever root for anyone but the Yankees to fail. So I wouldn't go so far as to say I hope he has no success. I just hope is success is limited. He is a spoiled whiney crybaby. Headcase wacko.
So you didn't want to "get into it" eh? Then why did you behave like a jerk?
I all fairness I should have said: He exhibits the traits of a spoiled whiney crybaby. Headcase wacko. Since I don't know the lad. But besides that I wasn't nearly the jerk in this thread that many were. But thats pretty much SOP.
Behave? Come on people. He's entitled to his opinion, which I disagreed with, but whatever. I don't see anything written in this thread by MHS that qualifies as behaving like a jerk. Perhaps I'd have a different opinion if I was Rick Ankiel, but I'm not, and neither are the rest of you.
I nominate JRE as biggest jerk of this thread, what, with his "baseball news" link and all. Knock it off with that #### already!
In fairness, Rick Ankiel tried to post in this thread but couldn't stop pressing the delete key.
Or he did post, but his post went over all of our heads.
Or he did post, but his post went over all of our heads.
That's true, but he's doing a hell of a job posting on the Clemens thread.
quit whining, overpriviledged crybaby.
She wasn't a very good teacher, that's for sure.
You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.
<< Back to main