The Billiken's Bluff

Cardinals left-handed pitcher Rick Ankiel is ending his career as a pitcher and will try and make the team as an outfielder. Ankiel is 25-years old and has been struggling with injuries and ball control issues for the past 5 years. He made his major league debut in 2000, at age 19, and was 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA with 194 strikeouts in 175 innings, real precocious stuff. He had an unbelievably wicked curve ball, and was a lefty which is always a plus.



But in the 2000 playoffs, he began losing his grip on the strike zone. His pitches wouldn’t even come close to the plate, sailing all the way to the backstop 25 feet behind the batter. In the postseason opener against Atlanta, he became the first major league pitcher since 1890 to throw five wild pitches in one inning. It was brutal to watch (unless of course you enjoy watching people suffer). He returned the next season with his confidence shattered. He went 1-2 with a 7.13 ERA in six starts for the Cardinals in 2001, walking 25 in 24 innings, then was sent to the minors. He sat out 2002 with a sprained left elbow and missed most of the 2003 and 2004 seasons after reconstructive elbow surgery. He didn't return until last Sept. 7 and made five late-season starts, going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings. Now he is done with pitching entirely.

Most pitchers aren’t adept at hitting, but Ankiel is, so apparently he has a fighting shot (as I would say) to make the club as an everyday outfielder. Ankiel is a career .207 hitter in the major leagues, going 18-for-87 with two homers, a double, a triple and nine RBI. He played some at designated hitter for the Cardinals' rookie league team in Johnson City, Tenn., where he hit 10 homers in 2001, so he has some power.

I’ve followed Ankiel since his rookie season and really feel for the guy. I’d cringe when I'd see him miss the strike zone by 15 feet.

Billiken wishes him the best of luck in the outfield.