wvredbird wrote: Joe Strauss says Ankiel is willing to give pitching another shot. Said Cardinals could give him another go. Interesting.

mudville wrote: I wonder if he could pitch and play Center Field at the same time. We could save some money that way as long as he didn't demand two paychecks.

blingboy wrote: How'd you like to be the first hitter to stand in.

PadsFS wrote:

---------------------------------------------
--- Domeboys wrote:

I took an in-depth look at the matter here.

---------------------------------------------


Brian, do you know if Ankiel is in fact throwing side sessions and has been for few years?

Also I'm pretty sure Ankiel was under arbitration while plating as an outfielder for the Cardinals

Recall that i said he should pitch or go home years ago.  a LOOGY role would be perfect for him.  He had hall of fame stuff.

And, if you will recall, when he last pitched in late 2004, he really wasnt all that bad/wild.

Rat

nbr1hawkeye wrote:

mudville wrote: I wonder if he could pitch and play Center Field at the same time. We could save some money that way as long as he didn't demand two paychecks.

If you have enough center fielders, you could bring him in to face one batter, then put him in center field until another lefty comes up.  To keep doing it you would need to have extra center fielders on the bench... which the Cards do I guess (Jay, Chambers, and Skip), but he could go to any outfield position... which would bring other outfielders into the strategy (Shane, others?).  You could have him face 4 lefties.. NOT batting sequentially over 2 or more innings.  Maybe more than 4 if they hit back-to-back.

Regardless, I am anxious to see what he still has.  He isn't terribly old.  If he can maintain his control and his pitches still have movement, he could be a super LOOGY... or even a starter.  I have my fingers crossed.

1964Cards wrote: Hey, you don't have to go back that far. Whitey used to do that with Worrell and Dayley Todd would throw to right handed hitters and Daley would play right field. They would switch positions when a lefty came to the plate. Once in awhile things would get exciting when someone would hit a ball out to right field.

mudville wrote: I wonder if he could pitch and play Center Field at the same time. We could save some money that way as long as he didn't demand two paychecks.

SoonerinNC wrote: I saw Ankiel pitch with Johnson City when he went back to the minors to recoup after the meltdown.

His breaking stuff just paralized the hitters at that level but he couldn't throw a strike to save his life and ultimately his pitching career.

He was under considerable stress about his father at that time. Possibly he is past that and more mature now and if he can gain back his command he has the arm to be effective. And now it is a fresh arm.

I would really like to see the Cardinals sign him to a minor league contract and give him a look in spring training. If he is not ready send him to Memphis without that guarantee that he would be in the majors by June 1 or be released. In the second half he could provide some quality innings as a lefty specialist.