Ankiel Career

by Hollywood15 on Apr 24, 2007 5:33 PM EDT

I'm curious, where do people think Ankiel tops out? To me he looks like he has potential to be an everyday player in the bigs, but I don't know if I would project beyond that.
Does he have all star potential? If he makes it in the majors how long can he keep playing. He's no spring chicken but he is a pretty athletic player.

I'd be interested in hearing what others think.

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It's a long shot

But I could see him platooning with Encarnacion in right next season and contributing as one of those three-true-outcomes type corner outfielders.

No doubt he can get the ball to the infield (or the plate) on a line.

by liam on Apr 24, 2007 5:38 PM EDT 0 recs

2 true outcomes

walks are for wimps. go yard or strike out trying. that is rick ankiel right now.

Future Redbirds

by erik on Apr 24, 2007 6:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

maybe even

to the backstop ;)

by mtalken on Apr 24, 2007 10:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

i have one major problem with ankiel so far

2 walks in ~70 plate appearances. that indicator tends to mitigate the one very encouraging indicator (7 hrs) in his stat line.

he did have an acceptable walk rate at double A two seasons ago, but his obp there was still only .295. it's in the .280 range so far this year at memphis.

the cards can't afford another .295 obp in the lineup, no matter how many homers he hits. i need to see better plate discipline and on-base ability from rick before i'm sold.

by lboros on Apr 24, 2007 5:44 PM EDT 0 recs

true but...

The question I always wondered is how much slugging is needed to compensate a crappy obp. Also how does a .590 slugging clip at AAA translate to the majors?

by BigJawnMize on Apr 25, 2007 9:08 AM EDT up 0 recs

Ankiel

I can't judge the guy objectively, because I want too badly for him to go ballistic in the majors and be the first guy ever to completely earn the "The Natural" nickname. I mean you can't get much more Roy Hobbsian than his career has without being shot by Barbara Hershey.

by DanUpBaby on Apr 24, 2007 6:15 PM EDT 0 recs

Roy Hobbs

Ankiel is a great story we'd love to see through. I don't know of any other player that got as far in the bigs, then changed position and went down to start at the bottom and try to come all the way through. And adding extra time for injuries to make the progression take longer.

We can all be thankful that when Babe Ruth stopped pitching, they didn't put him through the same program (not to make any comparison). I've read stories of what a great natural athlete Ankeil proved himself to be in college, including a good hitter. If he can stay healthy, I think he has a great shot. If his average is presently low, and walks are too low, I think some of that is due to development to AAA mentality, and first needing to prove he does have the long ball power. Plate discipline can come later, as it has for lil dunc.

I'm rooting for Hobbs. Unfortunately, even the Knights had to be last place before he got his chance.

Fan for Life. Go Cards.

by Birds on the Bat on Apr 25, 2007 9:47 AM EDT 0 recs

Ankiel, College?

Did you mean high school? I believe the Cards took him straight out of high school.

In Walt we trust

by Crafty Veteran on Apr 25, 2007 10:04 AM EDT up 0 recs

Maybe, I've been trying to find the reference

I did find that Rick was drafted by the Cardinals 1st pick of the 2nd round in June 1997, but didn't find prior history. I was amused to see that the 2nd pick of the 1st round was J.D. Drew drafted by the Phillies, but did not sign. Also in that draft, 20th pick in the first round was Adam Kennedy.

I also don't know what number Ankiel had in the majors, or now, but he certainly can't hope to have Roy Hobb's. Number 9 has been retired by six clubs, for Bill Mazeroski, Ted Williams, Minnie Minoso, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, and our own Enos Slaughter.

Fan for Life. Go Cards.

by Birds on the Bat on Apr 25, 2007 10:58 AM EDT up 0 recs