This is Cardsox* 's writing on the feel-good story of Major League Baseball this season. He mentions Josh Hamilton in the blog, but, in my opinion, he is not a feel-good story since he has been a druggie his whole career and messed up the early part of his career by his own doing. Anyway, tomorrow, Cardsox* will have a blog detailing all the races in Major League Baseball this season. So, to get you guys involved, I encourage you to comment on both your predictions on how the races will turn out in the MLB this season, along with your thoughts on this article. Well, here it is:
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Move aside, Josh Hamilton and Jon Lester. I've got your feel-good story of the year right here. Many of you may remember a man by the name of Rick Ankiel, former pitching prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals. He won 11 games for the Cards in his 2000 rookie season, seemingly en route to a great pitching career. However, things took a turn for the worse in the playoffs when he suddenly imploded, chucking away an unheard of 12 wild pitches in just under 3 innings. Future attempts at pitching became fruitless as well. In '01 he walked 25 and threw 5 more WP and was sent down to AAA. There he walked 17 batters with 12 more wild pitches in 4.1 innings. After reviewing tape, it seemed his problems were not mechanical, but only mental. He then missed nearly all of '02 and '03 due to injury, but came back in 2004 following Tommy John surgery. It was then that he decided to quit baseball altogether. A shame for such a promising young star.
Walt Jocketty, the Cards GM, simply could not let that happen, though. He stepped in and convinced Ankiel to return to the game and come up through the minor league system again. However, this time, Ankiel would be an outfielder with a power bat.
In Spring Training 2006, he impressed the Cardinals organization with his fancy glovework and occasional power out his bat. Unfortunately, once again he was set back with an left-knee injury that ended his '06 campaign early.
Now, in 2007, things finally seem to have taken a turn for the better for this luckless prospect. He's led the entire minors in major categories, including HRs and RBIs, and was called up on August 9, 2007.
All I can say right now is, it's about freaking time! I've been watching Rick Ankiel's numbers throughout this season, and I can't help but wonder why the Cards promoted Skip Schumaker, Ryan Ludwick, John Rodriguez and Brendan Ryan before they brought up the man crushing out more homers than anyone on the major leage team.
So far, Ankiel's made it worth their while. In just 3 games, he's averaging 162 home runs per season 270 hits and 324 RBI with a .417 BA. That's impressive. He's hit 3 home runs, including 2 last night against the Dodgers.
Many can see a great future in Ankiel as a right fielder, perhaps even a future All Star. As of right now, it's all we can do to hold on to the ride and hope the best for this hapless, star-crossed pitcher turned quitter turned hitter that we know as Rick Ankiel.
I apologize, as this is a far cry from my best work, but I am extremely short on time today. Thank you.
Ingrid Vandebosch
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Comments (15) Add A Comment
of course now it is. whata bout that john lester guy? ill even take that josh hamilton guy over this. your being a homer...
Elway4Prez
Glendale , AZ
Total Comments (2527)
when i said homer i meant because you chose he braves. but nice pick with the dbacks. I'm a dbacks fan since in AZ, not some bandwagon hoper. I went to the game today and now everyone is there. I was going to games when were five out. All az fans a fair weather fans...
Elway4Prez
Glendale , AZ
Total Comments (2527)
okk so i can get this thing straightened out who is "blogger domain"...........
A* shizzle* BS
Pakistan, AZ
Total Comments (885)
ahhhhhhi get it never mind its a group
okk don't i look stupid
A* shizzle* BS
Pakistan, AZ
Total Comments (885)
Im gonna go wacky so don't take it personally if im wrong.
AL
East - Yankees
Central - Detriot
West - Los Angeles Angels of Anahaeim of Cali, which is the state next to AZ, which is next two New Mexico, which is the better version of Mexico, where you can by off brand oakleys, which also takes place in China, but they have squintey eyes...
Wild Card - Red Sox
NL
East- Mets
Central - Brew Crew
West - D backs
Wild Card - PHILLES!!!
everyone is gonna be pissed, espically all red sox, cubs, and brave fans.
Elway4Prez
Glendale , AZ
Total Comments (2527)
The blog tomorrow (or the next day, perhaps) could be interesting indeed. The Yanks are pulling very tight with the Red Sox (4 games. OH MY GOD!!), the Cards have miraculously moved within 5 games of the Central, the Brewers and the Cubs are in a competition as to who can suck the least for the rest of the year, and the NL East and West both have 3 teams in playoff contention. I'm excited for one of the better home stretches in recent MLB history.
Cardsox
Middle Of The..., US
Total Comments (9999)
"Wild Card - PHILLES!!!"
Elway, thank you for mentioning the Phillies!! No one even tlks about them even thought they are ahead of the Braves and just took two out of three from them.
AL
East - Red Sox
Central - Detriot
West - Angels
Wild Card - Yankees
NL
East- Mets
Central - Cubs
West - Diamondbacks (I had the Padres in the WS, but they can't do that if they don't make the playoffs.)
Wild Card - Phillies
I know Phillies don't have pitching, but they're playing well without Utley, and every pitcher has kept them in the game besides Eaton.
PhillyFan
Medford Lakes, NJ
Total Comments (1254)
going 3-3 on a road trip against the Phils and Mets is not going to get the Braves a division title......Phillies bullpen looked pretty good last night (and Friday night)..........wild card race is getting more interesting by the day.
ATLfan15
Total Comments (657)
ankiel is sick
jeevs BS
Schenectady , NY
Total Comments (4109)
I think you're being a little harsh on Hamilton claiming him being a "druggie" means his comeback can't be a feel-good story. No one in this world is perfect and he certainly isn't the only "druggie" (one of the most ignorant words one can use for someone battling drug addiction) in sports. At this point I believe all three guys are amazing comeback stories. I'm not a fan of the Red, Cards, or Red Sox, but I am certainly rooting for all three of those players to succeed in baseball and in life.
Oh yeah, Padres scrape back and win the NL West on the season's last day, win game 7 of the NLCS over the Diamondbacks (NL Wild Card winner) and then beat the Tigers in the World Series in 7.
EastCoastKeith
Jersey Shore, NJ
Total Comments (2137)
Bold prediction, Keith. I'm not exactly ruling out the Pads at this point. If they only had gotten some good bats at the deadline...
Cardsox
Middle Of The..., US
Total Comments (9999)
Cardsox, obviously as a Padres fan I used a little too much of my heart and not enough of my head on predictions. But in all truth, I have renewed faith (believe it or not) in Bradley, Ensberg, and Hairston all making a huge impact in September to win the NL West after arriving in San Diego recently, as well as Khalil Greene and Brian Giles becoming huge offensive producers.
EastCoastKeith
Jersey Shore, NJ
Total Comments (2137)
Another Good Blog. I absolutely love stories like this
Daveita
Total Comments (1002)
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