Cards call up Ankiel
 

St. Louis cards call up outfielder Ankiel.

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Ankiel was hitting .267 with 32 homers and 89 runs batted in 102 games at Triple-A Memphis. He also struck out 90 times and had an on-base percentage of .314. Defensively, he had seven errors.

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Great story, but not one that is going to end well, methinks...

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

It's about time, he's been tearing up the minors for two years now.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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It's about time, he's been tearing up the minors for two years now.

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Don't you mean "creating mucho mucho outs"? That's good if he was still a pitcher, but not so good as a hitter.

His OBP has been .295 in AA and .316 in AAA, what is it going to be in the Majors? Way below .300? Ankiel is 28 and in his prime so how much improvement does he have left?

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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It's about time, he's been tearing up the minors for two years now.

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Don't you mean "creating mucho mucho outs"? That's good if he was still a pitcher, but not so good as a hitter.

His OBP has been .295 in AA and .316 in AAA, what is it going to be in the Majors? Way below .300? Ankiel is 28 and in his prime so how much improvement does he have left?

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considering he only recently became a full-time hitter, I don't think you can use standard projections like that.

also, his SLG this year was .570, that's pretty damn good. sure his OBP sucks, but a guy who a .270/.316/.570 guy has good value

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

Is he going to have a nervous breakdown the first time overthrows the cutoff man in a big game?

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Is he going to have a nervous breakdown the first time overthrows the cutoff man in a big game?

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dunno, but I bet he has a gun!

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

I really hope he is successful. He was such a bright star as a young pitcher it was painful to watch him fall apart like that. I, for one, hope he finds a lot of success.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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I really hope he is successful. He was such a bright star as a young pitcher it was painful to watch him fall apart like that. I, for one, hope he finds a lot of success.

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yes, not sure how you could not root for this guy.

it would have been really easy for him to spiral downward into a really bad place, but he pulled himself together really well.

also, he must be a ridiculously good athlete

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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I really hope he is successful. He was such a bright star as a young pitcher it was painful to watch him fall apart like that. I, for one, hope he finds a lot of success.

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QFT

this kid worked hard (and was lucky) to be able to make it back...also the way he fell apart sucked bad...hopefully he comes back and becomes a solid player

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

Oh good, it's like Rob Deer is back only this time, the kid used to pitch.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

I got to see him pitch in a rookie league game when he was trying to get himself back together. Seems like a good guy; I had no idea he was trying to make it back as an outfieilder.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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sure his OBP sucks, but a guy who a .270/.316/.570 guy has good value

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But that's AAA numbers. What's the expected translation to the majors? If it's a 10% reduction he'd be .243/.285/.523. That provides what looks like a decent OPS (.808), except that OBP is probably worth 3x SLG. So his EQA is likely to be below league average. That's not good for a corner outfielder who struggles defensively.

For comparison, Jack Cust is .263/.402/.521 this year in the Majors. Last year he was .293/.467/.549 in AAA. And if his hitting ever falls off he could never play the outfield for anyone. As soon as Piazza is moved Cust is a full time DH.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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What's the expected translation to the majors?

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well, it's a difficult projection I think. he's been a full time OF for 2 years. so while you normally wouldn't be excited about a relatively 1 dimensional player making his MLB debut at 28, this is clearly an outlier case.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

I think you can usually count on about a 15% reduction, but that varies a ton from player to player.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

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If he could catch or play a decent 2b/SS his OBP wouldn't hurt so bad. I'm just struggling to see where he fits as a successful MLB player unless he improves significantly. Cust's OBP makes him a fine DH, but I can't really see Ankiel successful in that role without a much better OBP.

I sure hope he does make it somehow.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

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And yet Ryan Howard is what, 27, and in his second full year?

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

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And yet Ryan Howard is what, 27, and in his second full year?

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I'm not sure what point you were trying to make with this post, but thayer DID say "tend".

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

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And yet Ryan Howard is what, 27, and in his second full year?

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Please.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

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And yet Ryan Howard is what, 27, and in his second full year?

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believe he said 'poor OBP' not 'great OBP'

i could see how you got confused

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

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And yet Ryan Howard is what, 27, and in his second full year?

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For the record, Howard's OBP was .425 last year. So, my advice is to learn how to read.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

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And yet Ryan Howard is what, 27, and in his second full year?

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For the record, Howard's OBP was .425 last year. So, my advice is to learn how to read.

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And in his last stint in AAA, it was .467.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

I highly doubt he'll ever be an above-average MLB player or even a serviceable every day player, but I think there is a good chance he can catch on as a bench guy/PH/DH somewhere. There are a lot of worse players in the MLB at the end of benches. I'd love to see him at least play in the majors for a few years and earn enough to retire off his baseball career.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

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Speaking of which, the Twins really need to claim Willy Mo off of waivers. I don't think his .300obp would bring down the Twins' DH obp for the season and he sure could bring up the OPS.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

Maybe the Cardinals will try a Brooks Keishnek type experiment with Ankiel. Or is Ankiel completely finished as a pitcher? Didn't he hurt his arm?

For those who don't remember, Keishnek was a busted Cubs OF prospect who pitched in college. The Brewers made him into a 5th OF-PH-RP combo utility player. He was a poor hitter and a poor pitcher; the experiment didn't go well.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

Making himm a pitcher again could possibly be the worst thing they could do to the poor guy.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

i wish him luck

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

He stated last year that he would never pitch again.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Didn't he hurt his arm?

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I believe he had "failed Tommy John surgery"

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

Regardless, what he's done has been amazing and I'm rooting for him to play well obv.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Big time sluggers with poor OBP skills and high strikeout numbers tend to translate very poorly in the majors.

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And yet Ryan Howard is what, 27, and in his second full year?

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Not to mention the fact he has a good obp and is an outlier, but also those type of players don't age very well. Howard looks like he is doing well, but he has probably already peaked despite being in his second year as a full time starter.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

I look forward to seeing Ankiel play again. It's a real shame what happened to him. His minor league uniforms are absolutely unbelievable (pitching), even after he came back from "failed TJ surgery."

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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Maybe the Cardinals will try a Brooks Keishnek type experiment with Ankiel. Or is Ankiel completely finished as a pitcher? Didn't he hurt his arm?

For those who don't remember, Keishnek was a busted Cubs OF prospect who pitched in college. The Brewers made him into a 5th OF-PH-RP combo utility player. He was a poor hitter and a poor pitcher; the experiment didn't go well.

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Actually, it went ok in Milwaukee.

2003: 70 AB, 7 HR, .300 BA

His power numbers dropped a lot in 2004, but his BA was still .270

Pitching stats were the reverse. In 53 relief innings in 2003, his ERA was 5.26, but in 2004, in 43 innings, his ERA dropped to 3.77.

Obviously, the sample size is not large, but I wouldn't say he was poor at both pitching and hitting. He just wasn't good enough at either to merit a big league roster spot, especially considering he was 32 years old in 2004.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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sure his OBP sucks, but a guy who a .270/.316/.570 guy has good value

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But that's AAA numbers. What's the expected translation to the majors? If it's a 10% reduction he'd be .243/.285/.523. That provides what looks like a decent OPS (.808), except that OBP is probably worth 3x SLG. So his EQA is likely to be below league average. That's not good for a corner outfielder who struggles defensively.

For comparison, Jack Cust is .263/.402/.521 this year in the Majors. Last year he was .293/.467/.549 in AAA. And if his hitting ever falls off he could never play the outfield for anyone. As soon as Piazza is moved Cust is a full time DH.

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I'm not positive, but from what I have read about sabermetrics, this is way off.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

Hoya,

Depending on who you ask OBP is worth anywhere from 1.5-3.5x SLG. I think it's more near 3.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

JoA did a regression analysis on it, as have others. It's around 1.8.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing Ankiel on a field again.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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For comparison, Jack Cust is .263/.402/.521 this year in the Majors. Last year he was .293/.467/.549 in AAA.

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Please, let's not compare Rick Ankiel to the actual god of hitting. That's quite unfair.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

The perfect Hollywood ending involves the Cards running out of pitchers in a big game and turning to Ankiel in extra innings.

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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The perfect Hollywood ending involves the Cards running out of pitchers in a big game and turning to Ankiel in extra innings.

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TLR: Ankiel, you're the only man we got...we need you now more than ever!
Ankiel: Tony! My arm is shot! Didn't you read the reports?
Kid with cancer: *cough* *cough* Ankiel, shucks if you don't go out there and pitch I don't think I'll make it.
Ankiel: Alright kid, Ima gonna go in there and give it all I got!

Re: Cards call up Ankiel
 

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The perfect Hollywood ending involves the Cards running out of pitchers in a big game and turning to Ankiel in extra innings.

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TLR: Ankiel, you're the only man we got...we need you now more than ever!
Ankiel: Tony! My arm is shot! Didn't you read the reports?
Kid with cancer: *cough* *cough* Ankiel, shucks if you don't go out there and pitch I don't think I'll make it.
Ankiel: Alright kid, Ima gonna go in there and give it all I got!

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Then Ankiel throws a wild pitch but covers the plate just in time to stop the run from scoring.