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Rick Ankiel, Lost And Found Again
By Jamie Mottram | June 12, 2012
I too suffer from Steve Blass. It set in senior year, when I never threw a pitch, not in a game, because practice was a freak show starring me way up, way down, too far in, too far right. No pattern, out of control.
I became a DH (even 1B meant too many throws) and didn’t take the bump for years. I’ve had the yips ever since and my only quarter is in the outfield; it’s distant there, and there’s comfort in distance.
So it was that I watched Rick Ankiel’s great implosion of October 2000 with sadness, the depth of which was matched by the joy of his resurgence years later, made new again as an OF. He came back a slugger, posting 119 and 120 OPS+ in back-to-back seasons for St. Louis. Then the bat faded and he bounced around. To Kansas City, to Atlanta, and, finally, Washington.
We didn’t expect much upon arrival, nor has he delivered much in the 560 at-bats since. The thing is, he never should’ve gotten those at-bats.
Thankfully, Ankiel’s become a bench guy, playing center only when needed. Sometimes he gets to show off his arm (AKA The Arm), and sometimes he reminds us of the home-run hitter he was. Two things these past few days, though, tipped us off to what he is now.
First, on Friday, he advised Stephen Strasburg on his curveball. The guy with a world-class curve came to the guy who so famously lost it despite possessing the same. Strasburg promptly went out and delivered a classic: 13 Ks in victory at Fenway Park.
Then, yesterday, after Bryce Harper was easily thrown out at third base, Ankiel had words with the 19-year-old phenom in the dugout. Think about what that means coming from Ankiel, who also made it at 19 and, despite something that would’ve ended most careers, is still going 13 years later. It didn’t it make into the game story or even the box score, but it’s important Harper, like Strasburg, has that kind of guidance.
I love it. I love his story with heart and soul, and I’m loving these first-place Nats. Not only because of the K Street rotation or Harper’s arrival, but also because of Ankiel, a rollercoaster with another bend or two before coming to rest. In command, under control.
Topics: Nationals, Rick Ankiel | 4 Comments »
June 12th, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Saw Ankiel several times while I was in St. Louis. While he was there the only person who’s name was on the back of more jersey’s was Pujols.
June 12th, 2012 at 12:38 PM
big fan of ankiel and i’ll always root for him now. good guy to have in the clubhouse and you have to root for him after all he’s gone through.
him and harper are the only two players that make defensive/outfield baseball fun for me to watch.
June 13th, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Sexiest Nat!
June 17th, 2012 at 4:51 PM
The tape clearly shows Porter telling him Harper to go to third. Porter’s fault, not Harper’s. I’m perplexed by the MASN announcers first saying Porter told him to go then said Harper didn’t pick up the sign from Porter.