Now... that's just plain old wierd (NEWS)

[TheLegend]

Ankiel to switch from mound to outfield
03/09/2005 12:14 PM ET
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com

JUPITER, Fla. -- Blame it on the rain?
As of Tuesday night, Rick Ankiel was slated to be the Cardinals' starting pitcher in a "B" game against the Marlins on Wednesday morning. By 9 a.m. CT on Wednesday, rain had washed out that game and Ankiel was ready to announce he wouldn't be pitching anymore, anywhere.

Ankiel, once considered a future Cy Young Award winner, has decided to pursue a career as an outfielder, leaving the pitcher's mound behind for good. The telling wording in a release by the Cardinals was that Ankiel "has chosen to retire as a Major League pitcher." He will begin working out as an outfielder immediately.

As a rookie in 2000, Ankiel went 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 175 innings as the Cardinals won the National League Central. However, he suffered severe control problems in the postseason and the 2001 season, followed by a series of elbow troubles. Ankiel finally underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in 2003 and made it back on a Major League mound in 2004.

Ankiel pitched in winter ball in Puerto Rico this past offseason. He had struggled in recent throws in Spring Training, including a difficult batting practice session where he threw three strikes out of 23 pitches.

"Turn the page, that's it," said Ankiel. "I'm happy and I'm excited. I was excited coming to the park today, knowing it was something new. Something new to focus on. It's a new challenge. It should be cool."

Ankiel has hit .207 in 87 Major League at-bats, with a .258 on-base percentage and a .310 slugging percentage. In the minors, he hit .279/.337/.558 in 165 career at-bats. He thrived as a part-time designated hitter for Johnson City of the rookie-level Appalachian League in 2001, putting up a line of .286/.364/.638 with 10 homers in 105 at-bats.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[Guest]

If he can't throw 90 feet from the moound what makes him think he'll hit the cutoff man or the base from 250 feet in the outfield...

[retep]

Well.... from the OF, you're not throwing into an are the size of a trash can lid... and you only need to make a few throws per game. I like the idea of him throwing balls from the OF at 90+ MPH!

[Tayster]

Something tells me the name Rick Ankiel won't be associated with good outfielders.

[Southpaw Slim]

What are you talking about, Daniel? In 5 years we'll all be saying, "Wow! Did you see how he Ankieled that ball!?! It was amazing!"