Is the Rick Ankiel baseball story getting much play outside of St. Louis?

[darkstar]

I'm guessing you hardcore baseball fans know about it. But I'm new to St. Louis area and not the hugest fan (no team to follow). No cable, but listen to the games while fixing dinner and stuff.

I'll confess I didn't know a thing about him until he came up August 10 or so. But man. It feels good to have my cynicism about professional sports damped down a bit.

20 games now. .345 batting avg. 20 RBIs. 5 or 6 home runs. Fearsome arm.

Anyhow, the announcers--and Cards fans, of course--are really loving this story. So am I.

:hi:

[bigwillq]

1. Not too much on the East Coast

Not at least from what I heard or read.

It's all about the Yanks, Mets and Sox up this way!

[darkstar]

3. Can't tell how much you know about his story

and, again, I knew nothing of it unti 20 days or so ago.

He was High School player of the Year in 1997 as a pitcher. Signed with Cardinals out of HS with 2.5 mil bonus. Developed serious mental block/control difficulties under pressure and literally could barely get ball across plate in 2001 pennant race. In the minors since then, retooling as a right fielder. Still only 27!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Ankiel

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. That the rook who had three homers in his first week?

[darkstar]

4. Hey...yeah...see my explanation above

but here's the wiki link for full detail....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Ankiel

And check out that 9.x Ks per 9 innings.

And the Cards--and Tony--stuck with him. The day or so that nipple clamp story I told you was the day they brought him up. Standing O when announced. He homered in that game. Tony got seriously emotional in post game.

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. The Dodgers were at St. Louis Aug. 10-12

and he tore 'em up. Had two yaks in one game.

I remember the Cardinal announcers telling his story. Amazing.

[darkstar]

9. Yay..go Dodgers

Playing the Cubs tonight, right?

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. Yeah, and trailing 1-0 right now

But it's only the third.



Five seconds after I hit "post," Ramirez yaks one into the seats. 3-0. x(

[Reverend_Smitty]

11. I remember watching him implode against the Mets live on TV

It's good to see that he's got his head straight again and can perform in the majors. He was definitely a story of making a young kid take on too much at one time

[mzteris]

5. er - who? n/t

[deadparrot]

6. I used to have the biggest crush on Ankiel as a young teen,

back when he had his meltdown in 2000 (native St. Louisan and lifelong Cards fan, BTW :)).

Though I've long since grown out of my infatuation, it's fabulous to see him back. The Cards have sucked this year, to say the least, but watching him has made it all worthwhile. The entire city was wrapped up in the Rick Ankiel drama years ago, and I think we're all happy to see him back and successful after everything he's been through. I only hope he can keep it up in the future.

I'm especially happy for LaRussa, who always blamed himself for Rick's "Wild Thang" phase and subsequent problems. I never cry at anything, and even I got a little teary eyed watching the usually stoic Tony jump around like a little kid when Ankiel hit that first homer. :)

I doubt it's getting much play outside of Cardinals Nation, however--we're not exactly a first-tier team on the national level. Plus, Ankiel has been giving the big FU to ESPN this year after the way they treated him in 2000.

[darkstar]

8. Hey there, DP

I'm living in Belleville. Nice to say hi.

This whole LaRussa thing freaks me out. I know it's not the strongest division, but it's really improbable that they should be hanging around given the injuries and addictions and death and DUIs and freak accidents. That makes the Ankiel story even sweeter, huh?

And I really respect the Cards for sticking with him *for another 6 years*. Wow. So cool.

:hi:

[GOPisEvil]

14. You're living in Belleville?

Say hi to my family if you see them at Schnuck's. ;)

[darkstar]

15. Yeah..I was teaching at SWIC for a year...

You are in Texas?

And by family, your immediate?

And oh yeah, was at the Schnucks on carlyle just this PM.

:hi:

[GOPisEvil]

16. Nah, extended family. Uncle, Aunt some cousins.

Dad's hometown is East St. Louis. His family is scattered all around that area, O'Fallon, Collinsville, etc. My parents live down here as well.

I haven't been to Belleville in years. But it still feels strangely like home, even though I lived in that area for just a couple of years, in O'Fallon.

[Infomaniac]

12. My nephew told me his story just this past Sunday

He reengineered himself from a pitcher to play as one of the people who hang out in the green area. You can probably tell I'm not much of a sports enthusiast.

[GOPisEvil]

13. That is a great story.

Anything that makes Tony LaRussa crack a smile during the game HAS to be special!

Mark Mulder is back, too! Getting HAMMERED tonight, but still, that's nice to see.