Ankiel

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS GUY?

I'm sorry, but I am at the end of my wits here. Is he as HUGE a head case as he seems? I have watched him (literally, I have seen all these instances), in the last four games, leave a man on third with less than two outs FIVE TIMES. He is 0 for 5 in such situations, in the last 4 games (at least that I've seen).

Is his clutchness EVER going to come through? Thank God for a fluke fielder's-choice (today, tying the game) and clutch hitting by Schumacher (winning the game last night) to bail him out. But this is getting ridiculous.

I agree that it's to be expected that Rick will have growing pains.  The big thing I'd like to see him do is cut down a bit on the strikeouts.  But, for a guy with less than half a season as a major league outfielder, he's doing fine. 

We've got five solid outfielders, and none of them, in my view, are everyday-type players.  Collectively, though, they provide us with a starting outfield alignment, from game to game, that is getting the job done and will continue to get the job done.

The outfield is the least of our concerns, in my opinion.

Look, I agree with all of you. But come on -- the guy cannot hit in the clutch for crap. The main motivation for my post was that this guy went into the dumpster last year after the HGH talk started. He is a head case -- it's the same reason he left pitching and became an everyday player.

I am just wondering if this is in some way related to that facet of his character. I am hoping it's not.

teets3,

I see know what you are talking about. Everytime he came up with a runner in scoring position I thought he would come through. He didnt, but I think we need to give him some more time before we say he cant come through in the clutch. If this is still the case in July, then I think we can be concerned.

GO CARDS

stlsportsfreak5,

I agree with you and with Al Hrbosky. Ank the Tank will be fine. He is still very young and has a lot of learning to do. I think that so far he is doing a good job, or even a very good job. Is he a head case? Nah, not to me. Yes indeed, like all the previous posters have said, he will have his fair share of ups and downs. But what counts the very most is whether his (and our) team wins or looses. I don't expect him to hit a hr every time he comes to the dish. I also don't expect him to hit everything in sight. As long as he is consistant at the dish, hustles on the basepaths and plays hard in the field is all that matters to me. Slumps are part of the game. They come and they go just as aeasy as they came. As long as they don't linger around. But Ank will come through right when we least expect it to happen. He couldn't, to me at least, have any better hitting coaches than Hal McRae and Mike Aldrete working with him.

The best thing us Cards fans can do is to give Ank the time he needs to learn and make his proper adjustments. In short, be patient and support him.    GO CARDS!!!!     68

The worst part about his slump is that this team seems to go as Rick Ankiel goes. Take a look at our record so far.....even dating back to the end of last season.....when he is hitting we win. When he is lost at the plate we lose games, in bunches. The thing is though, how many guys have Rick Ankiel's upside? Think in a year or 2 what this guy could be. I'd love to have Dan Haren back about right now.

Rick will be fine and we all know what happens when he catches fire. The entire town catches fire and Albert Pujols competes for the top spot on the team, the same as he did with Rolen.

No way can you let Ankiel go.......Duncan? yes. He is a perfect DH for someone. Aniel has a MUCH larger upside though.

I think a lot of you missed my point. I am not talking about a slump. Yes, Edmonds had epic slumps. But Edmonds ALWAYS hit in the clutch. I never saw Edmonds go as many as three at bats in a row, with a man on third and less than two outs, without driving home that runner.

Ankiel is not getting the job done, EVER, in the clutch. That was my point. Players are certainly entitled to their slumps. But the clutchness lacking in Ankiel is what really troubles me about the slump.

teets3,

Please pardon me for saying this but I think you are placing the buggy before the horse. Look, I got to watch Ank the Tank down here at AA Springfield and he hit in the clutch  pretty damn good. Reminded me a lot of a young Jimmy Dandy Ballgame. Like I said earlier, Ank is still young and learning how to make the necessary adjustments at the big league level. It's just a matter of time and he will hit in the clutch very similar to Jimmy Ballgame.  I'm not worried one tiny bit about this teams slump. Like I said, they go just as easy as they come.    GO CARDS!!!!     68