Ankiel?

[iFroggy]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2001/0216/1088743.html

Do you think Ankiel will be a great pitcher? and obviously overcome his problems?

I think he will overcome his problems and become a decent/good pitcher, but not a top one. Who knows, he might not even overcome them at all.

[Wedge231]

I think he could become very good but his playoff performance last year was just sad. I'd have to say his outings were pretty wild. Especially those last two.

[iFroggy]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2001/0313/1152617.html

He pitched two scoreless innings against the Mets. No wild pitches and he put together a good performance.

[Brandon]

I think that Ankiel will either overcome his problems and become the ace that most people believed he would be. Or succumb to the problems that have haunted so many people. If you remember Mark Wohlers, he seemed fine during spring training with the Braves, but when the regular season started, he lost it again. I hope that Ankiel's recent good outings aren't like that. I hope he does overcome them and pitch brilliantly for at least 10 years. I think he will do this too.

[Icefrogs]

If you remember a guy named Nolan Ryan, he was wild when he was young too.
He seemed to turn it around O.K. :o)
Give the kid time, he wasn't even expected to break camp with the Cards if I remember correct.

[Wedge231]

Haha. If Ankiel turns out as good as Ryan, that proves anything is possible. Anything can happen I guess, wait and see.

[Brandon]

I agree wildness is a trait of a young pitcher. But Ankiel's wildness seems a bit more severe. Missing the spot by a couple inches is one thing, but missing the catcher completely is another. But it seems like he's overcoming his problems which is good. Now how good he'll actually be is another debate in itself. We know he'll be good, but how good?

[MedicTJ]

Most of Wholers' problems stemmed from an injury that went unnoticed and that he didn't report.

As a former pitcher in high school, I went through some of the same things mental wise. Either that or I just plain stunk...probably the latter...there are a few pitches that haven't landed yet.

He'll be back, and in top form again. At least that's my belief. And with that, I'm gonna look up some spring numbers for him......

[MedicTJ]

And here are the spring numbers......

6 innings, 5 Earned runs, and 1 walk.

I'd have to say that's a lot better than his previous stints.

[MedicTJ]

I should probably at least voice an opinion on Ankiel though....since that's what this thread is about in the first place....

I think he'll be fine. He knows he can do it already and I think with the right people around him he can overcome it. LaRussa is one of the best managers in baseball, IMO, and having leadership like Big Mac, Benes, and a few others will help him through it.

One needs only to show him Greg Maddux's early career stats to show him. No...I'm not comparing Ankiel to Maddux, but I'm saying that Maddux struggled his first time up too.

[catman]

A pitcher that I'd say Ankiel reminds me of is Sandy Koufax. From 1956 -- 60, he had no control. He was trying to over-throw every pitch and he didn't let his natural ability carry him. A washed up catcher named Sherm Lollar told him that with his stuff, all he had to do is throw the ball using natural motion. He shouldn't have to try to put anything extra on the ball. I think he turned out OK.
Ankiel, though I doubt if he has the same stuff Koufax had, could benefit from the same sort of advice. I think he's trying to over-throw everything and then he tries to aim the ball. When he isn't thinking about his pitches, they seem to be strikes. LaRussa will get him straightened out if anyone can.