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Sunday, June.30/2013

Rick Ankiel has hit for 76 HRs and a Slash Line of .240/.302/.724 in 1858 Career At-Bats. He is the 1st player to win at least 10 Games a Pitcher and hit 50 HRs in the Major Leagues since Babe Ruth. Ankiel could be used in any of the Outfield Positions as a PH/defensive replacement even if he is not in the starting lineup, he would help just about any MLB Team. This year the man hit .188/.235/.657 – but had 15 XBH (7 HRs, 1 – 3B and 7 2B – with 18 RBI in just 128 AB).

By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024

Rick Ankiel was DFA’d recently by the New York Mets.  Since he is one of my favorite players – I nicknamed him “Mr. Mission Impossible” – because he always seems to self – destruct after 30 – 35 AB with a new team.

Cast as one of the biggest underdogs/inspirational stories of ALL – time in the game of baseball I am here to give him his due.  I don’t even care if he never plays another inning in the field….or has another AB in the Majors.

The former Pitcher has had a flair for some dramatic moments in his 13 year career as both a hitter and a pitcher.

Ankiel is shown here talking to his reporters answering questions about Steroid Use. Ankiel had a valid prescription for the drugs he was using. Injuries plagued him from 2009-2010. Soon to be 34, does he have any baseball left?

Furthermore, I quite often gab with people on Twitter – who think I am crazy – for intimating that I think a team should bring Ankiel on as a PH, Defensive replacement.  Simply put, he could help a team.

At the Age of 33 (34 on July.19th/2013), the man from Fort Piece, FL is running out of chances in the game of baseball.

I have seen the performance of Ankiel for the last several years.  Now, I am not calling for the guy to be a regular in the Lineup, heck I am not even advocating him to see time as a 4th OF.  What I think he could do is a be a PH/Defensive Replacement.

Ankiel has a great PH pedigree.  This year, he hit 2 HRs in 7 AB with the Astros and Mets as a PH – which is not all that foreign to his Career 3 Slash Line as a PH of .231/.318/.831 in 78 AB.  Including in these AB are – 6 HRs and 14 RBI.  His HR per AB is 1 Tater Trot for every 13 AB.

We have seen guys extend careers in the last couple of seasons like Jason Giambi, Matt Stairs and even Jim Thome to a degree based on this kind of role.

Rick Ankiel also hit a legendary McCovey’s Cove shot in the 2010 NLDS for his only HR in 15 AB in the Post Season.

Of course there are certain factors that Ankiel may not be valuable.  He Strikes out a ton.  So if you only need a contact hit with a runner on Base and less than 2 out – he may not be your guy.

I would even think he could help a team when the Rosters expand to 40 Players in September.  Maybe you add him for 1 month – yet not have him on the Post Season Roster.

I can definitely think of a team like the Cincinnati Reds using him as a defensive CF for Shin-Soo Choo in the late innings.  He may also help a team like the Giants (who lost Angel Pagan for the year), or even the Nationals – who have fallen in love with using Chad Tracy down the stretch.

I would think of Ankiel, well at least for about 30 AB.

Ankiel has a knack for charging out of the gates.

In his first plate appearance, the St. Louis faithful hit him with another standing ovation. Later in the game, Ankiel drilled a pitch for a 3 run homer and the fans went ballistic. A new legend was born. La Russa often refers to this day as his happiest all time as a manager, (with the exception of the day the 2006 Cardinals won the World Series.) A few games later, Rick Ankiel smacked 2 HRs in a game versus the Dodgers and the MLB baseball community had a new inspirational hero.

1st 27 AB as a Cardinal

P – Plate Appearances  – 28

A – At Bats – 27

R – Runs – 5

H – Hits – 8

2 – Doubles – 1

3 – Triples – 0

HRs – 3

RBI – 6

KC Royals Days

Ankiel was lured away to other MO team by the club promising him more playing time in 2010. He was traded later that year to the Atlanta Braves

P – Plate Appearances  -35

A – At Bats – 32

R – Runs – 3

H – Hits – 8

2 – Doubles – 3

3 – Triples – 0

HRs – 1

RBI – 6

ATL Days

Atlanta Braves by the end of 2010 for their playoff push. In San Francisco during game 2 of the 2010 NLDS, Ankiel crushed a home run into McCovey’s cove for his first ever postseason HR. Only Barry Bonds and he hold that distinction of a ‘COVE HIT’ ever in AT&T Park Post Season History! He posted similar regular season numbers in 2010 as he had in 2009, with 6 HRs and 24 RBI in 211 AB.

P – Plate Appearances  -31

A – At Bats – 28

R – Runs – 2

H – Hits – 5

2 – Doubles – 2

3 – Triples –

HRs – 0

RBI – 3

WSH Days

Ankiel only batted .236/.292/.669 with the Nats in 2 years but slugged .411 in 2012 17 XBH (5 HRs, 10-2B and 2 3B ) in just 158 AB before being released on his birthday.

P – Plate Appearances  -33

A – At Bats – 27

R – Runs – 2

H – Hits – 7

2 – Doubles – 0

3 – Triples – 0

HRs – 1

RBI – 3

Houston Days

Ankiel hit 5 HRs in his first 40 AB with the Astros to start this year – he could not buy a hit after that.

P – Plate Appearances  -31

A – At Bats – 31

R – Runs – 4

H – Hits – 6

2 – Doubles – 1

3 – Triples – 0

HRs – 4

RBI – 10

NYM Days

Rick Ankiel had a 0 – 3 Debut, then reeled off 4 straight games with an XBH for the Mets, After a 3 – 4 game – where he hit a Triple and 2 Doubles, Ankiel was batting over .300 for the Mets. He then went 3 for his next 24 AB before being released.

P – Plate Appearances  -33

A – At Bats – 31

R – Runs – 5

H – Hits – 10

2 – Doubles – 4

3 – Triples – 1

HRs – 2

RBI – 6

Career Totals for the 1st 30 – 35 AB on 6 different teams

With STL/KC/ATL/WSH/HOU/NYM

P – Plate Appearances  -193

A – At Bats – 176

R – Runs – 21

H – Hits – 44

Singles – 22 (22 TB)

2 – Doubles – 11 (22 TB)

3 – Triples – 1 (3 TB)

HRs – 11 (44 TB)

RBI – 34

BA .250

OBP.  .316

TB 91 / 176 AB

SLG.  .517

OPS .833

At Age 19, Ankiel finished 2nd in ROY voting, 7th in strikeouts and ERA, 2nd in K’s/Per 9 IP and Hits/Per 9 IP in 2000. He threw 94-97 MPH, however a mental block plagued him to the point where he changed in an OF. His best year as a pro was 2008 – where he hit for a 3 Slash Line of .264/.337/.843 with 25 HRs and 71 RBI in just 413 AB. If you combined his 1st 2 years of ABs as a positional player, he had 585 AB and had cracked 36 HRs and driven in 110 RBI, scored 96 Runs and clubbed 37 Doubles. Incredible numbers for a former phenom pitching prospect.  Maybe he can come back as a Left Handed Reliever again.  After all, he is just 34 now.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners.***

Chuck Booth – Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner and author of the Fastest 30 Ballgames:   To learn more about my  “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book” and how to purchase it, click here .

You can also follow my Guinness Book of World Record Successful Bid to see all 30 MLB Park in 23 Days – click here.  I am happy to be part of such an awesome Magazine-Style Baseball Website and am looking forward to talking to all of the fans of the MLB.  You can reach me on Twitter here Follow @mlbreports

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