#79: Rick Ankiel “Biter”

There have been few things in my life which have been as enjoyable as watching Cardinals “phenom” left-handed pitcher Rick Ankiel self-destruct as thoroughly as he did during the 2000 postseason.

The 20-year-old Ankiel started Game One of the 2000 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, against former Cub Greg Maddux. In the top of the first inning, Ankiel gave up a hit and two walks to the Braves, but wriggled off the hook and did not allow any runs to socre. The Cardinals scored six runs in bottom of the first, pinning the left-hander to a big lead. In the third inning, it all came crashing down. Below is the Retrosheet description of the Braves half of the third inning:

BRAVES 3RD: Maddux walked; Furcal popped to first in foul
territory; Ankiel threw a wild pitch [Maddux to second]; Ankiel
threw a wild pitch [Maddux to third]; A. Jones walked; Ankiel
threw a wild pitch [A. Jones to second]; C. Jones was called out
on strikes; Galarraga walked [Maddux scored on a wild pitch, A.
Jones to third]; Jordan singled to left [A. Jones scored,
Galarraga to second]; Ankiel threw a wild pitch [Galarraga to
third, Jordan to second]; Sanders walked; Weiss singled to left
[Galarraga scored, Jordan scored, Sanders to second]; JAMES
REPLACED ANKIEL (PITCHING); Lopez popped to second; 4 R, 2 H, 0
E, 2 LOB. Braves 4, Cardinals 6.

Five wild pitches in one inning.

Ankiel didn’t do much better in Game Two of the NLCS, only surviving 2/3 of an inning while walking two, giving up a double, and throwing two more wild pitches. The Retrosheet top of the first read as follows:

METS 1ST: Perez was called out on strikes; Alfonzo walked;
Ankiel threw a wild pitch [Alfonzo to second]; Piazza walked
[Alfonzo to third on a wild pitch]; Zeile hit a sacrifice fly to
center [Alfonzo scored]; Ventura walked [Piazza to second];
Agbayani doubled [Piazza scored, Ventura to third]; REAMES
REPLACED ANKIEL (PITCHING); Payton struck out; 2 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2
LOB. Mets 2, Cardinals 0.

Ankiel appeared again in the seventh inning of Game Five. After throwing his final warm-up pitch to the backstop, Ankiel walked two more batters, and threw two more wild pitches.

Ankiel’s postseason meltdown was legendary, going so far as inspiring a ridiculous student film project. The Cardinals, of course, lost the NLCS to the Mets.

Despite Ankiel’s metamorphosis into Steve Blass, throughout his career he has shown remarkable consistency against one specific team. Your Cubs.

The frosted-tipped version of “Wild Thing” currently sports a 0.00 ERA against the Chicago Cubs. Although he has pitched only four innings, he has collected a save, walked only two batters while striking out four, and has only given up one hit to the North Siders.

What’s more, Ankiel has put up a 1.000/1.000/3.000 line at the plate against the Cubs. Sure, Ankiel only has one at-bat against the Cubs, but it resulted in an RBI triple. And Ankiel’s slugging prowess against the Cubs doesn’t appear to be an anomaly. After his throwing woes, the Cardinals decided to convert Ankiel into an outfielder. Recently, Ankiel had a three-homer game in the minor leagues against- guess who- the AAA Iowa Cubs. Just wait, Cubs fans. Ankiel will be up with the Cardinals before you know it. And he’ll be killing Cubs pitching for years to come.

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Why You Should Hate Him: October 3, 1999. Ankiel had only one appearance against the Cubs in his rookie season in 1999 at the young age of 19 years old. In the top of the 5th inning, the Cubs loaded the bases against Larry Luebbers with no one out facing a 9-4 deficit. Ankiel came on in relief to face Sammy Sosa. In 10 pitches, Ankiel forced a double play out of Sosa and got Mark Grace to strike out swinging. Ankiel then proceeded to make the weather over Busch Stadium so horrible that the game was canceled and the Cardinals won 9-5.

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Did You Know? Will Carroll suggested that Ankiel’s problems were due to the fact that his elbow didn’t know where the hell it was. Turns out it was playing second base for the Yankees for a while.

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