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| The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates plan on pursuing free agent outfielder Rick Ankiel this winter. |
Our View: Despite Ankiel's woeful offensive season in 2009, .234 average, 11 home runs and 37 RBI, the Pirates are said to covet his athleticism in left field. He is also a career .333 hitter in PNC Park. It's hard to see him having much of a fantasy impact in 2010, however, regardless of where he plays.
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| Cardinals' beat writer Joe Strauss is reporting on his Twitter page that outfielder Rick Ankiel is out of the lineup with a strained groin. He is expected to be out until at least Thursday with the injury. |
Our View: This injury could not come at a worse time for Ankiel, who is finally getting hot at the plate. If he only misses a few days, it shouldn't hurt him too badly, but with Colby Rasmus back he could find himself spending more time on the bench. He will not be a strong fantasy play unless he gets in the lineup on a regular basis going forward.
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| Rick Ankiel was 3-for-5 with a home run in the Cardinals' 14-6 loss to the Phillies on Saturday. He also scaled the wall in center field to rob Jayson Werth of a two-run homer with a dazzling catch. |
Our View: Rick the Stick is heating up. After a miserable season, he's finally starting to see the ball. Since July 20th he's 10-for-21 with a pair of homers, three doubles and six RBI. He's not quite fantasy worthy yet, but if he keeps this up he will be soon.
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| Rick Ankiel went 1-for-3 with a solo homer off Colin Balester in tonight's 4-1 win at Washington. |
Our View: Ankiel snapped a 28-game drought without a homer, and only has six for the season. He has been a grave disappointment after launching 25 homers in 2008.
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| Rick Ankiel underwent an MRI on his ailing right shoulder Saturday, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Ankiel continues to battle with pain in his shoulder since crashing into the outfield wall at Busch Stadium on May 4. He has only started two games since July 7, and is hitting 2-for-28 (.071) so far this month. Ankiel is not in the Cardinals' lineup against Arizona, but skipper Tony LaRussa noted that he is available to play.
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| Rick Ankiel says he has been playing with shoulder pain, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: The pain is a lingering effect from Ankiel's scary collision with a Busch Stadium outfield wall on May 4. Ankiel is hitting just .215 in 223 at-bats this season, and is not an option in any format.
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| Rick Ankiel went 2-for-4 with a double and a single, and recorded the Cardinals' lone RBI in tonight's 3-1 loss to the Twins at Busch Stadium. |
Our View: Ankiel ended a four-game skid without an RBI, and has 20 for the season. He is hitting .250 this month as well.
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| Rick Ankiel stayed hot on Thursday, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored in the Cardinals 6-5 win over the Marlins. |
Our View: Ankiel now has consecutive three-hit games after not having one since April 23. His eight hits in the Cardinals last three games have raised his average from .220 to .260.
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| Rick Ankiel was 3-for-5 with a home run, a triple, a double, two RBI and three runs scored as the Cardinals defeated the Marlins 13-4 on Wednesday. |
Our View: Ankiel's average jumped 15 points with tonight's performance. Of course, it was just .231 entering the game. 17 of his 31 hits this season have been for extra bases. He's a better producer than he has been to date, and we recommend holding onto him as he has shown the ability to get very hot at the plate.
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| Rick Ankiel was productive in Tuesday's 4-3 loss at Florida as he went 2-for-3 with two RBI. He hit a single and a double. |
Our View: Ankiel needed a solid outing as he was hitless over his previous two games, with two strikeouts over the span.
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| Rick Ankiel provided the only offense for the Cardinals on Saturday in his team's 10-1 loss to the Rockies. Ankiel went 1-for-3 in the game with a solo home run. |
Our View: It's good to see Ank hit the long ball after returning from his terrifying crash into the center field wall. Ankiel has always been a streaky hitter, but when he gets hot he can carry a fantasy week. NL-only leaguers will want to have Ank on their team, and if he starts to heat up mixed leaguers should give him a look as well.
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| Skipper Tony LaRussa indicated that Rick Ankiel's right shoulder was much improved on Tuesday, but remains unlikely to return to the diamond before Friday's game against the Giants, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: He received treatment and was able to take batting practice Tuesday. Hold him out of fantasy lineups for now.
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| Rick Ankiel missed Sunday's game at Milwaukee due to soreness, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Ankiel, who was activated from the 15-day DL Sunday following his recovery from a bruised shoulder, will likely return to the diamond Tuesday in the second of the three-game series at Miller Park.
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| Rick Ankiel is back in the Cardinals' lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals. He will hit fifth and play right field. |
Our View: It was reported that Ankiel would be out until next weekend, but it looks as if he drastically improved over the last few days. He will play today barring a late scratch, so get him in the lineup if you can.
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| Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said that Rick Ankiel does not appear close to coming back, according to the AP. The center fielder is dealing with a bruised right shoulder and general soreness that resulted from a crash into the outfield wall a few weeks ago. He also still feels a twinge in his side and the manager said that he may require a rehab assignment. |
Our View: It sounds like Ankiel is still a week away and that fellow outfielder Ryan Ludwick (hamstring) could return from the DL before him.
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| Rick Ankiel's return from his bruised right shoulder and sensitive left side has been delayed as the Cardinals want more time to evaluate him, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was eligible to come off the DL Wednesday. |
Our View: Ankiel has a continued tug in his left side when he swings and misses, and the outfielder agrees that he should not come back until he is 100 percent healthy. He is going to push it over the next few days, and won't be back until he feels comfortable. He shall remain held out of fantasy lineups until further notice.
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| According to the Associated Press, the Cardinals want to reevaluate Rick Ankiel and see how he feels before activating him from the 15-day DL on Wednesday. |
Our View: The Cards need Ankiel's bat back in their slumping lineup, but it looks like the team doesn't want to rush him back after his scary collision with the center field wall. If his shoulder is up to snuff, they will likely plug him into the lineup on Wednesday.
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| According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Rick Ankiel is expected to be activated on Wednesday, the day he is eligible to come off the DL. |
Our View: Ankiel has recovered nicely from his injuries after crashing into the wall, and manager Tony La Russa believes he will be ready to play Wednesday. The Cards need his bat back in the lineup with Ryan Ludwick still on the DL for another week.
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| According to the Post Dispatch, Rick Ankiel is slated to play in extended spring training games this weekend and could rejoin the team as soon as next week. |
Our View: Ankiel's bruised shoulder appears to be healing after his death defying crash into the outfield wall last Monday. The struggling Cardinal offense could use a lift and Ankiel's return would definitely provide one. Assuming there are no setbacks in Jupiter he should be back in the lineup in the middle of next week.
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| Rick Ankiel is feeling better while recovering from his bruised right shoulder, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: His return date to St. Louis is uncertain, but manager Tony LaRussa thinks that he could be ready to come off the 15-day DL when first eligible if he can get in some swings ahead of time. The DL move was retroactive to May 5.
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| Rick Ankiel has been placed on the 15-day DL by the Cardinals, according to the Sports Network. He is recovering from injuries sustained while crashing into the outfield wall (deep contusion and bruised right shoulder). |
Our View: The club recalled Shane Robinson for depth, and the three starting outfielders should be Chris Duncan, Colby Rasmus and Ryan Ludwick while Ankiel is out. The DL move is retroactive to Tuesday.
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| The Cardinals recalled outfielder Shane Robinson, which means Rick Ankiel could be headed for the DL with his head, neck and shoulder ailments, according to WCTV.com. |
Our View: The Cardinals or the source did not state that Ankiel is headed to the DL, but it does seem like a possibility that will happen after adding Robinson for outfield depth. Stay tuned.
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| Rick Ankiel is still recovering from his head, neck and shoulder ailments sustained during his brutal crash into the wall, and will likely remain out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Ankiel did not take batting practice or work on the field prior to Wednesday's game. He is sore and the DL remains an option if he does not show improvement over the next day or so.
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| The Sports Network reports that Rick Ankiel was upbeat and joking with teammates prior to Tuesday's game in Philadelphia, following a frightening crash into the wall just two nights earlier. Ankiel has a bruised shoulder, but did not suffer a concussion or any broken bones in the collision. The Cardinals hope he can avoid a trip to the DL and that he could be ready to play after a few days rest. Ankiel told reporters, "I'm lucky to be walking. Anything from here is a plus." |
Our View: This is incredible news to anyone who saw the center fielder go head first into the wall on Monday. Ankiel's bat had been heating up prior to the incident and it appears there is a good chance he is available to hit again this weekend. In the meantime, Colby Rasmus figures to start in center.
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| Rick Ankiel has been released from a St. Louis hospital, and according to GM John Mozeliak, things are looking up for the outfielder. "Right now things are positive," Mozeliak told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Manager Tony La Russa likened Ankiel's injury to "whiplash." Ankiel's short-term availability will be more clear later today, though it's possible the Cardinals will add a position player since they're already a bit short on the bench.
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| Rick Ankiel, who was carted off the field Monday after slamming headfirst into the outfield wall following a catch, underwent X-rays and a CT scan of his head, neck and back, and all were negative and showed no fractures, according to MLB.com. "He was never knocked out," GM John Mozeliak said. "He never lost consciousness. My understanding was that he had some discomfort in the face area, obviously, from hitting the wall. But for the most part right now, we're encouraged based on Dr. Paletta's first [evaluation], just getting to see him on the field." |
Our View: Obviously this is great news for Ankiel and the Cardinals. It's not clear at this point whether he will be placed on the DL as a precaution, but at the very least Colby Rasmus figured to get the bulk of the starts in center over the next few days.
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| Rick Ankiel slammed into the outfield wall, headfirst, after tripping on the warning track. He was strapped to a board and carted off the field, but he appeared to be alert and gave the crowd a thumbs up when he was taken from the field. |
Our View: Scary. Ankiel stumbled and went, face first, into the outfield wall. As we mentioned he didn't appear to lose consciousness, but at the same time he slammed the wall so hard that it wouldn't be at all shocking that he suffered some head trauma that could lead to a DL stint. We'll update you when we hear more, but it looks like he managed to avoid a serious injury.
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| Rick Ankiel went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBI, and a run scored as the Cardinals beat the Nationals 9-4. His RBI double in the ninth broke a tie game. |
Our View: Ankiel has been pretty clutch since the Cardinals started their road trip four games ago. He has five RBI in that span. After getting off to a slow start, he is now putting up the type of numbers we expect of him.
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| Rick Ankiel was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a strike out in Monday's 3-2 win over the Braves. |
Our View: Ankiel has all six of his RBI this season in his last six starts. His numbers are still far from impressive, but he is showing improvement. He has often appeared as the No.2 hitter against right-handers which should be a very favorable spot to produce the numbers that will make him a valuable part of a fantasy roster.
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| Rick Ankiel is finally starting to heat up. He had three hits and launched his first home run of the season in the Cardinal's 12-8 win over the Mets on Thurday. Ankiel drove in two and scored two as the Cards finished off their first series sweep of the Mets since 2004. |
Our View: Ankiel's three-hit performance raised his average to .250 on the season and he appears to be breaking out of his April funk. He had three hits on Tuesday as well, giving him six in the series and boosting his average by 71 points. He came into the series hitting .179.
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| Rick Ankiel appeared to have broke out of his slump with a 3-for-5 night as the Cardinals beat the Mets 6-4 on Tuesday. He had a double to go with two runs scored and an RBI. |
Our View: Ankiel entered the game hitting only .179. Some more good news to take from this outing was that he was hitting No. 2 in the order despite facing a left-hander on the hill. He has hit better in the No. 2 spot in his career.
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| The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that Cardinals manager Tony La Russa had a sit-down meeting with Rick Ankiel after Sunday's game against the Cubs was rained out. La Russa told Ankiel he believes the outfielder is pressing and that he just needs to play his game. |
Our View: Ankiel has been in quite a slump to start the season, but as La Russa noted, he had some good at-bats in the Cubs series that resulted in outs. He was robbed by Kosuke Fukudome and Aramis Ramirez on two hard hit balls, but once he gets comfortable, he should be a power threat from the outfield position. Keep him on the bench until he heats up, because when he does he will hit home runs in bunches.
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| Rick Ankiel will not be in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Cubs, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The team will go with Chris Duncan, Colby Rasmus and Ryan Ludwick in the outfield. |
Our View: Ankiel is hitless in six at-bats against Cubs' starter Carlos Zambrano, which was probably the deciding factor in him sitting today. He is struggling so far this season, hitting only .188 with no homers and only two RBI.
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| Rick Ankiel finally had a big day when the games count, as he went 3-for-5 in the Cardinals 11-2 win over the Astros on Saturday. He also drove in his second run of the season. |
Our View: Ankiel had a red hot spring, but cooled off as soon as the regular season got going. He had 25 home runs in limited time last season, so expect his power stroke to return soon.
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| Rick Ankiel went 1-for-3 with two walks, a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored as the Cardinals beat Triple-A Memphis 7-3 on Saturday. |
Our View: Ankiel hit second in front of Albert Pujols while Chris Duncan hit cleanup. Ankiel has traditionally hit better in the two-hole and should he land that spot this season, it would figure to boost his fantasy value. However, Tony LaRussa shuffles his lineup as much as any manager so you can probably count on Ankiel appearing in several different spots in the order this season.
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| Rick Ankiel slugged his third home run of the spring Sunday off Minnesota's Kevin Slowey. |
Our View: Of course, whether Ankiel can surpass his '08 home run total of 25 is anybody's guess, but he has reportedly spent an inordinate amount of time in the batting cage this spring. With the extra work, Ankiel could become more adept at hitting breaking pitches and taking the ball to left field, both of which would significantly raise his fantasy value.
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| Rick Ankiel hit his first home run of the spring as the Cardinals beat the Rays 9-7 on Thursday. He was 3-for-3 in the game with three RBI and two runs scored. |
Our View: Ankiel is hitting .365 in 52 at-bats this spring, but he had not shown much power until today. The Cardinals are atill not sure of their batting order and that could go a long way to determining Ankiel's fantasy value. He has traditionally hit much better in the No.2 spot ahead of Pujols, while not faring as well as the cleanup man.
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| Rick Ankiel is dealing with soreness in his left Achilles' tendon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Ankiel will rest today and noted that he did not play Tuesday just as a precaution. He is 6-for-12 so far in the Grapefruit League, and should be fine with some rest.
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| Rick Ankiel continued his hot hitting Monday with a 2-for-3 performance against the Rays. He is now hitting a cool .500 this spring and is seeing the ball well in the cleanup spot. |
Our View: Ankiel's hot spring could determine where he hits in the Cardinals' line up. If he winds up in the two-hole in front of Albert Pujols he'll see premuim pitches to hit, but a drop in the order could produce more RBI. Not a bad problem to have. It could also depend on whether top flight prospect Colby Rasmus makes the big club.
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| Rick Ankiel hit cleanup behind Albert Pujols in the Cardinals first spring training game on Wednesday. He finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI, a walk, and a double. |
Our View: Ankiel should be able to hold this spot in the batting order down, unless strikeouts or slumps become an issue. Pujols draws as many walks as anybody in the game, so there will be plenty of RBI opportunities this season when Ankiel steps to the plate. Ryan Ludwick hit fifth today, and he should be able to provide good protection.
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| The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that even though the Cardinals and outfielder Rick Ankiel avoided arbitration by coming together on a one-year deal Thursday, plans for long-term deal do not exist. |
Our View: Ankiel is set to be a free-agent next season, and if he can follow up his breakout season with another stellar campaign in 2009, he may be out of the Cardinals' price range. On the other hand, the Cardinals, who are experiencing a surplus in the outfield, may be more inclined to let Ankiel walk regardless.
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| The Cardinals have avoided salary arbitration with Rick Ankiel by inking the slugger to a one-year deal for $2.825MM, according to Sports Illustrated. The amount is the midpoint of their submissions. |
Our View: Ankiel crushed 25 homers last season, and is still yet to reach his power potential. He held a .337 OBP last season as well, and would have scored higher if not hindered by a nagging abdominal injury.
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| The St. Louis-Post Dispatch reports that outfielder Rick Ankiel and the Cardinals are scheduled to participate in an arbitration hearing in Phoenix Thursday. "You have to look at like business," Ankiel said. "I haven't been through it. I don't think anyone's naive here. I don't think they're going to have nice things to say. It's not something anybody looks forward to." |
Our View: It will be interesting to see how long the hearing will drag out, especially considering Ankiel's agent is money-grubber Scott Boras.
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| MLB.com reports that the Cardinals and outfielder Rick Ankiel remain nearly $1 million apart and appear headed to arbitration. Ankiel had requested $3.3 million for next season. |
Our View: The Cardinals also appear to be headed to arbitration with Ryan Ludwick and still have not cleared any space in their outfield in the event that Colby Rasmus is ready to play in the majors. Stay tuned.
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| Fox Sports reports that the Cardinals have offered center fielder Rick Ankiel and a prospect for closer J.J. Putz. |
Our View: Ankiel slugged 25 home runs in 413 at-bats last season, but with three left-handed hitting outfielders, the Cardinals are looking to address their biggest need with their biggest supply.
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| The Rays are interested in the Cardinals' Rick Ankiel, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: The Cardinals covet starting pitchers, and may be willing to part with Ankiel in exchange for Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson, both of which are available. Ankiel crushed 25 homers in 2008, and his power numbers could benefit while playing his home games at hitter-friendly Tropicana Field.
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| The New York Post reports that The New York Yankees have been among at least five teams looking into obtaining Rick Ankiel. |
Our View: The left-handed hitter slugged 25 home runs in just 413 at-bats last year during an injury-disrupted season. He is one year removed from free agency and as a Scott Boras client almost certainly will test the market. However, he should make only about $3 million as an arbitration-eligible player in 2009.
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| Fox Sports reports that the Cardinals and Braves were unable to complete a deal that would have involved Rick Ankiel after the Cards insisted Mike Gonzalez be included. |
Our View: In addition to talking to Atlanta about outfielder Rick Ankiel, the Cardinals have talked to Philadelphia. Left-handed relief pitching remains at the top of St. Louis' wishlist and with Colby Rasmus waiting in the wings, they may be ready to move one of their breakout outfielders.
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| Rick Ankiel is believed to be on the Braves' radar, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: The Braves covet a power-hitting outfielder, and Ankiel fits the bill as he blasted 25 homers over 120 games with St. Louis in 2008. It is uncertain what the Braves would have to give up to acquire Ankiel, but Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar would certainly be coveted by the Cards.
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| The Cardinals are willing to deal Rick Ankiel for the right offer, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: The Cardinals have a surplus of solid outfielders, including future starter Colby Rasmus, and view Ankiel as expendable to improve their pitching staff and middle infield. Ankiel crushed 25 homers over 120 games in 2008.
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| Rick Ankiel will undergo surgery today to repair a sports hernia, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Rehab is projected to take four to five weeks, officially ending his season. Ankiel never landed on the DL due to the ailment.
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| Rick Ankiel won't play again this season and is likely to undergo surgery to repair the lower abdominal issue that has bothered him for nearly two months, according to MLB.com. Ankiel visited a specialist on Friday and was diagnosed with a sports hernia. Recovery time from surgery would be five weeks. "It's no surprise, because he has been a long time with it and has not really improved," said manager Tony La Russa. "He hasn't been pushing it, but he keeps continuing to feel it, so there's something there." |
Our View: July was Ankiel's most productive month, but he has been awful since August, so it's clear this has hampered him at the plate. He should make a full recovery and be ready for spring training next year.
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| The AP reports that Rick Ankiel met with a specialist in Philadelphia on Friday and is likely to have surgery soon to remedy his abdominal injury, which is believed to be a sports hernia.
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Our View: In 120 games this season, Ankiel delivered 25 home runs, but just five since the All-Star break. For the season, he slugged .506. Expect the former pitcher to return next season and be a fantasy starter in the outfield.
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| Rick Ankiel continues to be hampered by his ab injury and as a result he will be sidelined at least for the next couple of days, and his season could be in jeopardy, according to MLB.com. "I'm not sure how much more Ank's going to play," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's just not getting better...We'll get him checked and see what's the smartest thing to do." |
Our View: Ankiel's great story will likely end with a whimper after a tremendous start to the season. Still, with 25 home runs this season, Ankiel is one of only two players in baseball history to hit 25 home runs in a season while making 25 starts on the hill in the other. Oh yeah, you might have heard of the other guy, his name is Babe Ruth.
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| Rick Ankiel said his abdominal strain is "not getting worse," but implies it is not getting better either, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He continues to play through lingering soreness, and batted cleanup Friday. |
Our View: Ankiel only hit .180 in August, and is hitless over his two outings so far in September. He only has one homer over his last nine games as well.
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| Rick Ankiel is still dealing with abdominal pain that will likely hamper him the remainder of the season, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "All I've got to do is get a hint that (playing him) is not in his best interest and I'll shut him down," manager Tony LaRussa said. |
Our View: Be wary of what LaRussa said if Ankiel is a member of your fantasy team. Not only that, but he is in a deep funk, having gone five for his last 40.
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| Rick Ankiel went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Saturday's 8-5 loss to the Astros. |
Our View: His homer was his 25th of the season. He should remain a favorable source of power during the stretch run in September.
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| Rick Ankiel is still bothered by his strained abdominal muscle, and only has four hits over his last 36 at-bats (.111), according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The injury has also limited him to three homers and nine RBI in the month of August. Manager Tony La Russa is concerned that the injury could be a more serious ailment like the sports hernia for which Chris Duncan eventually had to have surgery last year. After participating in early batting practice Wednesday, Ankiel went to a doctor to be checked before returning to the ballpark. |
Our View: The Cardinals have an off day today, and the Houston Astros will pitch lefthanders Friday and Sunday against the Cardinals, so Ankiel (struggling against lefthanders as of late) likely will sit. That will afford him extra time to rest. He feels his swing is fine, and just cannot run at 100 percent. Hopefully he can finish the season strong over the final month when fantasy owners need him the most.
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| Rick Ankiel went deep for the 24th time of the season and also walked as the Cardinals won 11-2 over the Pirates. |
Our View: Ankiel has had a tough August as he has been dealing with a strained abdominal muscle. Still, he possesses the power to hit the long ball at any time and is useful for fantasy owners of all formats.
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| Rick Ankiel hit a two-run homer Friday in his fourth game since returning to the starting lineup following a bout with a strained abdominal muscle. |
Our View: It was Rick's first homer since July 18, and he seems poised to make a run at 30 homers.
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| Rick Ankiel wasted little time in making his mark in his return to the starting lineup as he went 2-for-3 with a runs scored and an RBI for the Cardinals. |
Our View: The only thing that Ankiel did wrong on this night was that he committed two errors as he was playing the unfamiliar position of left field. Get him back in your lineup as the stroke appears ready for prime time.
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| Rick Ankiel returned to the Cardinals starting lineup on Monday night after not starting for 14 games because an abdominal strain, according to MLB.com. He was starting in left field with the hopes of that being a little less stressful than playing center. |
Our View: Ankiel has appeared multiple times as a pinch hitter as the team kept him active for the stick (he was 2-for-6 with two walks). Ankiel has been a power bat this season with 22 home runs and a .540 SLG, and should return to being the same type of hitter if he truly is healthy.
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| Rick Ankiel is questionable for Monday's game against the Marlins due to his abdominal strain, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: He is still seeing time as a pinch-hitter, but has not started a game since July 26 due to the ailment. His last home run came on July 18 against San Diego.
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| Rick Ankiel could return to the Cardinals' starting lineup Monday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Ankiel has been a solid soure of power with 22 homers, and should be penciled back into fantasy lineups for the new week.
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| Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel did not play yesterday against Chicago, but he did pinch hit, and he may suit up today, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's just not quite there yet. We'll see about tomorrow," Ankiel said.
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Our View: Ankiel has been out almost two weeks with a strained abdomen, playing sparingly here and there. His totals have certainly been a boon for fantasy owners, and he should be back hitting homers for them in no time.
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| Rick Ankiel,out of the starting lineup for almost two weeks since straining his abdomen, will likely return to the starting lineup on Saturday after going through a full workout on Friday, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Ankiel has made six pinch-hit appearances since being injured and appears to avoided a trip to the DL in so doing. With 22 home runs, Ankiel still has plenty of time to record 30 home runs on the season, a great total for a guy who used to be a pitcher don't you think?
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| Rick Ankiel continues to feel pain when he runs and manager Tony La Russa said it is doubtful he'll play during this three-game series against the Dodgers, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: He has been diagnosed with an abdominal strain, and Tuesday marked the ninth straight game he has not started in the lineup. He is still seeing some action as a pinch-hitter, but hasn't hit a homer since July 18.
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| Rick Ankiel, who is recovering from a sore abdomen, could return to the Cardinals' lineup as early as Tuesday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Ankiel has been a solid source of power with 22 homers over 93 games, and fantasy owners should be able to pencil him back into lineups next week.
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| Rick Ankiel missed his fourth straight game Wednesday and isn't expected to play Thursday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. However, Manager Tony La Russa indicated that Ankiel, who is dealing with an abdominal strain, could be good to go Friday. |
Our View: The Cards are beating up on the downtrodden Braves without Ankiel's services, but they may need him this weekend against the Phillies.
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| The Cardinals didn't place Rick Ankiel on the DL Monday, but the outfielder missed his second straight game and the team isn't sure when he'll return to the starting lineup, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Ankiel is dealing with an abdominal strain. Manager Tony La Russa said Ankiel has little discomfort swinging a bat, but that the outfielder "can't run." |
Our View: Nick Stavinoha was brought up Monday to give the Cards some outfield insurance, but he's a candidate to be sent back down Wednesday when Chris Carpenter is activated from the DL. The team is probably hoping Ankiel will be ready to play by then.
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| Rick Ankiel is out of the lineup for the second straight game since feeling an abdominal strain late in Saturday's game. |
Our View: No word yet how serious the injury is, but we have seen ab strains keep players out as much as three weeks. Ankiel has been amongst the best hitters for the Cardinals this season.
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| Rick Ankiel was held out of Sunday's lineup due to an abdominal strain, according to Cardinals.com. |
Our View: He sustained the injury Saturday night during battle with the Mets at Shea Stadium. The club is unsure if he will be able to pinch-hit if needed.
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| Rick Ankiel went 3-for-5, hit his twenty-second home run of the season and drove in three runs in St. Louis' 11-7 win over San Diego. |
Our View: Ankiel is having a monster July, and hit his seventh home run of the month. Keep him in the lineup while he is on this hot streak.
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| Rick Ankiel hit his 13th home run since June 10th on Thursday. He was 2-for-4 in the game. |
Our View: Ankiel has solidified himself as one of the top outfield producers in the National League.
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| Rick Ankiel's left ankle is fine, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He injured the ankle on Saturday night, but by Sunday he felt to ready to play. |
Our View: Manager Tony La Russa opted to leave him out of the lineup Sunday, to protect his ankle from what was expected to be rainy field conditions and also to get Chris Duncan and Skip Schumaker in the lineup. Ankiel will be safe to return to your lineups after the All-Star break. He has 20 homers and 50 RBI so far over 83 games.
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| Rick Ankiel went 3-for-3 with a walk on Friday. He hit his 20th home run of the year and picked up three RBI in the process. |
Our View: Ankiel has hit 10 home runs in his last 21 games and becomes a stronger fantasy player by the game.
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| The teams had to fight through rain delays to reach the end, but the Cardinals found a loss at the end, falling 4-2 to the Phillies. The Cards posted just six total hits on the evening with outfielder Rick Ankiel suffering the worst, going 0-for-4 with one walk and three strikeouts on the night. |
Our View: Fantasy owners hope this is a minor bump in an otherwise successful road through July, hitting .333 on the month coming into this evening with four homers and eight RBIs through seven July games.
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| Rick Ankiel hit his 19th home run of the season on Tuesday, a solo shot of Phillies LHP Cole Hamels. It was just his fifth off a lefty this season and already his fourth of July. |
Our View: Since being called up last August, Ankiel has 30 HR, 85 RBI, 81 R, and a .273 AVG. in just 124 games. Despite inconsistencies, the former pitcher is becoming a stud fantasy league outfielder.
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| Rick Ankiel had the game-winning two out, two run single for the Cardinals on Saturday. Ankiel also had two other hits, including his 18th home run, as he knocked in three runs on the day. |
Our View: Ankiel continues to prove that he is no novelty act; he is a legitimate major league power hitter. He still strikes out a fair amount with 64 K, but given that he is on pace for more than 30 home runs, we can overlook that deficiency.
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| The Cards posted eight runs in an offensive marathon with the New York Mets this evening, pulling the victory by one run (that run posted in the bottom of the ninth). Outfielder Rick Ankiel did his part to support the push, going 2-for-5 with his 17th homer of the season, finishing with two RBIs and two runs scored on the night. |
Our View: Ankiel stepped up in the power categories last month, touting seven homers for 13 RBIs through June. He would like to get his batting average up, but driving in runs has become his weapon of choice.
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| Rick Ankiel went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Mets. |
Our View: That was his 16th homer of the season, and his second over his last four games. He extended his hitting streak to eight games as well. Keep him active in your outfield while he's hot.
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| Rick Ankiel hit a two-run home run to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning, and eventually beat Kansas City 5-1 on Saturday night. |
Our View: Ankiel hit his 15th home run of the season, but still well behind his 2007 pace.
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| Rick Ankiel went deep twice for the Cardinals in their 8-7 loss to the Tigers in a rain delayed game. |
Our View: The man has a sweet swing when he stays within himself, and on this night he scored three runs while knocking in three. With Ankiel rounding back into form and Albert Pujols almost ready to return, the Cardinals offense could be on the verge of causing some serious damage.
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| Rick Ankiel hit his 11th home run, but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals dropped their third straight to Kansas City 4-1 on Thursday afternoon. |
Our View: Ankiel has been slumping as of late and it's affected the Cardinals ability to score. St. Louis has scored three or fewer runs in six of eight games since Albert Pujols went on the 15-day disabled list with a left calf strain.
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| Center fielder Rick Ankiel, who returned to the lineup for the first time on Tuesday night since leaving the club last Thursday with an infected right knee, hit a home run in his second plate appearance. |
Our View: Ankiel had missed the entire series in Houston and after last night's injury to Albert Pujols (calf) the Cards will need him to stay healthy and supply some much needed power to the middle of the order.
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| Rick Ankiel has been cleared to return to the Cardinals' lineup Tuesday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: He missed seven straight contests due to an infection in his right knee. He could play tonight against Cincinnati.
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| Rick Ankiel remained in St. Louis on Saturday to receive treatment on a cellulitis infection in his right knee, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. However, Ankiel will meet the team in Cincinnati Tuesday and is expected to be available to play then. |
Our View: This ailment has lingered a bit longer than expected, but it sounds like a return is on the horizon.
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| Rick Ankiel did not travel with the team to Houston but instead flew to St. Louis to meet with with team doctors about the infection in his right knee, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The outfielder has been unavailable for several days because of swelling and irritation in his knee. |
Our View: Manager Tony La Russa said he's unsure if Ankiel will rejoin the team this weekend in Houston. We'll let you know what the doctor says.
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| The Rick Ankiel updates continue to surface. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on Friday morning that the Cardinals center fielder underwent a second examination between games of Thursday's doubleheader.
After staying at the team's hotel during the afternoon game, Ankiel was examined before departing with the club for Houston. Manager Tony La Russa told the paper the infection had shown progress and that Ankiel might play this weekend.
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Our View: La Russa said Ankiel was not suffering from a staph infection, but his playing status for this weekend remains a question.
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| Updating an earlier report, Rick Ankiel has contracted an infection in his right knee, this according to the team website. The center fielder will not play tonight after being sent back to the Cardinals' team hotel this afternoon. The team has not commented on Ankiel's status moving forward.
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Our View: Ankiel sustained scrapes on both his left hand and his knee when he made a sensational diving catch in Sunday's home game against Pittsburgh. His dive took him on the graveled warning track which resulted in several deep abrasions.
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| Rick Ankiel was not in the lineup on Tuesday, but Manager Tony LaRussa mentioned that he may be in action tonight against lefty John Lannan and the Nationals, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. |
Our View: Ankiel sustained a sizable abrasion to his left hand while making a diving catch on the Busch Stadium warning track Saturday, and his hand remained bandaged on Tuesday. No stitches were needed to close the wound.
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| Rick Ankiel was not in the lineup on Monday because of the matchup against left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, MLB.com reports. Manager Tony La Russa explains that Ankiel didn't sit due to the injury he suffered on his left hand on Sunday. |
Our View: Ankiel is a career .276 hitter with a .504 slugging percentage against southpaws, so that makes perfect sense. Or not. We imagine the injury had something to do with La Russa's decision. Ankiel is day-to-day.
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| Rick Ankiel missed a fourth consecutive start Tuesday night while his strained right shoulder continues to heal, but could be back in action very soon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Manager Tony La Russa speculated based on trainer’s reports that Ankiel could play in Friday’s series opener against the Dodgers.
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Our View: Ankiel has not swung a bat since hurting himself on a swing last Friday against the Rays. Wait until he returns to the Cardinals' lineup and proves to be effective before starting him again.
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| The St Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Rick Ankiel said he was feeling better on Sunday night, and team doctors suggested the Cardinals outfielder could recover from a strained right shoulder without losing 15 days to the disabled list. |
Our View: Manager Tony La Russa listed Ankiel as available for Sunday’s game but doubted that he could do anything more than run and play in the field. The Cardinals center fielder is a risky start in Fantasy Week 8.
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| Rick Ankiel will not be placed on the DL due to his injured right shoulder as the team will give him a couple of days of rest instead, according to MLB.com. "He can't swing 100 percent when it's aggravated, so we're going to try to get him well," manager Tony La Russa said. |
Our View: The good news is that it isn't his throwing shoulder, the bad news is that it's his lead arm on his swing. Look for the team to go with Chris Duncan, Ryan Ludwick and Skip Schumaker until Ankiel returns, hopefully within about a weeks time.
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| St. Louis outfielder Rick Ankiel will miss his second consecutive game today due to an ailing left shoulder, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Team physician Dr. George Paletta had indicated hopes to see Ankiel return after a short rest, giving the Cardinals support in avoiding the 15-day disabled list for Ankiel. The pitcher-turned-outfielder took an awkward swing on Friday night, according to manager Tony LaRussa, and tweaked the shoulder. He is batting .285 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs over 40 games this season. Skip Schumaker will get the start in his stead.
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| According to the Denver Post, Rick Ankiel went from throwing strikes, to having trouble throwing stikes -- and in turn became a center fielder. However, he had no problem throwing from the outfield Tuesday night. In the first inning, Ankiel caught Todd Helton's drive to center, then nailed Willy Taveras on a perfect throw to third to complete the inning-ending double play. In the eighth, he gunned down Omar Quintanilla, who appeared to have an easy triple. "I was shocked he threw me out," Quintanilla said. |
Our View: Ankiel is a great story, one that will eventually have a movie. For now, fantasy owners have gotten everything they could have asked for from the Cardinals outfielder. The left-handed hitter has 21 runs, 18 RBI, six home runs and is batting .277 on the season.
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| Rick Ankiel had three hits in three AB on Wednesday to knock in two runs and push his average up to .290. |
Our View: Ankiel continues his riches to rags to riches career path. Currently a solid option in mixed leagues, Ankiel seems to have adjusted very well to the way that teams are trying to pitch to him this year as he continues to be a solid outfield bat.
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| Rick Ankiel hit his fifth home run of the season on Monday but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals fell to the Reds, 4-3. |
Our View: Ankiel is hitting .250 with 15 runs and 12 RBI on the season.
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| If any player is upset with his performance in the Cardinals' 8-9 loss to Milwaukee, it has to be CF Rick Ankiel, going 1-for-4 at the plate to leave four men on base. |
Our View: Ankiel started the season hot as could be but has since gone cold, sporting just three hits, zero RBIs, three walks, and five strike outs over his last six games.
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| Rick Ankiel continues to swing a mean stick, going 2-for-5 with a double (his third of the year) and two RBIs in the Cardinals’ 6-4 win over Houston. Ankiel is now hitting .314 on the season and shows a great ability to keep it going as you ponder his value for the rest of the season. |
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| Rick Ankiel is likely to move from the number two spot down to the clean-up spot in the Cardinals' order today, according to MLB.com. For the first time in five games, the Cardinals will face a right-handed starting pitcher, which will be Shawn Chacon of Houston. Ankiel is hitting .296 over 27 at-bats, with three homers and six RBI. He will be in position to add to his RBI totals nicely from the clean-up spot in the solid Cardinals' offense. |
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| Rick Ankiel hit his third home run of the season in Sunday's win over the Nationals. Ankiel has been a big part of the Cardinals early season success. The team has rattled off five straight after losing on opening day. Despite beginning the season with Joel Pineiro, Mark Mulder, Matt Clement and Chris Carpenter on the disabled list, the Cardinals have pitched, and hit (thanks in great part to Ankiel), and their 5-1 record is their best start since 2000. The Cardinals center fielder was 2-for-4 Sunday and is hitting .348 on the season. |
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| Rick Ankiel hit a mammoth two-run homer in Friday's win over Washington. It's the pitcher-turned-hitter's second dinger on the year, to go along with four RBI and a .333 batting average. It's still tough to know what to expect from Ankiel. He's sure to go through plenty of rough patches, but his power is absolutely legit. |
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| Rick Ankiel homered, had two singles, and made a diving catch in the Cardinals victory over the Rockies. Ankiel will certainly have his share of ups and downs this season, but he would still appear to be a hitter with the potential to offer a whole lot of offense from the fifth spot in the Cardinals lineup. |
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| Rick Ankiel went 0-for-3 against Colorado on Tuesday, but did draw one walk. He enjoyed a solid spring and should generate solid numbers this season, as long as he holds on to his starting job. |
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| Rick Ankiel had a tough day at the plate against Florida on Thursday as he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, while leaving seven men on base. His spring average remains strong at .351 and the young slugger has a firm grip on a starting job. |
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| Rick Ankiel went 2-for-4 on Monday with a double to raise his average to .369 this spring. No matter what the Cards do with the other OF spot this year, they appear to be in good hands with Ankiel and Chris Duncan this season. Given the fact that Ankiel still needs to work on his plate discipline, he had 41 K and just 13 BB last year in 172 AB, his average may be middling when all is said and done but the power appears to be legit. |
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| Rick Ankiel , viewed as the likely opening-day starter in centerfield for the Cardinals, hit two home runs for a total of four RBIs in St. Louis’ 6-4 win over the Dodgers in Grapefruit League action today, according to the Associated Press. This brings Ankiel’s spring-training batting average to .359 and today’s homers are his second and third of camp. Nothing is certain at this point, but it appears Ankiel is all but inked into the position for opening day. |
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| Rick Ankiel signed a one-year, $900,000 deal with the Cardinals Thursday, avoiding arbitration. The pitcher-turned-outfielder can make $100,000 more in incentives based on plate appearances. |
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| Rick Ankiel didn't start Thursday's game but wound up getting two at-bats anyway, striking out and flying out. He's now in a 1-for-23 slump, with eight strikeouts. Is Ankiel pressing with the steroid rumors clouding over him, or is this just a random slump? You be the judge. His teammates aren't doing much right either - St. Louis has lost seven in a row to basically fall out of the NL Central race. |
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| Rick Ankiel's name has popped up in a Florida-based steroids investigation. According to the New York Daily News, Ankiel allegedly purchased a 12-month supply of human growth hormone in 2004. ESPN.com is reporting that the MLB has requested a meeting with the outfielder. This same investigation has recently resulted in the suspension of two NFL people, Patriots safety Rodney Harrison and Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson. |
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| Rick Ankiel hit his first career grand slam against the Reds on Friday. The blast proved to be the game-winner. Ankiel has five homers and 14 RBI since being called up on Aug. 9. |
Our View: He's a legitimate power threat and his .328 batting average is very encouraging despite the holes in his swing.
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| Rick Ankiel had three hits, including two home runs, in Saturday's victory over the Dodgers. He's now 5-for-12 with three homers - and four strikeouts - since his recall from Triple-A earlier in the week. |
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| Rick Ankiel homered in his first start with the Cardinals Thursday. He's expected to start the next couple of games in right field. It's a great story, you can't deny that - the former pitching phenom re-inventing himself as an outfielder. Given that Ankiel hit 32 homers in the minors this year and he's out of options, he figures to be with the Cardinals for the rest of the year, playing at least semi-regularly.
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| Frank Cusumano of NewsChannel 5 in St. Louis reports that the Cardinals have called up Rick Ankiel. "His season has caught everybody's attention," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's been lighting it up from the get-go, so he's building on a good impression." Ankiel is hitting .267 with 32 homers and 89 RBI in 102 games at Triple-A. It remains to be seen just how much playing time Ankiel will get, but at least initially, he should see a decent amount of time in right field. |
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| Rick Ankiel, who is hitting .272 with 31 homers and 85 RBI at Triple-A Memphis, will be called up by September, and possibly much sooner than that, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "There’s no doubt he’ll be here in September," La Russa said. "Whether he gets here before September, that remains to be discussed." Despite Ankiel's impressive numbers, some scouts still believe he'll be nothing more than a power bat off the bench. |
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| Rick Ankiel is near the top of the PCL leaderboard in homers and RBI, and he is refining his skills in center. However, the club probably won't call up the former pitcher until mid-August, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Ankiel is out of minor league options, so the Cardinals want to make sure a promotion is permanent. |
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| Despite the fact that Rick Ankiel is hitting .286 with 19 homers and 56 RBI for Triple-A, the Cardinals did not consider calling him up when Jim Edmonds went on the disabled list. However, Ankiel has no minor-league options remaining, and the Cards can't guarantee the former pitcher playing time for the rest of the season. "We talk about Rick a lot, but every day that he has four at-bats he's closer to getting to the big leagues and staying here," manager Tony La Russa said. "Not having flexibility with him is a big problem right now." |
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| Rick Ankiel hit his seventh homer of the year Tuesday for Triple-A Memphis. He's batting just .235 and he's struck out 13 times in 68 at-bats, but he also leads the team in home runs and RBI (20), and he's slugging .588. |
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| Rick Ankiel will be the everyday center fielder for Triple-A Memphis, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "That's what we're planning on doing," Memphis manager Chris Maloney said. "He's going to play a lot of center."
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| Rick Ankiel will probably begin the year as a corner outfielder in Triple-A, according to the AP. "It isn't because he isn't capable," Tony La Russa said. "Unless you can guarantee that he would get 400-500 at-bats, it would be a bad move for him and for us." |
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