Former pitcher throws a laser strike from the outfield (CF)

[drdg]

as a pitcher Rick Ankiel had trouble throwing strikes
but as an outfielder he has no problems what so ever throwing a strike

April 16, 2012

and as a pitcher from 2000

!

[Bulldog19]

You should see some of the throws he made when he was with the Cardinals playing the outfield..

Lasers from right field wall to third base... wonder if those videos are still on the site. I believe in Colorado...

[StanTheMan]

Here are the two from Colorado. Both are beyond ridiculous.

http://www.sportsonenetwork.com/videos/19720/cardinal-rick-ankiel-throws-out-two-colorado-rockies-from-center-field-2011

Tavares, one of the fastest runners around, simply turns and looks in disbelief towards Ankiel. Only lasts a half second, but says it all...

The second, well, the number of guys who would even try it, much less get it there, or on the bag... wow.

[Bothrops Atrox]

Ankiel did have 90 bbs in 175 IP in his rookie season, which is a high total. But never in the regular season did he do anything even close to what happened in vs. the Braves in the NLDS or the Mets in the NLCS. Not even close. Even when he came back to pitch a few years later, he never did anything like that. I was at both of those games, and it was crazy.

[StanTheMan]

Watching that inning again...

Ugh. Painful. I'm thrilled for him that he became a position player though. Always liked Ankiel! A high school buddy of mine, who was a college ballplayer and later a Minor League Umpire (made it to AAA) as well as Ariz Fall League & Dominican Ball along the way, called MANY of Ankiel's starts in the minors.

He always said Ankiel had the best stuff of any pitcher he ever saw in 8+ years in the Minors