amag
02-18-2002, 11:41 AM
(From SportingNews.com)
Lefthander Rick Ankiel won't be pitching by dawn's early light on the back fields of the Cardinals' spring-training complex in Jupiter, Fla., this spring. Ankiel was shielded as much as possible last spring as he and the Cardinals' staff addressed his astonishing wildness.
But Ankiel, presumably cured after a trip to the lowest minors, wants to pitch out in the open this spring, and he is anxious to get started. He and 22-game winner Matt Morris have been working out much of the offseason in Jupiter, where both make their offseason home.
The fifth starting job is Ankiel's for the taking if he is all right, but the Cardinals are in the position of not having to count on him. Veteran Andy Benes could regain the job he had last season before he was buried in the last month. . . .
Lefthander Steve Kline's workload probably won't change much even with the addition of new closer Jason Isringhausen from Oakland. Kline has led the National League in games pitched in each of the last three seasons, at 82, 83 and 89 games. He wants to appear in at least 90 and likely will get that chance.
He probably won't appear quite as much in the ninth inning, but manager Tony La Russa feels that many games are won or lost in the seventh or eighth innings, or before the closer even enters the game. This is where Kline will come in, especially against a batch of particularly tough lefthanded hitters. . .
One item pitching coach Dave Duncan probably will harp on this spring is the alarmingly high home-run total of 199 that the Cardinals gave up last season. The Cardinals were outhomered, 199-196, even though they won 24 more games than they lost.
Lefthander Rick Ankiel won't be pitching by dawn's early light on the back fields of the Cardinals' spring-training complex in Jupiter, Fla., this spring. Ankiel was shielded as much as possible last spring as he and the Cardinals' staff addressed his astonishing wildness.
But Ankiel, presumably cured after a trip to the lowest minors, wants to pitch out in the open this spring, and he is anxious to get started. He and 22-game winner Matt Morris have been working out much of the offseason in Jupiter, where both make their offseason home.
The fifth starting job is Ankiel's for the taking if he is all right, but the Cardinals are in the position of not having to count on him. Veteran Andy Benes could regain the job he had last season before he was buried in the last month. . . .
Lefthander Steve Kline's workload probably won't change much even with the addition of new closer Jason Isringhausen from Oakland. Kline has led the National League in games pitched in each of the last three seasons, at 82, 83 and 89 games. He wants to appear in at least 90 and likely will get that chance.
He probably won't appear quite as much in the ninth inning, but manager Tony La Russa feels that many games are won or lost in the seventh or eighth innings, or before the closer even enters the game. This is where Kline will come in, especially against a batch of particularly tough lefthanded hitters. . .
One item pitching coach Dave Duncan probably will harp on this spring is the alarmingly high home-run total of 199 that the Cardinals gave up last season. The Cardinals were outhomered, 199-196, even though they won 24 more games than they lost.