Rick Ankiel says he would consider pitching again. Here are his comments to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
“I keep thinking when I can’t run any more and I still want to be in the game, maybe I’ll give [pitching] a shot. For now, I’m an outfielder and that’s how I look at it.”
Stranger things have happened, I suppose. Minnie Minoso got a base hit when he was 50. A high school baseball coach pitched relief for the Devil Rays. Corey Patterson and Gary Matthews Jr. keep finding work. Ankiel could pitch one day I guess. For someone. I just hope that if he really does want to pitch again he doesn’t wait for a time when he “can’t run anymore.” After all, if a pitcher’s legs go, he’s not that useful anymore.
Anyway, what happened to Ankiel the pitcher makes me sad to this day. It’s a fantasy, I know, but I think it would be great to see him throwing junk to some minor leaguers when he’s 40 if such a thing would give him a sense of career satisfaction or closure or whatever.
