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Wednesday, February 28
Ankiel pitches to batters at Cardinals camp


JUPITER, Fla. – Rick Ankiel took another step in his comeback from his wild appearances in last season's National League playoffs.

Ankiel, working out again away from the media, threw batting practice on Tuesday. The accounts of the workout, from those who were there, were positive.

"He was fantastic," said minor-league catcher Matt Garrick, one of two batters Ankiel faced. "I think 90 percent of them were strikes."

Ankiel threw 50 pitches during the session, half to Garrick and fellow minor leaguer David Benham. Pitching coach Dave Duncan described Ankiel's pitching as "wonderful."

It wasn't a feeling shared by Ankiel, who claimed his "changeup needs a little work."

Nonsense, manager Tony La Russa said. "He said he was OK and everybody else said he was outstanding. I wouldn't hire him as a scout. He was better than OK."

Ankiel's next step remains unclear. He's not among the pitchers scheduled to start the Cardinals' first five exhibition games.

"I don't pay attention to that," Ankiel said. "I just pay attention to myself."

Duncan said he is happy with Ankiel's pitching so far this spring, and that decisions about what the 21-year-old does on the practice field are being made based on how his arm feels.

"There's no book written on this," Duncan said. "The main thing you do is stay in touch and see how it's going. I'm more concerned about paying attention to the arm. Just because you want to get things accomplished, you still have to gear it all around the arm."

Duncan said he has no doubt that Ankiel will overcome his control problems.

Ankiel, for his part, is not especially concerned about how he is pitching now.

"It really doesn't matter how I am – throwing good or bad," Ankiel said. "It's not the season. It's spring training."

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 St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa on Rick Ankiel's control woes.
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