Ankiel upbeat about shift to bullpen

JUPITER, Fla. -- Having missed all of last season with an elbow injury, left-hander Rick Ankiel rejoices about having another chance -- and perhaps a new role.

Plagued in the past by wildness as a starter, Ankiel has been shifted to the bullpen in a move meant to lessen the pressure on him.

"I'm healthy and I'm happy" with the change, Ankiel said Saturday as the Cardinals opened their sixth spring at Roger Dean Stadium here. "It's a trial, but I guess maybe it's normal to go to the bullpen coming off an injury."

With 33 pitchers on the roster, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa believes that Ankiel's role "could give us the best left-handed bullpen we've had since we've been here," accompanying Steve Kline, Jeff Fassaro and Lance Painter.

Kline has been with the Cardinals the past two years, and Fassaro came over last season in a trade with the Chicago Cubs. Painter, coming off Tommy John surgery and invited to spring training as a non-roster player, pitched for the St. Louis in 1997-99 but missed all of last season.

Ankiel is "excited. It will be fun role for him," La Russa said. "The preparation is different. Instead of getting ready to throw 100 to 120 pitches once every five days, he'll be asked to throw 15 to 20 pitches several times a week."

Being a starter "can be a lot of pressure for a young player," La Russa said of Ankiel's past role. But "now, he'll be a piece of the game but a very important piece."

Said Ankiel: "With 33 pitchers here, there should be some good competition. I think I will like the chance to work more often than once every five days. I just want to be somewhere in the mix" when the season starts.

Ankiel, 23, won 11 games as a rookie in 2000 but since then has struggled with his health and his control. He last pitched in the major leagues in May 2001.

He left his only spring training start last year after only two innings because of tendinitis.

Following physicals and meetings with coaches, pitchers and catchers, La Russa turned the players loose Saturday for stretching, exercises, throwing, catching and all the rest that goes with the early days of a spring training.

Position players report by Tuesday, a day before the full squad's scheduled workout.

Some have arrived early, including NL MVP runner-up Albert Pujols, the NL's rookier of the year in 2001.

"That's a great sign that Albert is here," La Russa said. "With the success he has had, you might see a change in attitude in some players, but not with Albert."