Anyone Here Read "The Phenomenon"? The Rick Ankiel Memoir

[Adam2]

I just finished this today, great read for any baseball fan, a Cardinal fan, or anyone that has dealt with a terrible childhood and how to overcome adversity.

For him to have gone through everything he has even outside of baseball and end up where he is today is pretty amazing. He is completely open and talks about the yips, and what was going through his head on that day vs Greg Maddux and Atlanta.

I highly recommend

https://www.amazon.com/Phenomenon-Press ... 1610396863

[Adam2]

on a side note, if you listen to the audiobook, Rick himself is the narrator

[Adam2]

What could have been:

At 20 years old,

-11-7
-30 starts
-3.50 ERA
-175 IP, 194 strikeouts
-90 walks, not ideal

[Cardinals4Life]

I just finished this today, great read for any baseball fan, a Cardinal fan, or anyone that has dealt with a terrible childhood and how to overcome adversity.

For him to have gone through everything he has even outside of baseball and end up where he is today is pretty amazing. He is completely open and talks about the yips, and what was going through his head on that day vs Greg Maddux and Atlanta.

I highly recommend

https://www.amazon.com/Phenomenon-Press ... 1610396863

Reading it currently!

[Goldfan]

I can’t read

[Adam2]

I can’t read

that checks out

[BDMcGee]

I had such high hopes for Rick. His curveball was a thing of beauty. So much talent. I will definitely check out the audiobook. Very cool that he chose to narrate it himself.

[Adam2]

I had such high hopes for Rick. His curveball was a thing of beauty. So much talent. I will definitely check out the audiobook. Very cool that he chose to narrate it himself.

you'll enjoy it, it's just under 7 hours long if you do the audiobook

[BrummerStealsHome]

I just finished this today, great read for any baseball fan, a Cardinal fan, or anyone that has dealt with a terrible childhood and how to overcome adversity.

For him to have gone through everything he has even outside of baseball and end up where he is today is pretty amazing. He is completely open and talks about the yips, and what was going through his head on that day vs Greg Maddux and Atlanta.

I highly recommend

https://www.amazon.com/Phenomenon-Press ... 1610396863

I read it when it came out. Really good read. Baseball is a funny game. Why? Because, as the popular t-shirt used to say "Baseball is Life." Life is funny. Funny peculiar, not funny ha ha.

I remember watching that game where he finally made it back to the bigs as an outfielder, and homered. What a friggin' moment.

[BrummerStealsHome]

I can’t read

Then do the audio book.

Me? I can't listen. I'm married.

[Adam2]

I just finished this today, great read for any baseball fan, a Cardinal fan, or anyone that has dealt with a terrible childhood and how to overcome adversity.

For him to have gone through everything he has even outside of baseball and end up where he is today is pretty amazing. He is completely open and talks about the yips, and what was going through his head on that day vs Greg Maddux and Atlanta.

I highly recommend

https://www.amazon.com/Phenomenon-Press ... 1610396863

I read it when it came out. Really good read. Baseball is a funny game. Why? Because, as the popular t-shirt used to say "Baseball is Life." Life is funny. Funny peculiar, not funny ha ha.

I remember watching that game where he finally made it back to the bigs as an outfielder, and homered. What a friggin' moment.

LaRussa was as emotional in that moment as he was to win the World Series

[C-Unit]

Yep I got it back when it came out

"What are you gonna do about it"

The period of time around late 2007 when he came up hitting home runs right and left was as special as it gets, despite it being a losing season. There is a video on YouTube where you can find highlights of his 2 HRs in the 16-4 day game blowout of Pittsburgh, early September. Danny Mac's call "is this something else or what" about sums it up.

He wasn't able to hit with consistency in the long run. However, his 2008 season was solid for an every day CF. You'd take that player as your starting CF on today's Cardinal team and many others. And not only did he just become an outfielder, he became a plus defensive CF which enabled him to keep finding MLB jobs well after his strikeouts really started to overshadow any offensive value he could create.

[Melville]

I just finished this today, great read for any baseball fan, a Cardinal fan, or anyone that has dealt with a terrible childhood and how to overcome adversity.

For him to have gone through everything he has even outside of baseball and end up where he is today is pretty amazing. He is completely open and talks about the yips, and what was going through his head on that day vs Greg Maddux and Atlanta.

I highly recommend

https://www.amazon.com/Phenomenon-Press ... 1610396863

I read it when it came out. Really good read. Baseball is a funny game. Why? Because, as the popular t-shirt used to say "Baseball is Life." Life is funny. Funny peculiar, not funny ha ha.

I remember watching that game where he finally made it back to the bigs as an outfielder, and homered. What a friggin' moment.

Yep.
Everyone who saw it remembers it.
Redemption.
Baseball is a great game.
And it is a life lesson unlike any other sport.

[moose-and-squirrel]

didn't read it.. from what I gathered he never mentioned his coke problems.. and yes, he had a coke problem

[Adam2]

didn't read it.. from what I gathered he never mentioned his coke problems.. and yes, he had a coke problem

he only mentioned cocaine in reference to his father. He did discuss his alcohol abuse, and using ecstasy and pot

[moose-and-squirrel]

didn't read it.. from what I gathered he never mentioned his coke problems.. and yes, he had a coke problem

he only mentioned cocaine in reference to his father. He did discuss his alcohol abuse, and using ecstasy and pot

exactly.. dude had a monster coke problem