ANKIEL WATCH

Former pitcher Rick Ankiel, 25, is trying to make the Cardinals as an outfielder. How's he doing? SI's Ankielometer tells all.

It might not have been intentional, but when South Bend's Ross Ohlendorf threw a pitch behind Ankiel's head last Friday, it raised some eyebrows. Ankiel, who's been on a tear for Quad Cities, was named Midwest League player of the week on June 27 after going 7 for 14 with two homers. The Swing certainly didn't appreciate the high hard one near the head of Ankiel, who's hitting .281 and is second on the team with nine homers; the rest of the South Bend series was filled with bad blood, including three bench-clearing incidents on Sunday.

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GARY I. ROTHSTEIN/REUTERS (ANKIEL)

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THE TOPPS COMPANY INC. (MENDOZA)

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AP (MANTLE)

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LAST TIME > MENDOZA

THIS WEEK > MANTLE