Ankiel still couldn’t find the plate early in the 2001 season, posting a 7.13 ERA through six starts before a demotion to Triple-A. Things got even worse in Memphis: He walked 17 batters in just 4.1 innings. The Cardinals then sent him and his 20.77 ERA down to rookie ball, a level so low he’d skipped it during his first ascension through the minors.