Rick Ankiel. The bane of the Cardinals’ post-season existence in 2000. He was the Wild Pitch Machine, throwing 9 wild pitches in 2 post-season games. He flitted in and out of the majors in the next couple years until he finally had to give up the pitching ghost. However, he was always a good hitter and this year the Cardinals invited him to spring training as an outfielder. Tonight was his major league debut as an outfielder and in the bottom of the 7th inning, after a pop up and two strikeouts, Rick Ankiel hit a 3-run homer to right field. It was glorious. It was beautiful. He got a huge standing ovation and I cried in my living room. I haven’t wished for someone to hug so badly since October 27th, 2006. Congratulations, Rick! Welcome back.
Swingin’ Ankiel
Steely Ankiel
Serious Ankiel
High fives for everyone!
SO CUTE!
PS: Will Leitch got last-minute tickets to this game and was hurrying to get there. He missed Ankiel’s first at-bat, but I got this text message from Will while he was in a cab en route to the stadium: “I will be there in time for the homer.” Lucky, lucky bastard.
Update:
Ankiel gets a hug from LaRussa.
AWWWWWW!
Ladies... 
That was a pretty amazing moment. Glad I got to see it, and glad Will was there in person.
That said, the San Diego Padres: on the ass end of history for the second time in a week.
He better be in the lineup when I actually get a chance to watch him again against the Dodgers.
What game are you going to, StN? I’m jealous.
That is pretty cool. Even though I hate the Cardinals, I always had a soft spot in my heart for Ankiel. And, he’s damn hot.
I’m happy since Andie and Will are happy.
Aside of that, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (Practicing for going to the Cubs game next week. I cannot think of the last time I went to baseball game that actually mattered.)
You’re going to a Cubs/Cards game and you’re rooting for the Cubs???? SHAMEFUL!!!!
Well really, I’ll be wearing my Pirates hat. (Even though apparently it is Cubs “floppy hat” give away day.)
I will be neutral I am sure, but Precious Roy’s idea for the website
= http://www.bucstocubs.com” makes some sense to me.
And when all else mattered…
Ankiel shrugged.
Welcome back, Rick.
Andrea, I just mean he better be in the lineup so I can watch him on TV this weekend. No one in my close group of friends here is a baseball fan, and as such, did not really want to go to a game this weekend when I asked around prior to my vacation.
…and it wouldn’t have mattered, because the games are in St. Louis anyway. Sheesh.
Yay, TSW!!! Keep booing those Cards. Let me teach you a very important song:
Baseball season’s underway
Well you better get ready for a brand new day.
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.
They’re singing …
Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.
If only they offered this as a ringtone…
I cannot believe you posted that in the thread of my Rick Ankiel post. For shame, Chitowntiger. For shame. : )
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I cannot believe that song!
In the spirit of being fair to Andie’s thread…
“You guys don’t get to sing it that much do you?” ;)
GO CUBS GO
GO CUBS GO
HEY CHICAGO, WHATTA YA SAY?
CUBS ARE GONNA WIN TODAY!
Ahem. Sorry, had that little song stuck in my throat.
Ankiel is cute- he looks amazingly a lot like Kyle Lohse.
Is that to the tune of the Ninja Rap?
Texy, you make me proud!
And, the beauty of that song is that it is sung BEFORE the game. Cubs fans are nothing if not eternally hopeful. And pessimistic.
Burnsy- do not make me post the song. Because I will do it. And then Andie will beat me and I will be dead. You don’t want me dead, do you Burnsy?
I won’t beat you dead, Texy. Then who would deliver the goods? You are the Picture Finding Goddess.
HOWEVER: I’ll wait until you do a post about Texas and I’ll plaster Oklahoma stuff all over it. MWAHAHAHAHAH!
Nooooooooooooooooo
That’s just not even funny- because no one likes Oklahoma, and you’d really just be hurting you by subjecting yourself to that nonsense. (waits to see if this logic works)
But back to Ankiel: he looks like Kyle Lohse, no?
Don’t try to distract me with Ankiel! You’ve brought the Cubs into my celebratory post! You and your Tiger up there. BOOOOOO!
Yeah, he does kinda look like Lohse.
I could like Oklahoma. “OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain….”
“Don’t try to distract me with Ankiel!” [is then promptly distracted by Ankiel]
Hah-hah! My plan of distraction worked!
He really does look like Lohse. Except, maybe cuter (sorry, Kyle).
I wasn’t gonna say it, lest you get angry and continue with the Cubs stuff, but yeah, I think Ankiel is cuter than Lohse. By a smidge.
You are a cunning opponent, Texas Gal. I shall get you next time. *SHAKES FIST AT SKY*
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Good for Ankiel. Glad Spiezio went into rehab if he is having troubles. I don’t know how he was doing this season, but he gave me his batting gloves at a game back in 2000, so I will always be a fan of his (unless he does something stupid like beat his wife, run a dogfighting ring, etc.)