Welcome Back, Rick!!

Congratulations to Rick Ankiel today after his triumphant return to Major League Baseball last night. In his first start since 2004, Ankiel slapped a three run homerun 384 feet over the right field wall to put the Cards ahead 5-0 and secure the win. Not bad for a (former) pitcher, huh? Disney couldn't write a better feelgood comeback story then this one, although I doubt Joel Pineiro feels quite as thrilled about it. His impressive performance was largely overlooked, despite pitching seven shutout innings, striking out four and not issuing a single walk. Maybe next time, Joel.

In other news, it appears as though Scott Spiezio is being placed on the restricted list as he is treated for an undisclosed substance abuse issue. I wish him the best in his recovery, although I'll honestly be a little disappointed to find out he's addicted to anything other then red hair dye.

It's ALIVE!!!!!!

Well, it's official. Albert Pujols' season of destruction has finally begun. After a quiet start, it's nice to see him back to his old ways of, well, you know. KICKING TOTAL ASS. With two home runs and five RBI's in Sundays game against the Brewers, it became clear that Mr. Pujols has no intention of NOT being completely awesome this and every season until the cruel clutches of death wrench that bat from his hands. The night sweats and tremors might suggest otherwise, but I really wasn't too terribly concerned about him easing into the season. He was bound to light up sooner rather then later, because you know it just eats him alive when he isn't dominating every at bat. I can just see him fuming in the dugout, thinking, "Man!! Chris Duncan gets to hit ALL the home runs! No fair!"

But seriously, what a freakin' slacker. The fact that he doesn't already have 19 home runs is a disgrace to the league. What in god's name has he been doing?