In a week that started with Frankenstein creation Barry Bonds' record-breaking home run, sports fans may have had some of their hope restored with the feel good story of the year, the comeback of St. Louis Cardinal outfielder Rick Ankiel.
Ankiel, who hit 10 home runs for the 2005 Springfield Cardinals, is best remembered for his infamous meltdown in the third inning of Game One of the 2000 National League Championship Series when he threw five wild pitches and walked four batters. After that nationally-televised blowup, Ankiel was never the same as a pitcher, and finally gave up pitching to become an outfielder.
His comeback has hit numerous detours, including a series of injuries, but finally on Thursday, he returned to the Cardinals, hitting a three-run home run against the Padres on Thursday night, adding a sharp single on Friday, then belting two home runs and a single, as well as making a sensational catch in right field during today's nationally-televised win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It is nice to see the media paying some attention to the Ankiel story, a positive story, rather than the circus surrounding Barry Bonds. And it's great to see Ankiel back in the major leagues. And for Cardinal fans, it gives a glimmer of hope in what has been a disappointing season.
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