After being called up earlier in the day, Rick Ankiel hammered a three-run home run to extend the Cardinals’ lead over San Diego in the seventh inning. The Cardinals went on to win behind the solid pitching effort by Joel Piñeiro and the St. Louis bullpen, 5-0.

Ankiel, who went wild during the 2000 post-season, “retired” as a pitcher two seasons ago to concentrate on becoming an outfielder.

It looks like this gentleman was a bit off, but there’s still a lot to accomplish.

Congrats to Rick on a great return.

More in “The morning after”….

According to 1380 ESPN Radio in St. Louis, the St. Louis Cardinals have placed utility player Scott Spiezio on the restricted list, effective immediately.

The move comes on the heels of Spiezio coming forward with a substance abuse problem and as a result, was placed on the restricted list and the team will assist him in his rehabilitation.

His agent, Barry Meister, told 1380’s Andy Strickland that the player will still be paid as he came forward with his problem and is seeking help.

***UPDATED at 6:55 PM ET***

The Associated Press reports that Spiezio has voluntarily checked himself into a rehab program.

NFL improves instant replay capabilities (AP/SI)

The National Football League has made the jump into hi-def technology as they’re going to have instant replays available to on-field officials in high-definition.

“As more people were getting high definition TV at home, they actually had a better view than the referee charged with making the decision,” said Dean Blandino, the NFL’s director of instant replay. “That could’ve bit us in the rear if we continued that.”

Currently, all but three NFL stadium facilities have high-definition installed: Dallas, New York and Indianapolis as those three cities are awaiting new playing structures.  Those buildings will have hi-def equipment but no high-definition signals, which translates to better quality pictures than standard definition.

After 19 years, Gretzky trade still shapes hockey (The FanHouse)

It’s hard to believe but nineteen years ago today, arguably one of hockey’s greatest players was dealt in a trade that had a seismic effect on hockey’s landscape: Wayne Gretzky was essentially sold off to the Los Angeles Kings by Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington.

In our lives, it awakened a new urgency to firmly entrench ourselves on hockey’s bandwagon.  The deal also initiated a frenzy among casual fans of the sport, specifically those in the nation’s number two media market that is Los Angeles, California.

As The FanHouse point out, the trade’s impact helped transform the NHL from solely a Canadian-based league to a North American organization filled with potential marketing opportunities and franchise growth in the United States’ southern region.

Well, not everyday, but without Wayne Gretzky, the Washington Capitals may well have remained the only hockey team dwelling South of the Mason-Dixon Line and the Kings the only team in the lower 48 West of the Rocky Mountains. Instead, we’ve watched teams battle for the Cup in regions that rarely see ice develop naturally, with winners coming from Denver, Tampa, Raleigh, Dallas and Anaheim. Without the Gretzky trade it never happens.

In the most recent NHL Draft, a pair of Americans went #1 and #2 overall, with a total of 10 chosen in the first round alone, including a Californian. Without the Gretzky trade, it never happens.

Back in January, we compared recent-MLS arrival David Beckham to Wayne Gretzky’s in Los Angeles, so we thought we could pimp ourselves again.

Pacman Jones refutes arrest record on TV appearance (AP/USA Today)

Pacman Jones, the legally troubled cornerback of the Tennessee Titans, appeared on the ESPN2 morning program First Take to drum interest in his foray into TNA wrestling.  He’s scheduled to appear on SpikeTV Thursday and will take part in a pay-per-view special for the wrestling outfit Sunday.

The interview, conducted by Dana Jacobson, Jones refuted the reports that he’s been arrested six times and that he will indeed be wrestling for the organization.

“I haven’t been arrested six times. I’ve only been arrested twice. I’ve been accused and people have put warrants out on me numerous other times, but as of today I’m on no probation, I haven’t been charged with anything, so I’m just keeping my head up and make sure I’m doing everything to make sure I’m all right with myself.”

He also responded to his critics, including the Titans, that he shouldn’t be wrestling:

“I don’t know what you all want me to do. Just sit in the house and be miserable all day? I can’t do that. I have to keep my spirits up high. I have a whole family to take care of.”

During the interview, he also alluded to his infamous visit to a New York City strip club the night before he met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss his suspension.  His response? He needed to get something to eat and “no girls were there, anyway.”

Yep, he still doesn’t get it.  Congrats to Pacman.

Minor leaguer seeks Craigslist for road trip romance (The Big Lead)

The Big Lead found this gem — via a reader — that a minor league ballplayer was fingered to be seeking some road trip lovin’ on the treasure-trove-filled website, Craigslist.

Professional Baseball Player trying to get laid - m4w - 24
Reply to: pers-391173993@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-08-07, 3:25AM EDT
Looking for some nsa fun will send pics if reply we be in town August 9

If successful, we’ll paraphrase Borat and say “High fiiiiiiiiive-uh”

Bucs want Denver’s bonus money from Plummer (USA Today)

Larry Weisman of USA Today reports that the Tampa Buccaneers are seeking repayment of a little more than $7 million in signing bonus paid to Jake Plummer by the Denver Broncos and have listed the club in its filed grievance.

How can the Bucs recover money paid by Denver? “They have traded all rights and conditions to the Buccaneers,” Allen said. No finders fee, no halfies? “Since we own the contract, it’s all ours,” he said.

This isn’t the first team seeking money from a player:  the San Diego Chargers are trying to recoup money from Steve Foley, a linebacker they cut back in March.  The player was shot three times last September and plead guilty to a lesser charge of misdemeanor impaired driving related to the same incident.

College student who caught Bonds ball tells ‘Today’ he may not sell (AP/Y! Sports)

The 22-year old college student who survived the mad scramble for Barry Bonds’ record-breaking home run ball told the NBC television program “Today” that he may keep the ball for himself — shades of Tim Forneris.

“Part of me wants to keep it. It’s the greatest American sports accomplishment in history,” Murphy said Thursday on NBC’s “Today Show.” “Part of me might want to sell it, but I really am leaning towards keeping it. It’s just too valuable, sentimental.”

He also went ahead and described the scene in the AT&T Park stands and how security handled his unique situation.

(An aside: the show is titled “Today,”  not the “Today Show”. Pet peeve, so carry on.

News and notes while still enjoying that 1980s crush on Valerie Bertinelli…

Peering at the managerial market (SI.com) Jon Heyman takes a look at the potential MLB managerial marketplace this offseason.

PGA Championship live blog (ESPN) Jason Sobel of ESPN.com chronicles the PGA Championship from the muggy Southern Hills course.

Anyone want to trade a Berman for 2 gem mint 10 Gus Johnsons? (Awful Announcing) We just want that Craig Sager game worn sport coat card.

As usual, the ombud’s right (The Big Lead) The folks at The Big Lead chime in on ESPN’s Le Ann Schreiber taking the “Teaser” to task over the “Who’s Now?” competition (we use that term loosely).  Note: You have to click the link for the great picture of another crush of ours.

Quickie: Bonds 757, Reggie Miller, NFL camping and more! (danshanoff.com) The stories of sports, short and pithy, from Dan Shanoff.

Nike has the nerd market cornered (100% Injury Rate) That’s right folks — Transformer-themed shoes. VIVE LE 80s!

Reports: Buccaneers fullback Alstott to retire (ESPN News Services)

Mike Alstott, fantasy football legend Tampa Bay’s leader in career touchdowns, has decided to call it a career after completing his 11th season in Tampa.

He amassed 71 touchdowns — 58 of which were of the rushing variety — in his career.

***UPDATED at 3:32 PM ET***

It looks like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers snuck one by the media on Thursday as the all-time leader in touchdowns for the organization was placed on injured reserve and hasn’t officially retired.

Forgive us as we weep sweet tears of hope: Ankiel gets the call (Deadspin)

The wait for hitting prodigy Rick Ankiel is over: the minor-league “Sultan of Swing” will be getting a promotion to the St. Louis Cardinals, according to the sports website Deadspin.

This caps a career resurrection for Ankiel (pronounced ‘an-kee-ELL’ now, folks), who blew up before everyone’s eyes during the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves and continued doing so in the NLCS against the New York Mets.

Through all that, Ankiel “retired” from pitching and decided to focusing his efforts as a hitter and it looks like it has finally paid off.

Congratulations to Rick on the long road back.

Chipper: Rodriguez might face steroid scrutiny (AP/SI.com)

Atlanta’s Chipper Jones chimes in with something we long thought since this whole Barry Bonds media circus started kicking into high-gear: when will A-Rod face the music on this very same issue?

“I don’t doubt it,” Jones said. “There’s been a lot of validation to some of the things that Jose Canseco has said over the years. At first when it came out a lot of people didn’t want to give him a lot of credit for it. But a lot of it has been proven true. Now, when he opens his mouth, people listen. And unfortunately, this cloud is following probably two of the best players of this century...I think it will follow him. There’s going to be the questions because his name’s been brought up. If I had to pose a guess on A-Rod, I would say no. But I don’t know. He’s going to have to answer the questions. And that goes for everybody that approaches the number. It’s just so farfetched, the numbers that those guys are putting up. And a lot of it comes from the era that they’re playing in.”

Lawrence Wayne “Chipper” Jones and us on the same wavelength? Wow.  And we’ll have to rely on Jose Canseco to break the news and verify things for us, too.

Strange things afoot at the Circle K…

Forneris has been having a ball (STL Today)

Nine years ago on 9.8.98 — aka ‘The Summer of Swing’ — a member of the Busch Stadium grounds crew picked up a ball that rested quietly just on the other side of the left field wall at the old ballpark after the team’s slugger hit a wall scraper.

The slugger was named McGwire and the ball was the then-record breaking 62nd home run that surpassed Roger Maris’ single-season record that stood since 1961. And the guy that just happened to pick up the ball and turn it over for a handshake, Tim Forneris. still happily works his job but this one is at the club’s new address, Busch Stadium III.

A lot has changed in Forneris’ life since that fateful moment (he attained his law degree and his day job is as the state of Missouri’s public defender), but one thing hasn’t: he has zero regrets on turning over that ball for what amounted to nothing more than memories.

“That night I said, and I still believe this, if I get a million experiences out of this ball it will be worth a lot more to me than a million dollars would be,” Forneris said before Wednesday’s game. He then joked: “I’ve kept count. I’m at 263,000.”

While we fully expect Matt Murphy — the 22-year old from Queens who just happened to be in town on a layover who caught Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 756th dinger — to sell if for a nice tidy profit, we’ll still remember that night back on 9.8.98 with a big smile.

The morning after Ned Yost left Yovani Gallardo to twist in the wind…

The Mariners get in on the AL Wildcard action; Garrett Atkins has a career day at Coors; Kip Wells continued his solid pitching in his fourth straight start and A.J. Pierzynski’s ties the game in the 12th inning to give the White Sox a shot at winning the game in the 13th.

M’s 8, O’s 4 — Jose Vidro homered and drove in four runs and Ichiro Suzuki had three hits in the Mariners’ 8-4 victory over the Orioles.

Yankees 4, BlueJays 15 — Toronto took a 3-0 lead in the first on an RBI double by Alex Rios and a two-run single by Wells, who finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs as Toronto matched a franchise high with nine doubles in the 15-4 drubbing of the Yankees.

A’s 6, Rangers 3 — Rob Bowen went deep from both sides of the plate for his first career multihomer game and Lenny DiNardo gave up three runs over six innings as the Athletics beat the Rangers.

Indians 4, White Sox 6 (13 innings) — Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer off Cleveland’s Aaron Fultz in the bottom of the 13th inning as the Chicago White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 6-4.

Red Sox 9, Angels 6 — Rookie Dustin Pedroia hit a tiebreaking home run, Mike Lowell went 4-for-4 with three doubles and a pair of RBIs and the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-6. With the win, the Sox increased their lead in the AL East to six games over their hated rival the New York Yankees.

More after the jump »

News and notes while Barry Bonds launches 757…

Pair of 12-year olds reach Women’s Amateur second round (AP/ESPN) Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., and Pearl Jin of San Gabriel, Calif., ousted older opponents Wednesday to set up their second-round showdown at Crooked Stick Golf Club.

Roethlisberger limps off practice field (AP/SI.com)  Ben Roethelisberger limps off field after teammate steps on foot.

Ankiel might be up soon (MLB.com) Looks like more cock teasing from Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on when the former pitcher will return to the bigs.

Sore wrist continues to hobble Mickelson (USA Today) Since injuring his wrist hitting shots out of the high rough practicing for the U.S. Open at Oakmont, Mickelson has seen a season of high promise turn into frustration.

Bonds saga won’t end soon (Y! Sports) Sigh: we hate to see it on the screen, but Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown is right on.

***

We’d like to take a moment to wish a happy 32nd birthday to one of our best friends growing up and still remains so to this day, “Colonel Mudcat Bryant” in beautiful Kansas City. Just for that, you get the italics and the pic.