GIFs are pretty cool for a whole lot of reasons, but there are a few that stick out at all times:
- They make no sound, and you can therefore watch them while working without fear of anyone noticing.
- I can make GIFs for work.
- They're fantastic for recalling events and moments and no one puts ads in front of them to stop that from happening quickly.
Sure, maybe all of those don't apply to you, but you can still watch them and enjoy them, and what better time to recap 2013 in GIFs than right now, on December 31? No, really, is there a better time than this? I want you to have fun.
I figured out how to GIF just this year, so I'm still relatively new to the practice, especially around these parts. However, I did compile over two gigs worth of GIFs from baseball in 2013 alone, so I've got some things to share. I took some time to pick out 10 of my favorite baseball GIFS from the hundreds I made in 2013.
It's hard to organize them into a straight list of 10, but I did pick out my absolute favorite and placed it at the end, so you've got that to look forward to at least.
Ian Kinsler Faceplant
Slow-motion faceplants are not the reason GIFs were invented, but they are one of the greatest unforeseen consequences. Kinsler's arms hit the ground awkwardly, and he bumps his chest next, leading to him dragging his face close to and on the ground, eventually ending with a literal interpretation of a head-first slide.
Garrett Jones almost hits bicycle with home run
I have watched this GIF dozens of times, and I'm still not sure if that's a standard bicycle or a tandem one. What I do know, though, is that Garrett Jones hit a ball out of PNC Park and narrowly missed crashing someone's bike into the river with it.
C.J. Wilson Proves Walking Is Hard
C.J. Wilson likes to play it cool on Twitter, as the straight-edge athlete who loves fast cars and shampoo that gets him the ladies. None of this helps him jog successfully in a straight line, though, as he goes to skip over the foul line and instead eats turf.
Ronald Belisario's Astros' Impression
The Astros were a source of infinite GIF entertainment this year, but sadly, I wasn't responsible for immortalizing much of it. This Ronald Belisario GIF, in which he drops a ball, boots it, then throws it into center field, is the closest thing I've got.
Robinson Cano Is Territorial
You'll have to forgive Cano for his surly demeanor, as he wasn't even aware Yankees' shortstops were allowed to range this far to the left.
Delmon Young Is Bad At Baseball
If he were just picked off, that would be one thing: players are picked off all the time. Young is leaning in the wrong direction -- he had an itch, okay! -- which they teach you not to do in Little League once you're allowed to take a lead and steal, and he's also in the middle of stretching/pointing instead of paying attention to the pitcher. Young (and the Phillies, really) got what they deserved.
Holy Shit He's Dead Oh Thank God He's Fine
I wouldn't even have made this GIF if he had been hit in the head. It's hard to watch even with him catching the ball in his glove instead of his cheek, but everything about this is too amazing to keep off the list. The batter's reaction, which switches from "Ugh, right at him" to "OH GOD RIGHT AT HIM", and the pitcher just laying on the mound waiting for the rest of his life to finish flashing before his eyes make this GIF. Also the not being hit in the head thing.
Nelson Cruz Almost Dies While Koji Uehara Celebrates
Nelson Cruz is going back, back, back to try to rob a homer at Fenway Park, but he can't quite get to it. Red Sox reliever Franklin Morales slowly backs away, realizing Cruz could come crashing over the wall at any second, and never stops stretching in the process. The best part, though, especially since Cruz didn't suffer any long-term damage by landing on his noggin, was Koji Uehara, whose face you never see in this. Koji has an obsession with catching homers hit to the bullpen, and you can see him flash in and out of the shot, with his signature bright glove raised in triumph, while Cruz lays on the ground, defeated by gravity.
Wife Dumps Beer On Husband
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but just for that little extra oomph, this all happened because of a Travis Wood -- yes, the pitcher -- grand slam.
This Guy
We ran a whole article on This Guy, but the crowning moment of his over-exuberant nature was when he threw his arms up and smacked this poor woman's beer right into her face while she was trying to set her phone up to take a camera of Shane Victorino. Somehow, this dude wasn't even the most annoying person sitting around him that night.
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