San Francisco Giants

It took Tim Lincecum four tries, but the diminutive right-hander mercifully registered his first win of the 2012 season. He went five innings against New York's junior varsity squad, whiffing eight Mets, surrendering four hits and suffering just a single earned run.

This is where the good news starts to turn, though.

I'm not going to lie, I'm writing this in a state that is inadvisable for writing. As Virginia Woolf illustrates in her essay about writing called "A Room of One's Own", there is a clear distinction between writing in the "red light of emotion" versus "the white light of truth" and that distinction does not advise the former. Well, after watching game after game without my current favorite player starting, I'll admit right off the bat, I'm freakin' pissed.

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval had a resurgent 2011 season, batting .315/.357/.552 with 25 home runs and 70 RBI, and earning his first All-Star appearance. 

One of the more important storylines in baseball this spring training is the health and bounce-back ability of San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey.

Spring is a time of renewed growth, rebirth and rejuvenation. New blooms, new crops and new life are all a part of nature’s cycle.

Baseball is no different and no exception to the cycle of life, as teams, players and fans all look toward wiping the slate clean from last winter and beginning another season anew. The win-loss records are but replanted crops, ready to sprout; hitters’ batting averages and pitchers’ ERA records are newly sown. Most importantly, teams’ World Series aspirations are reseeded, ready to blossom throughout the summer.

Disclaimer: The following is an extremely biased, completely subjective view of the Giants/Phillies rivalry from the mind of a Giants fan.

Phillies fans, you probably shouldn’t read any further without first being aware that you will not like what is written. You will disagree, and will no doubt let me know what an idiot I am for writing this.

Which is fine.

I just want you to know what you’re getting yourselves into before you start.

Hey Giants fans, how about those trade-deadline deals? 

In 10 games with Carlos Beltran, the Giants are 2-8. They've scored an aggregate 23 runs—eight in one game, 15 in the other nine combined. 

Not exactly the energy boost GM Brian Sabean had hoped for.   

Three weeks ago, the San Francisco Giants sat multiple games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the NL West.

About two of every three games was a one-run contest, and they won a like ratio of those games. Taking about half of those remaining games was good enough to make a second-seed seem almost certain.

If the season ended today, the National League playoff picture would look remarkably similar to the scene last October.

Atlanta Braves 3B Chipper Jones has been placed on the 15-day DL with a torn meniscous and will miss the 2011 MLB All-Star Game. Philadelphia Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel came out Saturday and said that it is likely All-Star 3B Placido Palanco will miss Sunday's game, and very well could miss the All-Star game.