San Francisco Giants

Tim Lincecum was the king of aces during the Giants' 2010 postseason run. 

Going head to head with the best aces in the league, he was 4-1 with a 2.43 ERA over 37 innings.

“You heard it, mark it down, (Giants) repeat.”  Those were the famous (or infamous) words of Brian Wilson in the last seconds of Showtime’s three-minute trailer promoting the upcoming reality series about the World Champs and their quest to defend the title, scheduled to air on April 13th. 

Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell—after the 2010 season, we feel like we know these guys.

We saw them hit. We watched them orchestrate a dramatic transformation of the Giants clubhouse with their veteran leadership. We know their sense of humor, and we rattle off tales of their college days together with autobiographical familiarity, as if we had tagged along for the shenanigans too.

By God, we even learned their underwear preferences over the course of the 2010 season.

As Opening Day draws nearer, major league rosters are beginning to take  definite shape. Clubs have evaluated the talent within their systems, and have made the easy decisions. Hopeful youngsters have been told that they need at least one more year to mature, and aging vets hoping for one last shot have been sent home. Now is the time for the tough choices: who is the last player to get cut?

To combat my ignorance the first time I played fantasy baseball, I did what anyone does when they need answers: consulted the Internet. This was 2005—the Industrial Age for the web—so fantasy commentary was just starting to percolate “back then”; it wasn’t as obvious where to go for information.

What I couldn’t get my head around was a concept I kept reading about—this concept of Value. Only experience could help answer questions like:  

Barry Bonds is in trouble. With his perjury trial underway, Bonds faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, as well as the tarnishing of his legacy. As if it wasn't already.

For three years we have waited for this. The date was March 2011, and everyone in San Francisco and anyone growing up with an awareness of Bonds would remember that date. The day is finally here.

Barry Bonds is the all-time career home run leader. Most fans are convinced that many of his home runs, especially those he hit during the latter part of his illustrious career, are tainted.

Others, however, wonder if it matters since some—possibility a majority—were hit against pitchers were aided by substances those in power frown upon.

Future Hall of Fame left-hander Tom Glavine, who has had to contend with Bonds as an opponent most of his career, has definite views.

As Spring training winds down, and Opening Day creeps closer, it is time to close the book on the Giants' World Championship 2010 season, and focus on the Giants' 2011 season.

No doubt it was a amazing season filled with many more highs than lows.

It featured the coming out parties for Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner. It saw Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain become practically immortal during the playoffs. And career resurrections for Aubrey Huff and Pat Burrell helped bring the city of San Francisco its first championship since 1994 and the Giants their first ever by the Bay.

Buster Posey and the San Francisco Giants will head into the year looking to repeat as World Champions.

Before baseball season can start though, the NCAA Tournament will have to declare a winner. So why not make a mix of the two sports? After all, the best part of March Madness is watching the bracket come out for the first time on Selection Sunday.

If MLB were to adopt a ranking and selection process, here's how the bracket would look for the 2011 season.

Brian Wilson is hurt!

Let the madness begin.

Some headlines are already there, most of which are referring to buzz phrases like "oblique muscle" and "out for opener" and "former Beach Boy still playing guitar" and "PANIC PANIC PANIC."

I'm not exactly in panic mode yet.

If anyone has seen anything on Brian Wilson in the past year, you'll know that he actually tore his oblique muscle in his major league debut and then pitched another inning afterwards.