If you're a Giants fan like me, the past several years have been fairly depressing. It's not just that the team has had a losing record for five straight seasons, it's how they lose that makes them so hard to watch. I can appreciate good pitching as much as any baseball fan, but seeing your team lose 2-1 while leaving 10-plus runners stranded on base gets tiresome rather quickly.

Of course, the one shining ray of hope for this franchise and the only player outside of Bonds who has made at least some of San Francisco's games watchable during this stretch is Tim Lincecum. The 2008 season was as dull as it gets, but when Lincecum was on the mound I'd always make sure to tune in. So when the reigning NL Cy Young winner started the 2009 season with the worst two starts of his major league career, needless to say it was more than a little deflating.

Fortunately, reports surfaced late last week that Linecum was suffering from some stomach ailments and would head into his third start feeling much better. Even though he had to settle for a no decision against Arizona as SF ultimately lost 2-0, Lincecum posted 8 shutout innings, allowing only 5 hits while striking out 13. I think it's safe to say he's back on track, so at least Giants fans still having something to feel good about.