Aubrey Huff, 2009 Topps Black #45

Congratulations to Aubrey Huff and the rest of the 2012 World Series champion San Francisco Giants, who swept the Detroit Tigers in four games. Huff didn't make a strong contribution to this year's Giants club, batting .192 in 52 regular season games with a home run and 7 RBI. He missed time with injuries, and was supplanted at first base by prospect Brandon Belt. However, San Francisco kept the 35-year-old on their 25-man roster throughout the postseason and he appeared in 10 of their 16 games as a pinch hitter. Unfortunately, Aubrey went 1-for-9 with a walk. That might be a wrap for the Huffster's Giants career, but he got two rings out of the deal.

Jay Payton, 2009 Topps Black #189

Just when you thought it was safe to watch National League West baseball, Jay Payton went and rose from the dead. Yes, the 37-year-old outfielder was probably the oldest September callup for any club, as he received a late-season promotion from the Rockies. After he produced a grisly .250/.292/.363 slash line for the Orioles in two seasons, he was out of the major leagues - indeed, out of baseball altogether - in 2009. But the former first-round draft pick of the Mets signed a minor league deal with Colorado in 2010 and batted .323 with 36 doubles for Colorado Springs in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. As the Rockies make yet another furious late-season push for the playoffs, they've used Jay largely as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement. So far, it's paying off; he's hit safely in five of ten at-bats (.500) with a couple of doubles and the Rox are only a game and a half out of first place.

With Aubrey Huff and Eli Whiteside on the first-place Giants roster, Miguel Tejada, Jerry Hairston, and Oscar Salazar on the second-place Padres roster, and Melvin Mora and Jay Payton playing for the Rockies, a whole slew of ex-O's will have a say in the N. L. West pennant chase. Pretty weird.

Jeremy Guthrie, 2009 Topps Black #194

Today there is baseball, and life is good. I checked my iPhone this afternoon, and saw starting lineups posted on my go-to blogs. I got in the car after work and heard Joe Angel recapping the lovely totals: 12 runs, 14 hits for the Orioles, 2 runs, 5 hits for the visiting Rays. Jeremy Guthrie started on the right foot with two scoreless innings, and seven frames of solid relief from six more pitchers who have a good shot to contribute in 2010. A win from would-be lefty specialist and clubhouse clown Will Ohman. Most exciting of all, six home runs, including two each from rookie corner infielders Rhyne Hughes and Josh Bell and a booming shot to center by young star right fielder Nick Markakis.

I got so pumped up by the renewed presence of baseball in my everyday life (exhibition baseball is still baseball, after all) that I took the long way home so I could stop by the hobby shop and buy myself a box of 2010 Topps...think of it as a housewarming gift, from me to me. 36 flawless new packs to rip open? Bliss. Anyway, I drove the rest of the way home listening to Scott Garceau and Mark Zinno and their callers on 105.7 FM talk about the O's...sure there was a bit of Terps-Duke discussion and a remark or two about the Ravens, but it was little more than window dressing. The Birds are back.