Posey moved by fans' reception in return

OAKLAND -- If you needed to know how much Giants fans missed Buster Posey, you didn't even have to wait until Monday's first pitch. Playing in front of his home fans for the first time since suffering a season-ending leg injury last May, Posey took the field for warmups to a rousing ovation from the crowd.

"It was one of the coolest things that I've ever been a part of in my baseball career," Posey said. "It was special; it meant a lot."

Posey navigated through Spring Training without incident and looks poised to return to the Opening Day lineup Friday at Arizona, when he will be on the receiving end of Giants ace Tim Lincecum. After seeing the Giants lock up Matt Cain with a lucrative five-year extension Monday, Posey was asked if he could envision himself playing his whole career in a Giants uniform.

"Could I see it? Sure," Posey said. "But, like you said, it's early. It's hard to say if it'll happen or not, but yeah, I could see it. I would love to."

If anyone was happier than the fans to see Posey return, it would be his teammates. Lincecum was sitting in the dugout when Posey took the field Monday and was stirred by the crowd's reaction.

"I was talking to someone and we just heard this uproar," Lincecum said. "We thought a fight had broken out in the stands or something crazy. That was pretty awesome. I'm sure it was good for him and made him feel more welcome."