SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- That first moment lacing up the spikes again meant so much to Joe Panik, simple as the task might seem.
With his troublesome back healthy and pain-free at last, Panik feels ''normal,'' ready to go with the San Francisco Giants.
San Francisco's second baseman was limited to 100 games last season because of a lingering back issue. He batted .312 with eight home runs, 37 RBIs and 119 hits, and might have been on pace for 200 hits if he hadn't gotten hurt after his All-Star first half.
''Whenever you have an injury that sidelines you for a while, you don't know how your body's going to bounce back,'' he said.