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Giants' Brandon Belt is close to returning to lineup, assuming he doesn't chase more snakes

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt tempted fate on Tuesday when he tried to sneak up on a rattlesnake that he says appeared on his driveway.

While conventional wisdom dictates that you probably shouldn't try to take on a venomous snake on your own, even if you do happen to be a professional athlete, Belt's risk is multiplied by the fact that he's close to returning from the injured list.

The 33-year-old hurt his knee in late June during a game against the Angels. The situation looked rough at first — the knee he hurt had been operated on in the past — but he's gotten relatively good news since searching for second and third opinions.