Giants Starting Pitcher Tim Lincecum Has Become A Beast

[oldmanTED]

OK, Giants homer here again but I've just got to say that starting pitcher Tim Lincecum is currently actually pitching better then last year's Cy Young award winning performance. In his last 4 games, he has 3 complete games, including yesterday's 95 pitch, 2 hitter against the Cardinals. In this span, he also has 2 shutouts and one 8 inning performance. What has made him better, is he now has 4 pitches which he has full command that he can use as a strikeout pitch (fastball @ 95+, curve ball, slider, and change-up). He leads the league in strikeouts with 132 and at times makes the hitters look lost. The young man doesn't have a big head, yet is extremely confident, and just flat out enjoys pitching. No doubt he will lose here and there, but play the Giants when this guys pitching on the RL to get positive return and you should have some nice results.

<TABLE style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px" class=tablehead border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND: #000000" class=stathead><TD colSpan=18>2009 Season Stats</TD></TR><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left>SPLITS</TD><TD width="5%">G</TD><TD width="5%">GS</TD><TD width="5%">CG</TD><TD width="5%">SHO</TD><TD width="5%">IP</TD><TD width="5%">H</TD><TD width="5%">R</TD><TD width="5%">ER</TD><TD width="5%">HR</TD><TD width="5%">BB</TD><TD width="5%">SO</TD><TD width="5%">W</TD><TD width="5%">L</TD><TD width="5%">P/GS</TD><TD width="5%">WHIP</TD><TD width="5%">BAA</TD><TD width="5%">ERA</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>Season</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>114.0</TD><TD>94</TD><TD>34</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>132</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>107.2</TD><TD>1.07</TD><TD>.224</TD><TD>2.37</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>Career</TD><TD>74</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>487.1</TD><TD>398</TD><TD>176</TD><TD>161</TD><TD>27</TD><TD>177</TD><TD>547</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>105.5</TD><TD>1.18</TD><TD>.223</TD><TD>2.97</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right><TD align=left>Last 7 days</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>18.0</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>20</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>0.61</TD><TD>.148</TD><TD>0.50</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>Projected</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>35</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>246</TD><TD>203</TD><TD>73</TD><TD>65</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>60</TD><TD>285</TD><TD>17</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>107.2</TD><TD>1.07</TD><TD>.224</TD><TD>2.37</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 sizset="172" sizcache="0"><TBODY sizset="172" sizcache="0"><TR class=stathead bgColor=#000000><TD colSpan=17>10 Game Log</TD></TR><TR class=colhead align=right><TD align=left>DATE</TD><TD align=left>OPP</TD><TD align=left>RESULT</TD><TD>IP</TD><TD>H</TD><TD>R</TD><TD>ER</TD><TD>HR</TD><TD>BB</TD><TD>SO</TD><TD>GB</TD><TD>FB</TD><TD>TBF</TD><TD>#Pit</TD><TD>Dec.</TD><TD>Rel.</TD><TD>ERA</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right sizset="172" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>06/29</TD><TD align=left sizset="172" sizcache="0">@STL</TD><TD align=left sizset="173" sizcache="0">W 10-0</TD><TD>9.0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>29</TD><TD>95</TD><TD>W(8-2)</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>2.37</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right sizset="174" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>06/23</TD><TD align=left sizset="174" sizcache="0">@OAK</TD><TD align=left sizset="175" sizcache="0">W 4-1</TD><TD>9.0</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>34</TD><TD>108</TD><TD>W(7-2)</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>2.57</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right sizset="176" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>06/17</TD><TD align=left sizset="176" sizcache="0">LAA</TD><TD align=left sizset="177" sizcache="0">L 3-4</TD><TD>8.0</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>16</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>109</TD><TD>L(6-2)</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>2.72</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right sizset="178" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>06/12</TD><TD align=left sizset="178" sizcache="0">OAK</TD><TD align=left sizset="179" sizcache="0">W 3-0</TD><TD>9.0</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>13</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>34</TD><TD>110</TD><TD>W(6-1)</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>2.66</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right sizset="180" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>06/07</TD><TD align=left sizset="180" sizcache="0">@FLA</TD><TD align=left sizset="181" sizcache="0">W 3-2</TD><TD>7.1</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>15</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>110</TD><TD>W(5-1)</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>2.96</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right sizset="182" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>06/02</TD><TD align=left sizset="182" sizcache="0">@WAS</TD><TD align=left sizset="183" sizcache="0">L 6-10</TD><TD>6.1</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>14</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>110</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>3.01</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right sizset="184" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>05/26</TD><TD align=left sizset="184" sizcache="0">ATL</TD><TD align=left sizset="185" sizcache="0">W 4-0</TD><TD>8.0</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>12</TD><TD>31</TD><TD>122</TD><TD>W(4-1)</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>3.03</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right sizset="186" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>05/21</TD><TD align=left sizset="186" sizcache="0">@SD</TD><TD align=left sizset="187" sizcache="0">L 2-3</TD><TD>7.0</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>28</TD><TD>113</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>3.45</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right sizset="188" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>05/15</TD><TD align=left sizset="188" sizcache="0">NYM</TD><TD align=left sizset="189" sizcache="0">L 6-8</TD><TD>6.0</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>5</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>30</TD><TD>114</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>3.76</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow align=right sizset="190" sizcache="0"><TD align=left>05/10</TD><TD align=left sizset="190" sizcache="0">@LAD</TD><TD align=left sizset="191" sizcache="0">W 7-5</TD><TD>6.0</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>3</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>9</TD><TD>25</TD><TD>110</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>--</TD><TD>3.25</TD></TR><TR class=colhead sizset="192" sizcache="0"><TD colSpan=17 sizset="192" sizcache="0">Complete Game Log</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[FairWarning]

SF has their best scouts watching Jermaine Dye. Sox will not give him up until Carlos Quentin comes back. Who knows when that'll be.

 

[DarkStar]

I like our third baseman too OMT.

 

[oldmanTED]

SF has their best scouts watching Jermaine Dye. Sox will not give him up until Carlos Quentin comes back. Who knows when that'll be.

Dye would be a nice addition. We shall see. Right now, this team has great chemistry and their hitting is starting to catch up with their pitching.

 

[oldmanTED]

I like our third baseman too OMT.

Sandoval has been fantastic, particularly in the month of June. BTW, really like your position on the Giants on total wins. Looks very solid to me.

 

[FairWarning]

Dye would be a nice addition. We shall see. Right now, this team has great chemistry and their hitting is starting to catch up with their pitching.

He has a no-trade to NYY, NYM, Boston, Phillies, and two others.

 

[DarkStar]

He has a no-trade to NYY, NYM, Boston, Phillies, and two others.

Apparently he hates the post season.LOL

 

[viking611]

Apparently he hates the post season.LOL

Last I checked, he has a pretty nice ring filled with diamonds that say SOX.
And has been 6 of his 12 seasons in bigs.

 

[5teamparlay]

6 K's through 3 innings tonight...

17 K's is the post-season record held by Bob Gibson .....

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

I would feel a lot better about my bet on SF if they could muster up a couple of runs.

 

[ALSportsJunkie]

Congrats Ted on the win. Hope your Giants have continued success in the post season!

 

[oldmanTED]

ALSportsJunkie

Congrats Ted on the win. Hope your Giants have continued success in the post season!

@)

 

[joebatters]

Man, a 2 hitter...striking out 14 and only walking 1. Amazing. Don't know what was wrong with him in August when he hit that rough patch, but he's definitely back to his dominating self. A lot of fun to watch.

 

[5teamparlay]

What has happened ?

http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Lincecum-struggles-again-as-Pirates-rip-Giants-3691775.php

 

[5teamparlay]

« Back to Article

Lincecum struggles again as Pirates rip Giants
Henry Schulman
Updated 11:30*p.m., Sunday, July 8, 2012
*
Pittsburgh --

- Tim Lincecum is the worst starting pitcher in the majors this*year.

That stark, surreal sentence is not opinion but a statistical fact. When Lincecum's first half mercifully ended in the fourth inning of Sunday's 13-2 loss to the Pirates, his ERA stood at 6.42, the highest of the 101 starters with enough innings to qualify for the league*leaderboards.

Of all the issues the staff needs to address the second half, Lincecum's decline and fall is biggest, even more than a balky offense that produces a bounty of baserunners but struggles to score*them.

Though the Giants head into the break a half game out of first place, no rational person can predict a division title without Lincecum getting better or being pulled from the*rotation.

"We need him," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's got to put the first half behind him. He got on track for a few starts, but we got back here to the East Coast and he scuffled. Obviously, he's got to make an adjustment, which he did for a couple of*starts."

Lincecum was eloquent and frank about his train wreck of a first half. He is the first Giant since Barry Zito in 2008 to have 10 losses by the break. When Lincecum won his Cy Youngs in 2008 and 2009, he had a total of 12 losses over the two*seasons.

"You never want to say, 'I've hit rock bottom' or anything like that," Lincecum said, "but when things are going as bad as they are right now, you've got to go out there with the feeling like you've got nothing left to lose. Leave it out on the field. Whatever happens,*happens.

"I have to erase this, (but) obviously remember it and use it to know what I don't want to go through again. It's been terrible. It's a terrible feeling. You feel like you're letting your team down. That's the hardest*thing.

"It seems like everybody else is doing their jobs and playing good ball. When you're the weaker link, you kind of look at that and it wears on you. So you try your hardest to work out of it. I've been working hard the four days between starts, putting the man-hours in there, which also makes it tougher to*swallow."

On a hot but not suffocating afternoon at PNC Park, Lincecum lasted 3 1/3 innings and allowed six earned runs for the fourth time this*season.

His misery started in the first inning when Andrew McCutchen, who was 0-for-10 lifetime against Linceucm, hit a hanging changeup for a two-run homer. It ended with Pirates starter A.J. Burnett hitting a fourth-inning single off Lincecum for his first RBI since*2005.

Lincecum's road ERA stands at 9.00: 47 earned runs in 47 innings. No wonder Bochy plans to start him at home after the*break.

The Giants wheezed into the break with a 1-5 trip that left them 46-40, the same level above .500 as they were in 2010 (47-41) before launching their successful run for a world*championship.

This year's Giants finished 6-7 in their longest stretch of games against first-place teams since moving west in 1958, but that stat has to be parsed. They went 3-7 against the Reds, Nationals and Pirates after sweeping a reeling and undermanned Dodgers squad that was well down the path toward blowing a 7 1/2-game division*lead.

The Giants have to know they are fortunate to be playing in perhaps baseball's weakest*division.

"We were back quite a few games," Bochy said. "We'll take where we're at right now. That's what you play for, to be right in the thick of things, and we*are."

Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hschulman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hankschulman

 

[CoachCB]

He is a heck of a pitcher....and it's disturbing to see him struggling so bad. I love him because he's 5'11 160lbs!

But he's probably more concerned w/ the bag of weed in his truck than the next batter he's going to face!

If he struggles in his next few starts they should probably sit him down for a while and let him get his head on straight....

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