Tim Lincecum -- the real thing?

FanOf390 · August 5, 2008 12:34PM

First post to the Message Board. Long-time collector of baseball cards. George Brett is my all-time favorite ...

Tim Lincecum is the first pitcher I've really liked in a loooong time. He looks to me like the "real deal" -- very much a "pitcher" and not just a hard thrower. Exceptionally flexible and athletic (and small, I know that). Reminds me of a right-handed Ron Guidry -- maybe even a right-handed Sandy Koufax! I have a feeling that he's gonna be good for a long time -- that's right, I think he won't break down. Any thoughts?

Charlie

brianwintersfan · August 5, 2008 1:58PM

"maybe even a right-handed Sandy Koufax"

Great pitcher who had to quit so he could have the use of his arm after baseball. Let's hope he's not too much like Koufax.

lsutigers1973 · August 5, 2008 2:08PM

Koufax was nothing more than a hypochondriac. Would loved to see his numbers if he wasn't so scared of his arm falling off.

hofautos · August 5, 2008 2:14PM

I would never put my money on a pitcher...so many start off and look good and then flop....give him 5 to 10 years and then decide...
I think many thought the way you do about lincecum about volquez....

lsutigers1973 · August 5, 2008 2:16PM

Alex Fernandez, nuff said

otwcards · August 5, 2008 2:22PM

Mark Fidrych . . .

However, if Lincecum doesn't have arm troubles, he may end up being an absolute animal. I love his stuff and his demeanor. But with his delivery, I don't see how he can go injury free.

lsutigers1973 · August 5, 2008 2:24PM

When I watch him pitch, I think of Saberhagen. Similar stuff but injury proned.

Morgoth · August 5, 2008 2:32PM

There was a great SI article on why his delivery actually is believed to be the lease stress delivery in MLB. It states that it should be taught to others and that with current technology they can predict with high accuracy which pitchers will break down. The problem with Lincecum is that he is so flexible and athletic alot of pitchers wouldn't be able to use his delivery effectively.

brianwintersfan · August 5, 2008 4:29PM

<< Koufax was nothing more than a hypochondriac. Would loved to see his numbers if he wasn't so scared of his arm falling off. >>

You're kidding right?? If not do a little reading on the subject before you spout off next time.

artistlost · August 5, 2008 10:21PM

I've been following him for a while and think is the real deal (as long as he stays healthy which he has so far). Great stuff and a lot talent. If he was able to play on a winning team I think he would be a 20 game winner.

mathew

Ironmanfan · August 5, 2008 10:57PM

I remember when Mike Harkey of the Cubs was supposed to be the real thing

artistlost · August 5, 2008 11:07PM

<< I remember when Mike Harkey of the Cubs was supposed to be the real thing >>

He might have been called the next real thing but the stats don't line up...

Mike's first 43 games 16 Wins / 11 Losses / 148 Ks / 95 BB / 3.14 ERA over 4 seasons
Tim's First 47 games 18 Wins / 8 Loses / 317 Ks / 119 BB / 3.35 ERA over 2 seasons

mathew

mccardguy1 · August 6, 2008 1:23AM

<< I remember when Mike Harkey of the Cubs was supposed to be the real thing >>

Maybe if the dumba** didnt do cartwheels in the outfield during batting practice he might still be pitching today!!

digicat · August 6, 2008 1:46AM

It's hard to tell yet whether he's the next Koufax, but at least for this year, he's one of the most exciting pitchers the Giants have trotted out to the mound since Vida Blue. Jason Schmidt was awesome when he was healthy as well, but Lincecum is more fun to watch.

BobaFett72 · August 6, 2008 2:43AM

Lincecum is the best thing about the sorry Giants.

digicat · August 6, 2008 3:18AM

<< Lincecum is the best thing about the sorry Giants. >>

True. Tim Lincecum, and Matt Cain too.

It sucks when, as a Giants fan, I'm getting excited about position player "prospects" who might become AVERAGE MLB players at best.

There are a few gems on the farm for the Giants right now, but it'll be a few years before they're ready for Show.

Nate Shierholtz might be the first one called up. His minorleague stats for this year are far better than anyone in SF right now. He was picked for Team USA this year.

kmnorton · August 6, 2008 4:34AM

Also as a Giants' fan, here is a nice stat from our local beat writer talking about last night's game:

"The Giants did have a red-letter moment in an otherwise drab defeat. In the seventh inning, Fred Lewis hit a solo homer into the arcade in right-center. It was the Giants' first home run in two weeks, since Bengie Molina hit a pair against Washington".

TNP777 · August 6, 2008 6:10AM

I'm at the Phone Booth right now watching Lincecum. Aaron Rowand has already staked him to a 2 run lead. I think he's really gonna be good, especially once he hits puberty.

artistlost · August 6, 2008 6:18AM

well...he just struck out the side in the second. Looks like he is just padding his SO lead

mathew

digicat · August 6, 2008 6:28AM

<< I think he's really gonna be good, especially once he hits puberty. >>

Heh. My wife likes to say "he's really good for a 12 year old."

TNTonPMS · August 6, 2008 7:05AM

Well , whatever the case , at least as a fan, you can enjoy it for as long as it will last and hopefully it lasts a long time .

I have similar hopes for Joba, I really enjoy watching him pitch and I hope he stays healthy too .

I hate to see a potentially great pitcher have a serious and potentially career ending injury .

Or anyone for that matter , but it's part of the game/life .

digicat · August 6, 2008 8:03AM

And Tim adds another W and another 8 K's to his season totals.

I like how he strikes out the side to end his day.

FanOf390 · August 6, 2008 8:27AM

Chalk up another impressive (and nail biting) Win for Lincecum. Wow, he is a tough competitor.

8 Innings
5 Hits
8 K's

Charlie

artistlost · August 17, 2008 11:40PM

This kid is amazing...
another win...one earned run and 10Ks

m.

BobaFett72 · August 17, 2008 11:54PM

If he played on a real team he might win the Cy YOung!

Tvac897 · August 18, 2008 1:03AM

Welcome to the boards!

digicat · August 22, 2008 3:41PM

Another dominating performance tonight...

8 innings, 8 k's, 0 runs. Win # 14.

He further lowered his NL leading ERA, and picked up his MLB leading 200th strikeout of the year.

Seeing Lincecum mow down a team from the mound is more fun than watching Bonds hit massive juice-infused bombs into McCovey Cove. I just hope Lincecum sticks around for a while.

fkw · August 22, 2008 6:46PM

Giants will find a way to lose him or ruin him....and Im a Giants fan.

SF and great pitchers dont mix.

FanOf390 · August 23, 2008 12:42AM

Listening to what opposing hitters have to say after a game is one good way to tell how tough it is to hit a certain pitcher. Here's what Jody Gerut had to say after last night's game -- and he's a .295 hitter who did NOT strike out against Lincecum:

<< "He just doesn't miss very often over the plate and when he does it's going 95 (mph)," San Diego's Jody Gerut said after going 0-for-4. "It's different to have success against him. You basically have to wait for him to make a mistake." >>

Wow-- that's pretty high praise ...

Charlie

alnavman · August 23, 2008 1:49AM

<< Giants will find a way to lose him or ruin him....and Im a Giants fan.

SF and great pitchers dont mix. >>

I don't know if this is true. They've had some great pitchers over the year and didn't ruin all of them....in fact I've been telling anyone who will listen that I think CC Sabathia could end up in SF next year....just think of the rotation they will have then. Wish he would come back to Cleveland, my team but don't think it will happen.

digicat · August 23, 2008 3:32AM

<< in fact I've been telling anyone who will listen that I think CC Sabathia could end up in SF next year.... >>

While that would be cool, I think it's highly unlikely. Sabathia would probably love SF as it's not far from his home in Fairfield, but... I don't see the Giants signing Sabathia, unless he takes a major pay-cut. Sabathia would probably want more than, or close to, what Zito makes, and I'd rather see the Giants give that money to a proven bat who could help put some life into the offence.

Maybe some GM in baseball will get hooked on crack and decide to trade for Zito AND his contract?

digicat · August 27, 2008 2:50PM

"The Freak" got his 15th win tonight in another great performance:

7 innings, 1 earned run, 10 strikeouts.

Giants were trailing 0-1 in the bottom of the 7th when Molina and Sandoval hit back-to-back bombs to put the Giants on the board (Sandoval's first major league HR).

Lincecum leads the majors with 210 strikeouts, and is tied with Cliff Lee for the best ERA in the majors (2.43).

WeekendHacker · August 27, 2008 3:18PM

Dude threw 132 pitches in this game, be careful - he's still young, no need to do that to an ace like him when you are out of the race. He is the real thing, but the MGR needs to be a little more in tune with the game and how many pitches his money maker has tossed. I hope this doesn't cost Lincecum an injury - especially if this becomes a habit from his MGR/pitching coach/bench coach. JMHO.

digicat · August 27, 2008 4:25PM

<< Dude threw 132 pitches in this game, be careful - he's still young, no need to do that to an ace like him when you are out of the race. >>

The pitch count on Lincecum has been a big debate. Lincecum funky delivery actually MINIMIZES stress on his arm. Apparently his dad developed it for him when he was growing up, and this delivery let him be a total workhorse in college, where he was used to throwing 140+ pitches a game.

Funny thing is, I think the coaching staff gives Timmy the hook too early sometimes. It's nice to see them let him stick it out and see what he can do. Considering how BAD the Giants middle relief is, Tim's gonna need to learn to work into the 8th inning so he stops getting hosed with no-decisions.

artistlost · August 27, 2008 10:36PM

Darn...he is good.

Now let's start the debate...is he worth of this years CY Young? I know everyone thinks Web should get it but...Lincecum's numbers are just as good or better other than his win total which is still rising.

mathew

rugbymarine · August 28, 2008 1:21AM

<< Darn...he is good.

Now let's start the debate...is he worth of this years CY Young? I know everyone thinks Web should get it but...Lincecum's numbers are just as good or better other than his win total which is still rising. >>

Is he worthy? most definitely
Will he win it? I highly doubt it. The fact that Arizona will probably win their division helps Webb. I know that's not Lincecum's fault, but it does weigh in the decision-making. (see 2005 Cy Young)

If he continues to cut down on his walks, he'll be virtually unstoppable. But Brandon Webb led the league in walks 2 years before winning the Cy Young.

I see a Cy Young in his future. Great to watch.

digicat · August 28, 2008 4:01AM

<< Now let's start the debate...is he worth of this years CY Young? I know everyone thinks Web should get it but...Lincecum's numbers are just as good or better other than his win total which is still rising. >>

If Lincecum can pull off another 5 wins and end the season with a 20-3 record, and still have the NL lead in K's and ERA, I think he'll get it. If he mixes in a no-hitter or a perfect game into those 5 wins, he'll be a lock.

Lincecum's win total is a direct factor of the team he plays for. In games where he gave up 1 or no earned runs, Lincecum has 9 wins and 6 no-decisions.

In contrast, in 1-or-zero earned run games.
Brandon Webb = 9 wins, 1 no-decision
Cliff Lee = 8 wins, 3 no-decisions.

Morgoth · August 28, 2008 4:20AM

No doubt he is in the running but I think CC will get some votes as crazy as that sounds. It's a two horse race right now and Webb has an edge in that his team is winning. I think Tim's only shot is if he leads the NL in ERA, WHIP and K's, as I don't think he can catch up on wins but if he gets within 1 or 2 games of Webb he will have a chance.

That being said, Webb's season is just too good to say he doesn't deserve it. If he fails down the stretch (like he did last start) and Arizona gets caught then Tim has it.

digicat · August 28, 2008 5:10AM

<< I think Tim's only shot is if he leads the NL in ERA, WHIP and K's, >>

Tim's 11th in the NL (20th in MLB) with his 1.18 WHIP. He had a sub 1.0 WHIP through all of August though, but as good as i think Lincecum is, I don't think he'll lower his WHIP all the way down to a league-leading number.

fuj · August 28, 2008 9:03AM

<< 

<< Dude threw 132 pitches in this game, be careful - he's still young, no need to do that to an ace like him when you are out of the race. >>

The pitch count on Lincecum has been a big debate. Lincecum funky delivery actually MINIMIZES stress on his arm. Apparently his dad developed it for him when he was growing up, and this delivery let him be a total workhorse in college, where he was used to throwing 140+ pitches a game.

Funny thing is, I think the coaching staff gives Timmy the hook too early sometimes. It's nice to see them let him stick it out and see what he can do. Considering how BAD the Giants middle relief is, Tim's gonna need to learn to work into the 8th inning so he stops getting hosed with no-decisions. >>

In response to the pitch count debate over Lincecum, there was a 2 part series by a local SF columnist this week about the lack of complete games. Good read for anyone interested.

Part 1

Part 2

FanOf390 · August 28, 2008 9:25AM

I'm happy to say that I started this thread 3 weeks ago with my very first post to the message board.

Geez, Lincecum just keeps gettin' better and better. As I said 3 weeks ago, I've been following baseball for a loooong time (mid 1960's) and Timmy is one of the few pitchers I've ever thought was really, really, really exceptional.

Here's another way to view the NL Cy Young race: Webb has 4 more wins and 2 more losses than Lincecum. A record of 4W's and 2L's is good -- but it's NOT enough to be a "vote-changing factor" when considering Cy Young credentials. When you consider that every other factor IS in Lincecum's favor (e.g. better ERA, more Strikeouts, lower run support by his team-mates, etc.), then it becomes clear that Lincecum really has been more dominant than Webb.

If the "Wins differential" gets reduced to 3 (and I believe it will), then Lincecum becomes a lock to win the award.

Charlie

TomGshotput · August 28, 2008 12:30PM

The Sports Illustrated article made me believe he will be a great pitcher

The San Francisco Giants complete lack of talent make me believe no one will notice once his won-loss record falls more in line with the other pitchers

Dave Stieb was the real thing, too

digicat · September 2, 2008 12:55PM

Aragh! If you don't count the 4th inning, he had a pretty good day.

5 innings, 5 hits, 5 earned runs, 2 walks, 6 k's. At least the Giants bats woke up and saved him from getting tagged with the loss.

His ERA jumped .17, but he still leads the NL.

Well, not enough to totally derail his CYA hopes, but it doesn't help much. With Webb and Lincecum blowing up right after Sabathia tossed the 1 hitter though... Sabathia's in a great position.

digicat · September 6, 2008 10:09AM

Wow, Webb is apparently trying to give the NL Cy Young away!

In the past 3 games, Webb's ERA has ballooned from 2.74 to 3.41. His WHIP has blown up to 1.20 from 1.09.

Lincecum's on the hill Monday night against the D-Backs. The last time he faced them, he struck out 13 batters in 7 innings.

Sandlotheros · September 6, 2008 10:17AM

It's gonna be a close race for the Cy young this year with the way CC has pitched since coming over from the AL, ie Sutcliffe for the Cubs in 84 I beleive? I think if CC close out the season with another 4 starts the way he pitched so far he may get the award

FanOf390 · September 6, 2008 1:24PM

If Lincecum wins Monday night, he'll become the favorite in the NL Cy Young race. He might even be the favorite as I type this.

The other primary contenders are starting to fade in one way or another:
Webb's ERA has really ballooned in the last couple weeks while he's pitched horribly in his last 3 games.
Peavy has a great ERA but he's got a losing record after losing a tough one today.
Sabathia simply won't have enough NL wins since he switched leagues in mid-season.

Lincecum has been consistently good all year on a really bad team. He leads the NL in 2 of the 3 "Triple Crown of pitching" categories -- and no pitcher has led in all 3 categories since Dwight Gooden in 1985. If he wins 2 more games and loses 2 more games while maintaining the league lead in strikeouts, Lincecum will win the award.

Charlie

Darin · September 6, 2008 2:19PM

The Royals could have drafted him instead of Luke Hochevar. Luke isn't doing badly, but of course Lincecum has had much more success so far. It'll be interesting to see how it works out in the long run, as I think Hochevar could become a consistent 15 game winner.

BobaFett72 · September 6, 2008 2:30PM

I'd give it to Lincecum. and i'd consider an MVP vote for Sabathia!

digicat · September 8, 2008 3:00PM

A great bounce-back from last week, and another strong argument for his Cy Young candidacy.

8 1/3 innings, 1 earned run, 9 strike outs, and win #16.

FanOf390 · September 8, 2008 4:05PM

Yep, after another stellar performance by Tim Lincecum on Sept 8th, I'm even more certain: Lincecum is now the favorite to win the NL Cy Young award!

If you've never had the pleasure of watching him, please try to do so. He's amazing!

Charlie

JackWESQ · September 13, 2008 2:47PM

Great performance tonight by Lincecum. If he wasn't already the front runner for the Cy Young, I'd imagine he is now.

/s/ JackWESQ

P.S. 138 pitches. Hmmm?

Tim Lincecum -- the real thing?

Comments