McCovey
05-05-2008, 03:26 PM
Good article. :awesomework.gif
Notebook: Lincecum's first 365 days
Henry Schulman (hschulman@sfchronicle.com)
Monday, May 5, 2008
There was interesting symmetry in Tim Lincecum's first year as a major-league pitcher. It began 365 days ago with a no-decision against the Phillies and ended Sunday with another no-decision against the Phillies.
Lincecum's numbers over the year look phenomenal. In 31 games (30 starts), he went 11-6 with a 3.43 ERA, 82 walks and 195 strikeouts in 1882/3 innings. He lost consecutive starts only once.
The Giants would take full seasons like that any time, but Lincecum found plenty of room for criticism.
"Over the year, you can look and say I had good numbers," he said, "but I went through some ups and downs the whole year where I battled and struggled at times, and I had to find ways to dig myself out of holes. Pitching is about staying even-keeled instead of having rollercoaster outings. I look back at things I could have done differently in certain situations in certain games. It's about learning from that and making adjustments."
When Lincecum came up, he threw fastballs and curveballs, but he found big-league hitters spitting on the curves in the dirt on which his old college opponents would bite. He has all but ditched the curveball in place of a changeup. His goal as he begins his second year is improving the curve and restoring it to his repertoire.
Lincecum might be a year wiser, but alas, he does not look a year older.
"I like him," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "To me, he looks like a little clubhouse guy or batboy with long hair. But he's got a fastball. I wouldn't say he's real pretty, either. They call Cole (Hamels) 'Hollywood.' I don't think they'll call Lincecum 'Hollywood.' "
- Henry Schulman
Notebook: Lincecum's first 365 days
Henry Schulman (hschulman@sfchronicle.com)
Monday, May 5, 2008
There was interesting symmetry in Tim Lincecum's first year as a major-league pitcher. It began 365 days ago with a no-decision against the Phillies and ended Sunday with another no-decision against the Phillies.
Lincecum's numbers over the year look phenomenal. In 31 games (30 starts), he went 11-6 with a 3.43 ERA, 82 walks and 195 strikeouts in 1882/3 innings. He lost consecutive starts only once.
The Giants would take full seasons like that any time, but Lincecum found plenty of room for criticism.
"Over the year, you can look and say I had good numbers," he said, "but I went through some ups and downs the whole year where I battled and struggled at times, and I had to find ways to dig myself out of holes. Pitching is about staying even-keeled instead of having rollercoaster outings. I look back at things I could have done differently in certain situations in certain games. It's about learning from that and making adjustments."
When Lincecum came up, he threw fastballs and curveballs, but he found big-league hitters spitting on the curves in the dirt on which his old college opponents would bite. He has all but ditched the curveball in place of a changeup. His goal as he begins his second year is improving the curve and restoring it to his repertoire.
Lincecum might be a year wiser, but alas, he does not look a year older.
"I like him," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "To me, he looks like a little clubhouse guy or batboy with long hair. But he's got a fastball. I wouldn't say he's real pretty, either. They call Cole (Hamels) 'Hollywood.' I don't think they'll call Lincecum 'Hollywood.' "
- Henry Schulman