Lincecum-itis (lin - suh - cum - i - tis): the urge of the Giants opposing team's batters to sit out that game, for whatever reason (pain, rest, etc.) when Lincecum is the opposing pitcher.
Krukow brought this up in his morning show on KNBR and the post-game wrap, that batters will soon miss games where Lincecum is starting. Yesterday's game was the first known case of Lincecum-itis, as Craig Biggio, who regularly plays in 153+ games (8 of last 11 seasons), missed yesterday's game after playing in 41 of 44 games. Skipper thought he needed a rest.
Krukow then noted how Biggio looked silly last week striking out three times - a sombrero, new term for me. Biggio, in a spiteful remark, after that performance, noted that Lincecum has "the best young stuff I've seen since I saw Kerry Wood." :^) He also noted, "he dropped that thing from the roof of Minute Maid and I was like, 'Where did that come from?' " Apparently they tried to prepare for him last time by watching his game against the Phillies, where he got blasted because he used mainly fastballs, and missed his great start with Colorado where he used all his pitches much more and to greater effect.
Fourth Start of the Lincecum Era
He pitched well again against the Astros, but was not as dominant as he was last time. He no-hit them for the first 3 innings, showing that they didn't seem to learn much on him, and lasted 8 innings, giving up 5 hits, 2 runs/ER, 0 HR, 1 walk, got 4 strikeouts. He did this in 104 pitches, 71 of them for strikes, which is a very good ratio, and I think the ratio went up as the game went on as it seemed like it was around 60% earlier in the game. However, it was slightly disappointing that he only got 4 strikeouts, though I guess that's good since he went deep into the game with 104 pitches.
It is another dominating game with a 4 PQS, only missing out because he only stuck out 4 this time, versus 10 last time. He now has 3 dominating games out of 4, so he now has 75% DOM/25% DIS. And had he lasted two more outs in his first game without giving up another hit, he would have earned a 2 PQS for that game and not be given an automatic 0 PQS for not pitching 5 innings.
For a pitcher known for his wildness in college, even in his breakout year when the Giants drafted him, he has now allowed only 1 walk a game for his past 3 starts, after walking 5 in his first start. This has allowed him to keep his WHIP around 1.0 (1.03), which he has done by also keeping his hits low, he has giving up only 19 hits in 26.1 IP. And if you throw out his first start, he has a 1.64 ERA, a WHIP of 0.77, and a 20:3 K/BB ratio in 22 IP.
Frandsen Graduates
Just wanted to leave a note of congratulations to Kevin Frandsen for earning his final two course units necessary to graduate from San Jose State University. He has a bachelor's degree in finance. He was shooting to graduate in 4 years but unfortunately two classes he needed his final year was cancelled in his last semester and so he had to finish off the classes later, via correspondence.
Giants Notes
Got some news from the Merc and sfgiants.com today:
- RP/Closer Tyler Walker has started throwing live batting practice and is expected to be assigned to a minor league affiliate in mid-June, about one year after getting Tommy John surgery last year.
- SS Emmanuel Burriss, who had a great start to his pro career for us on Salem-Keizer's Rookie A league team, was jumped to Advanced A San Jose this year but, unfortunately he was overmatched, batting only .165 in 139 ABs for San Jose, and so he was demoted to Augusta's A-league team in the Sally League (South Atlantic League). He is considered one of the fastest prospects in the minors, better than even Marcus Sanders. He is a hair behind Detroit's great prospect, Cameron Maybin.
- Winn's 20 game hitting streak ended yesterday, which tied Willie Mays for the fifth longest streak in SF Giants history and is the longest since Robby Thompson's 21 game streak in 1993 (hope the same don't happen to Winn, Robby's career went into the tanker after that season, after he signed that huge contract with us).
- Been meaning to report this, but Bengie Molina was interviewed a while back about his clutch hitting for us lately, particularly with 2 strikes, and he noted that when there is less than 2 strikes, he swings like he's 6' 5", but when he is at 2 strikes, he swings like he's 5' 6". Which is a nice way of following your little league coach's advice to choke up on the bat and protect the plate when there is two strikes. :^)
- Good news about Dave Roberts, as he continues to show rapid improvement in his recovery from surgery to remove bone spurs and bone chips from his left elbow. He hasn't started throwing yet, so there's still much to do and go, but at least he has started swinging a fungo bat, 10 days after surgery, which I guess is pretty good, based on the way it is written. Roberts noted, "I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, but it's pretty encouraging." As I noted in another post, I wonder who they will keep as the utility OF when Roberts come back, Lewis or Ortmeier. It would make more sense to keep Ortmeier, but Lewis has played very well since coming up so it would be a nice reward to keep him up. But if not them, who then? There is no real obvious other choice.
I say this more as a caution on my own enthusiasm than anything else, but if you want one bit of restraint for Lincecumania, note that his best two performances have come against the punchless and pathetic 'Stros. Soon real major league lineups will be coming his way. Go get 'em Tim.
ReplyDeleteBurriss is a hair slower than Maybin. Sadly he's note within a full beard and Lindsay Lohan's wig collection of Maybin as a hitter. BTW, Giants officials believe Michael McBryde is actually faster than Burriss, though it hasn't translated as quicly into SB for him. McBryde also features a cannon arm that as a pitcher is said to reach the high 90s, in case he doesn't figure it out with the bat (ala Coutlangus).
Of course caution is always the word with young prospects; thanks for the reminder. But may as well enjoy it! :^)
ReplyDeleteYeah, Burriss is a punch and judy hitter. Thanks for the word on McBryde.
Speaking of converted position players, I know the Giants have a history of doing this but I cannot remember them at the moment, perhaps someone reading this remembers and can list them?
Coutlangus is mentioned. I know that Joe Nathan is a converted SS. I recall there being at least another prominent SS convert in our system recently. Perhaps Niekro will be one in a year or two, particularly since every team passed on him. Thanks for the tip on McBryde.
Speaking of prospects, thought I would note that the Merc reported that Brian Wilson had an emergency appendectomy (is there any other? :^) and will be sidelined during his recovery. Apparently he has been battling arm stiffness as well, though in his last two appearances, he pitched hitless innings without walking anybody (his buggaboo) and striking out four.
If I'm not mistaken, one of the Giants' recent relievers made the switch as well. I think it was Accardo, but I can't be completely sure. Maybe it was Hennessey.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I did not see you mention is that Randy Winn's 20 game hitting streak was the longest by a switch hitter in the SF ERA.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure Hennessey was a pitcher when we drafted him. Accardo? Dunno.
ReplyDeleteThanks anon, just saw that today in the newspaper, yes, it is the longest by a switch hitter, beating out Willie McGee who had the previous high, a 19 game streak, also in 1993 like Robby Thompson's 21 game streak.
According to this article, he was the one I was thinking of.
ReplyDeleteAccardo really is a work in progress as a pitcher. He was a shortstop at Illinois State University who only infrequently dabbled in pitching.
Mhrhp! The sfgiants.com site noted that McGee's streak was in 1991, so who knows which year it was in, he did it sometime while he was a Giant.
ReplyDeleteFound out that he's one of the few San Francisco born to play for the team.
I'm cautiously optimistic about Tim Lincecum. As I think I mentioned in an earlier comment, I got to see him when he played in Tacoma at the start of the season, and he was absolutely lights out. I just hope that the Giants don't overuse him this season and ruin the rest of his promising career.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, did the Giants re-sign Tyler Walker? When?
Thanks for your comment, Kevin. I think cautious optimism is the way to go with young players, but when someone is doing as well as Timmy, may as well enough it for what it's worth, as you never know, see Cubs with Prior AND Wood.
ReplyDeleteIf you examine the Giants usage of Lincecum, they had been very watchful of his IP in the minors, and I'm sure they are constantly monitoring his usage and physical status all through the game, they know they have a diamond in the rough and will do all they can to preserve him for the future, as basically his future will reflect the management's future, particularly Sabean and Bochy.
Yes, the Giants re-signed Tyler Walker, don't remember off-hand when, but from what I do recall, he re-signed here the moment the D-Rays released him, I think it was pretty soon after he had his Tommy John surgery with them.
I'm hoping he and Foppert can boost our bullpen over the next couple of years.
Willie McGee grew up in Richmond. Don't know about SF born, if you say so it's probably true...
ReplyDeletehe remains very active in the community in the east bay: http://www.wmf51.org/
Thanks, didn't know Willie grew up in Richmond. I got his birth place from Baseball-Reference.com.
ReplyDelete