The Legend

Dr. X posts this from Euless Ballpark in Fresno, California:

[When originally written I overlooked The Legend's poor first start vs. Philadelphia. It changes nothing.]

"As noted previously in this space, the San Francisco Giants are an old team. Older than dirt. Verging on decrepit. Set in their ways.

"Apparently, management likes it that way. No one ever accused them of rushing a young man to the majors. But it is possible to catch their eye. Washington's own Tim Lincecum started the season with the Fresno Grizzlies. In five starts he got four wins, against no losses. He had 46 strikeouts against 11 walks. And he gave up one, count them, one earned run.

"Even the San Francisco Giants began to take notice. A couple of weeks ago they finally brought him up to the big show.

"Lincecum is your basic phenom flameout candidate. If you look at major league power pitchers who've had long careers you see, basically, big guys, about the size of the Laird: Seaver (6-1, 206), Ryan (6-2, 195), Clemens (6-4, 220).

"Lincecum goes 5-11, 160.

"And he throws serious heat, with every fiber of his parakeet body. His fastball hits triple digits, and has since his U. of W days (amusing scouting film here, like watching it would help). Late in the game he's smoking 97 mph fastballs past major league hitters. He's got a big knee-buckling curve ball, too, and a change-up that fakes out radio announcers. Last night on the radio Jon "Voice of the Giants" Miller was saying 'fastb...NO! Change-up!' The batter swung three or four times before the ball crossed the plate.

"So, basically, he's a white midget Dwight Gooden, with a changeup. But this is the major leagues, there's an adjustment period, and we won't know how good he is until...well, for example: In his first major league start in Colorado on May 11th, he went just seven innings, with only six strikeouts against one walk (it takes pitchers a while to get their control when they come up to the majors). And, he gave up two earned runs. Of course, the Rockies play in a bandbox better suited to home run derbies than the serious sport of baseball, so perhaps this weak performance was not indicative of his true capabilities.

"A better test came against Houston on the 17th. Lincecum again was able to pitch only seven innings. He struck out ten, but again walked a batter. He redeemed himself somewhat, however by giving up no earned runs. Still, the game was decided in the ninth, so Lincecum did not get the win.

"The schedule being what it is, the Giants faced Houston again on the 22nd. Lincecum this time managed to pitch eight innings, but only was able to strike out four batsmen, and once again, walked a batter (it takes time for rookies to learn to avoid this basic mistake). And, as in his first start, he gave up two earned runs. According to the radar gun, the speed of his pitches suffered as the game wore on, and his fastball was down to 97 mph by the 8th inning. Despite the sub-par performance, the baseball gods smiled on him, and he was awarded his second win (Roy Oswalt, a decent major-league pitcher who makes $13 million a year, took the loss).

"Did I mention that he is ill-tempered? Consider this bit of poor sportsmanship, as reported by the San Jose Mercury News: 'He...showed what happens when he gets a little testy. When he didn't get a strike call on a breaking ball to Everett in the seventh, Lincecum's baby face turned into a scowl and he came back with a 98 mph fastball that resulted in a weak groundball.'

"Lincecum's up next on the 29th, vs. the Mets. Might turn on the radio for that one. Unless the Mets can get Sidd Finch out of retirement, I think they're in for a long night."