And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

by bacci40 on Jun 6, 2006 2:47 PM PDT

Timothy Lincecum....5'11'' 170lbs rt handed pitcher who led the pac 10 in k's...unorthodox delivery....said to be seen as a short reliver, possible closer material.

Drabek fell all the way to 18th.

Sorry, I think we made a mistake.

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

Tweet Comment 25 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

If you were willing to take the gamble of Drabek, why would Lincecum dissapoint you? He was rated by BA as having the best fastball, best breaking ball and closest to the majors.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/features/261350.html

by mxmob33 on Jun 6, 2006 3:04 PM PDT reply actions

Not the highest ceiling though

There's nothing sexy about drafting a relief pitcher. Then again, Lincecum already has three pitches working, so he may only be a changeup away from starting. We really could have done worse.

by SerpentX on Jun 6, 2006 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Why do you think it's a mistake?

He struck out 14/9 this year. I can see being concerned about the walks or the lack of a third pitch, but who cares whether he's short and has an unorthodox delivery that doesn't look unorthodox on film?

Vizcaino? 1st base? WTF?

by The Balls of Summer on Jun 6, 2006 3:24 PM PDT reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

It is not as if the Giants drafted a pitcher who was a closer in the college. Timothy Lincecum was maybe the most dominant starter in the college ranks. As The Balls of Summer said above, be concerned about his walk rate, or his slight stature, but his guy was a dominant starter, and very well could be one in the major leagues.

No draft pick is a sure thing, but I love the pick.

by BleacherEd on Jun 6, 2006 3:46 PM PDT reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

Man, I wish I could go pack and edit my typos / grammer. Or is that grammar?

by BleacherEd on Jun 6, 2006 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

From ESPN.com
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft2006/insider/columns/story?columnist=law_keith&id=2472995
SORRY, insiders only.

<"First guy to the majors

Most likely Washington pitcher Tim Lincecum, selected by the Giants with the 10th pick. The Giants dislike the amateur draft for a variety of reasons, but they were forced to take a player in the first round this year due to their position in the round's top half. Lincecum will almost certainly end up a reliever in the pros. And given the Giants' motivation to win now, I expect Lincecum to go right to AA, work out of the pen and show up in the majors later this year.">

I'm confused as to why the Giants are still looking to realign the bullpen. That has already been the focus for the last month, and has been dealt with successfully, except for "Rich Man" Benitez. Do you really think this kid will get brought up so soon?

by Chods on Jun 6, 2006 4:11 PM PDT reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

Good god. Are there players that are drafted mid-season who get called up before the playoffs that same year?

I can think of one pain in the ass (F-Rod) who somehow slipped through the cracks but I don't know his history in the minors.

by Brother Bummer on Jun 6, 2006 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions

99, 00, and 01

Before coming up with the Angels in 02.

Dancing Guy #4 turns me on.

by WalrusMan on Jun 6, 2006 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

See my comment in Grant's post

this guy should be a starter. I saw him pitch in Seattle this year and I can say this: he is nasty. Give him next season to develop and bring him up in september like we did with Cain last year. Or, give him a shot next spring training and see how he does. I hope they don't convert him to relief because that's a waste of his talent.

2002? I'm over it.

by wjackalope on Jun 6, 2006 4:32 PM PDT reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

I wanted Drabek too but Lincecum was rated the 2nd best pitcher in the draft by some, in a draft considered relatively devoid of position prospects and still he fell to 10th.

I think the Giants had to go with him, best talent available, plus he's closer to being ready to pitch in the majors whereas Drabek could take 2-6 years to develop and reach the majors full-time. All the people worried about his arm, but Lincecum claims that he felt no pains, he doesn't even ice his arm after games, so perhaps I'm overly simplistic but if he says he's OK with all the usage, shouldn't it mean he IS OK with all the usage?

Lowry and Cain, then wish for more of the same

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Jun 6, 2006 5:30 PM PDT reply actions

Weren't....

Herges ok? Brower ok? Munter ok?

Dancing Guy #4 turns me on.

by WalrusMan on Jun 6, 2006 6:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Weren't....

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but Herges, nice guy, but ever since the steroid testing came into play, he hasn't really been the same (I've heard whispers of this).

Brower admitted later that he wasn't OK (which Lincecum might ultimately say as well but he's been doing it for years three years now with no problem PLUS he long tosses in between, kind of like how the Braves does it per their former pitching guru's rules, whereas Brower did that one year and was done).

And Munter, I don't see where he was overworked, but maybe my memory was wrong.

Lowry and Cain, then wish for more of the same

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Jun 6, 2006 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Weren't....

Here's what the BA guy said about Lincecum in his online chat. First a question from our own Steve:

Q: steve S from Davis, CA asks:
John, how would you rate Lincecum (10th overall) versus the Giants other top prospects--Marcus Sanders, Eddy Martinez-Esteve, Travis Ishikawa and Jonathan Sanchez? I've read repeatedly that this is a weak draft, but Lincecum might still be the Giants top prospect the moment he signs (with Matt Cain graduated to the majors). And how about Emmanuel Burriss (33rd overall)? Am I incorrect to figure he slots in somewhere as the Giants 9th to 15th best prospect once he signs?
A: John Manuel: I think I agree with you, Steve, that the second Lincecum signs, he's the Giants' top prospect. The guy I'd consider right with him is Sanchez; as you know, I'm a huge fan of his. Burris is going to have to prove to scouts he (a) can play SS in pro ball (his arm is fringy) and (b) that he can hit with some power with wood bats.

Another question (Could it be a Nick from here?) with a section I bolded for our discussion here:

Q: Nick from London asks:
Do you see Lincecum starting or relieving for the Giants? I noticed comments that he was overused in college - will this impact the Giants decision? Are the Oswalt comparisions fair?
A: John Manuel: I'd guess the Giants give him a chance to start, and yes, the Oswalt comps are fair. As for "overused" in college . . . I just think it's easy to say that. He threw 125 innings this year, and yes, he would throw Fridays and on a few occasions come back in relief on Tuesdays. That said . . . they guy hasn't been hurt. His stuff has stayed firm, and he maintains his stuff up to the 140 pitch mark. Then he goes out the next day and long tosses from pole to pole. He's different. Who knows his arm better, me or you, or his college coach and him? I think they do. If he was hurt or incapable of throwing as much as he did, he would have stopped doing it. I just think we need to not throw a blanket over everybody when it comes to pitcher workloads.

Lowry and Cain, then wish for more of the same

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Jun 6, 2006 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Weren't....

Nick from London would have to be Nick Gee. He was a regular on the newsgroup, but I haven't seen him around here.

Encouraging words about Sanchez; that's what caught my eye.

by Grant Brisbee on Jun 6, 2006 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions

From the SF Chronicle

Giant's head of scouting, Dick Tidrow:

Once signed, Lincecum would report to Salem-Keizer, the Giants' rookie-league team, but Tidrow said the pitcher would ease into pro ball with limited pitch counts and extra rest between starts. Despite speculation that Lincecum could be available to the Giants by season's end, perhaps, as a reliever -- "I'd love to," he said -- Tidrow seemed more cautious, saying, "He's thrown a lot of pitches and struck a lot of people out. We're going to slow that down a little bit."

by GiantJim on Jun 7, 2006 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: From the SF Chronicle: I see you SFGiants.com

And as Lincecum admitted in his interview with the Giants article writer on sfgiants.com, he felt a bit awkward because the Giants didn't even talk with him beforehand.

So Tidrow is speaking only from what he's read and heard about the kid, he hasn't actually spoken to him and found out what his methods are that allows him to throw like a "freak of nature." Maybe once he talk with the kid, he'll change his mind (or maybe not, but my point is that they haven't even spoken with each other yet when Tidrow gave his opinion).

As long as he's physically fine and blasting through hitters like nothing, a la what Foppert did that mystical, seemingly imaginary year, he is going up the system fast and if he proves to be ready, they will bring him up, they have not been afraid of bringing up pitchers quickly if they appear to be handling things well where they are.

Lowry and Cain, then wish for more of the same

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Jun 8, 2006 1:56 AM PDT up reply actions

here he is!

check out the "unorthodox delivery"

2002? I'm over it.

by wjackalope on Jun 6, 2006 6:13 PM PDT reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

I think the unorthodox part comes later. He arm is roughly perpendicular to the ground when he releases.

DFA Everybody

by JakeS on Jun 6, 2006 6:39 PM PDT reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

He looks like the top of an enormous baseball cap!

by dangjackson on Jun 6, 2006 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

At least no one will accuse him of a swollen mid-career cranium scandal.

by Skaldheim on Jun 6, 2006 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

no, no, see, he's the guy in the background.

there was a tall guy in front of me

2002? I'm over it.

by wjackalope on Jun 6, 2006 10:38 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

rofl.....

by bacci40 on Jun 7, 2006 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

Any idea how he does with holding runners on base with his delivery? I wonder what the stealing percentage is against him. It appears that he takes a while to get rid of the ball.

by APGiantsFan on Jun 7, 2006 8:02 AM PDT reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

On the video that's floating around, I didn't see him pitch any from the stretch, so I don't know about him holding on runners. He doesn't look that "unorthodox," though, and, apart from the body turn, looked a little like Hudson, except that he threw harder.

I liked what I saw, but, of course, TNSTAAPP. And, I'm no professional.

"Mow bwiefings?" "More briefings."

by stobgopper on Jun 7, 2006 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: And with the 10th pick the sf giants choose

For those who are worried that the Giants might make Lincecum a reliever, I don't think they are going to shell out millions of dollars for a potential reliever with the #10 pick. When you pick that high you want a starter, whether position or pitching, and they will be relatively patient with him in giving him chances to make it as a starter before converting him strictly to relieving.

A pitcher who can regularly pitch 100-120 pitches each time and not have any arm problems is pretty valuable, just strictly from an innings eatting perspective. And 14 K/9 seems huge, college or not, I wonder what the MLE for that works out to be, anyone know of any site that does that type of analysis work?

Lowry and Cain, then wish for more of the same

by obsessivegiantscompulsive on Jun 8, 2006 3:18 PM PDT reply actions