Open Lincecum First Thoughts

It seemed like he was probably overthrowing the first few innings due to nerves (he was averaging 97-98), and then his velocity dropped in the later innings due to that.

I saw some good things, there were some bad things. I wish they'd called for the curve a few more times. Overall, I think he'll be fine. The Phillies are also a very tough, very patient lineup and the umpires didn't exactly give him any breaks.

No one thought he was going to dominate the majors like he did AAA and this wouldn't be the first time a young pitcher got knocked around a little in his first start.

Also, Shane Victorino is one of my new least-favorite players. The umpires had better admit they messed up that call.

Anyone else think the strike zone was pretty small for the first 5 innings or so? I wonder if that had any impact on Lincecum not wanting to throw as much breaking stuff?

I liked what I saw.  No need to rush him to the pen.  Can't wait for the Zito, Cain, Lincecum, Lowry, Sanchez (I really like what we saw from him tonight) rotation.

Trade Morris back to the Cards and put Ortiz in the pen.  

In Koufax's (Koufax'?) first start he lasted 4 2/3 and gave up 8 walks.

Like I said in the GameDay thread I saw positives and negatives. Lots to build on and lots to improve. He'll be fine, I think.

Lincecum is good, but he's no Roger Clemens! Did you know he signed with the Yankees?

Although he wasn't perfect tonight and I thought he got squeezed from where I was sitting I take some good things away from tonight.

1. He is a Major League starter without a doubt.  I'm giddy about his next start.  He struck out the side in the first inning against a very good lineup.
2. Being in the stadium while somebody is throwing 100 MPH is exciting no matter what the score.
3. I thought they should have made him pitch to Howard in the 5th inning even with first base open.  I'm a firm believer in throwing rookies into the fire.  

I thought he had a changeup.  Was I wrong?  It was all fastballs tonight.  When he gets a chance to calm down and throw the curve ball for a strike he will be back to being untouchable.  Here's to the future!!!!

No video for Lincecum!  Only throws I saw him make were to Howard and Victorino.

I just got back from the game. My thoughts:

• Tim was throwing a ton of heat in the first couple of innings (97-100 range), but then dropped to 95/96 and finally low about 93 in his last inning or so.
• From where I was sitting I couldn't tell if he was getting squeezed.
• he was up in the zone all night. I didn't see him throw too many fastballs low in the zone.
• it didn't seem like he threw that many curveballs. I know he has a really good one, and that he can throw it for strikes. Because of nerves, he was probably overthrowing and couldn't get that bite on it.
• he seemed nervous to me. Also, I don't recall what inning it was, but while he was on deck, a weak foul found its way right to him. He didn't know what to do with it and threw it back to the umpire who immediately tossed it to the ball boy who was standing a few feet away. Maybe that's just a starry-eyed thing or it doesn't work that way in the minors, but it made me believe he was nervous or felt out of place a little bit.

The bottom line is that I'm not worried about him. He was understandably pumped up for his first major league start, which was on ESPN Sunday Night, etc and there is simply a ton of pressure on him to succeed. Also, with no Bonds in the lineup, he knew he'd have to hold the powerful Phils in check. With all that was riding on his debut, being the "Franchise" and all of the unrealistice expectations, nothing short of a dominating performance would have constituted success, which is, of course, unfair.

These extra pressures won't be there in the future, I just hope Tim understands that and goes out and pitches his game. I sure wouldn't want to lose his confidence from this one outing, which had some positives for him. He'll be fine.

--I'm not sure I've ever seen a Giants pitcher throw so hard. Still, I hope he paces himself a little better next time.

--My wife thinks he's cute but wonders about his teeth.

--He got a lot of swings-and-misses on the fastball.

--Better command and a few more breaking balls might just do the trick in his next start. Too bad it's in Coors Field. I hate that place.

I'm just going out on a limb here, but ESPN's "K" zone brought to you by some shit you didn't need is one of the worst, most misleading inventions for sports entertainment in a long while.  It called a pitch at Pedro's ankles an obvious strike, and surprise surprise the umpire called it as such.

if you would've read this website you would've known that the Giants and L-Cum were heavy underdogs to win this game.
vr, Xei

Someone on the radio tonight brought up that against the Phils, Lincecum was pitching out of the stretch more in five innings than he probably did in all his AAA starts combined. That had to have affected his line. That and pitching against major league hitters.

Tim the Enchanter will be fine in the long run, but tonight was a good splash of cold water for all of us. The hype and expectations were out of control, which was fun, but this was somewhere around the result that should have been expected. E's note of caution proved prescient. Let's hope Lince-K doesn't get rocked for 10 runs on Friday night in Denver. But I'm still looking forward to watching him pitch.

one more thing, and not to compare too much, but in Phillip Hughes' much heralded debut a couple weeks ago, he went 4.1 gave up 7 hits, 4 ers and k'd 5. He only walked one, but he bounced back his next start to throw 6.1 no-hit innings (before unfortunately getting injured, which won't happen to Tim).

It's late, so probably no one will read this, but, Barry Bonds went 0-5 in his first start.  This game is no more an indicator for a career than Opening Day is for a season.

But ROGER CLEMENS SIGNED WITH THE YANKEES!
What else matters?
 

A few thoughts on Lincecum:

1. Far be it for me to grant Joe Morgan any kind of sense, much less a good point, but what if Lince throws Victorino a high fastball on 0-2?  Chances are he gets the K, and the inning, and possibly the game, turn out differently.
2. I don't know what the plan was going in, but it seems he may have lost confidence in his curveball after Victorino.  He threw a nasty one to Howard, and then one outside for a ball to Burrell, and that was it for the 1st.  I'm too lazy to go back and look at the rest of the game, but my recollection is that he just tried to throw gas on pretty much 90% of the rest of his pitches, whether out of design or frustration I don't know.
3. Whither the changeup?  He supposedly has a plus change, too, right?  And I don't recall seeing any (at least none that stood out in my mind).
4. The Phillies' patience obviously hurt Lincecum.  The Rockies are pretty patient, too, though without the pop in the lineup that the Phillies have.  I hope Lincecum isn't afraid to pitch to contact a bit more, like he seemed to do in the 2nd inning.

Anyone else notice that Tim's motion looks more normal from the cwenterfield camera than in all those college shots from the side we've been seeing?

I'll be interested to watch a Kruk analysis of his delivery on the next broadcast.

I was also surprised to see so many fastballs.  I think he got a little scared to use it after hanging one and having it get crushed.  Not that he was shaking Molina off though... maybe Molina was afraid to ask for it again.  

He definitely showed flashes of brilliance, and if he can keep the ball more down in the zone, break off a few more curves, and not walk too many guys, he should be very very very good.  I too am excited for his next start.