Post-Game Thread: In which we acknowledge that Tim Lincecum is a good pitcher

The absurdity of small sample sizes was on display today. Before the game, a few fans called into KNBR to express concern over Pablo Sandoval. He's hitting into too many double plays. He doesn't seem like the same Panda. Maybe he's too out of shape.

Four at-bats later: Pablo! We knew you had it in you the whole time. Now he's hitting .360 with power, so we're all cool.

This applies to everyone. Aubrey Huff looks like he's swinging a 12-pound bat...but it's only the first week of the season. Edgar Renteria looks like a Hall-of-Famer...but it's only the first week of the season. Tim Lincecum looks like a shaggy, unkempt dynamo from the VIP lounge in Valhalla..but it's, wait, no, that one's verifiable.

So if there are no answers to be found in the first week of the season, no rock-solid conclusions to draw from anything, the most you can hope for is that the Giants win games. At 5-1, and after beating a very good Braves team, the Giants have done quite well for themselves. It's been quite the week.

And I can't believe they played the game. I didn't give that game any chance of going nine innings.