I've refrained from posting about baseball this season, because I know that few of my regular readers care for the game, but today, on the last day of this season, I feel compelled to write about the most exciting young pitcher in decades -- Tim Lincecum. He has lots of nicknames -- "The Freak," "The Kid," "The Franchise." What he is in reality is a little guy in a game of giants.
Many pitchers are built like quarterbacks, tall and strong and intimidating. Tim Lincecum is a little guy, with a baby face and a crooked smile. But this pitcher has the kind of whip in his arm that you can't teach (as a former little league pitching coach, trust me on this one).
However today's game turns out, which is a Giants vs. Dodgers classic, Lincecum will lead the major leagues in strikeouts. He already has eclipsed every other pitcher, even Juan Marichal in that category since the Giants moved to San Francisco 50 years ago, in 1958.
Anyway, so far, after two innings, Timmy has struck out six Dodgers in the first two innings -- BTW that is exactly how many outs are had in two innings of baseball. Timmy now has 258 "K"'s -- and we won't know for a while how many he can achieve today.
What a fantastic performance! Even the Dodgers are all on the top step of their dugout watching this phenomenal young talent, who has a very low ERA and a record of 17-5 on a team that has only won 71 and lost 90.
From here, I will issue updates: 7th strikeout in the top of the 3rd. But he also is walking batters, giving up some hits, and racking up a high pitch count. So, Timmy's chances for a Cy Young Award probably now are dissipating before our eyes.
Yep. A big double, and the Giants trail 1-0. Two runners in scoring position with one out. Timmy needs to get guys out with something other than strikeout stuff. OK, K#8. Wow, there is #9! The Giants are behind 1-0, but Timmy has struck out 9 in 3 innings! Could this be an all-time performance in the making?
BTW, his Dad is in the stands, apparently for the first time ever since Timmy became a big-leaguer. He now has 11 strikeouts in 5 innings but the Giants are trailing 1-0. Will they lose this for him? I hope not...But he has already thrown 78 pitches in 5 innings, which means he may only have about two innings left.
A big fan favorite, Omar Vizquel, left the game just now, which is probably his exit from baseball, at least here in San Francisco, after a Hall of Fame career, but only a .222 season, and a hit in his last at bat. Nobody has ever played more games at shortstop than Omar. But now that is over.
That's what baseball is all about, for those of you who have not tasted its sweetness. Stars come and stars go. Life can be pretty cool when you are young. Timmy just struck out #12 after six innings.
But the only way Timmy can win the Cy Young Award is if the Giants come back in this game. But fate seems squarely against them, and him. No matter what they do, offensively, they cannot score. How much longer can this kid pitch?
Wow. Bottom of the 7th now, and he has 13 K's! He has thrown 103 pitches. The Dodgers still lead, 1-0. Lincecum is out of the game and the Giants tie the game, 1-1! Timmy finishes the season with 265 K's and a 2.62 ERA. Whether he also ends up at 18-5 hangs in the balance. It is the last of the 7th, and the score is 1-1. Only if the Giants win it right now will he get that coveted 18th win...
Wow, the Giants just took the lead, 2-1!
Two innings left, and if SF prevails, the kid should win the trophy. And the vets are coming through. Two on, no one out in the bottom of the 8th. Let's do this for the kid! Randy Winn, a .300 hitter, just drove in the run. SF 3-1!
beat LA...Beat LA...BEAT LA!!!
Now it is the 9th inning. Can this disappointing team win its final game, and deliver the Cy Young Award to Timmy?
Stay tuned...
Oh oh. The closer, Brian Wilson has allowed the first two batters to get on base. Bang! Line drive. One out. Strikeout! Two outs.
Strike one. Ball one. I feel that the Giants will win this game. Ball two. Ball three. Ugh. Strike two.
Ground out! Timmy finishes 18-5! Congratulations, Tim Lincecum!
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