Our “Average” Ace…..
Tim Lincecum Whip: 1.35
League Average: 1.35
Wow, that’s a frighteningly quick fall from the top we’ve seen from Timmy. And he’s just kinda felt average this year, hasn’t he? Another loss against another #3. Most of us knew going in that Enright didn’t do anything spectacular with the ball but we still couldn’t do anything with him. That goes back to the theory I floated out there a couple of weeks ago: the team loses their collective focus when Tim pitches. I compared it to the Zito starts during his first year with us. Disagree with the theory if you must but try to use a valid argument instead of “No, that’s not it”. When Zito was sucking and everyone was wondering what was wrong the team would take the field tight and everyone’s eyes were glued to the radar gun. Same thing is happening with Timmy. When the focus is on something other than your job (hitting) AND you aren’t playing loose, bad things are going to happen to your offensive production. Let’s look at the number of runs scored in Tim’s last 5 starts (all losses): 0,0,2, 2,2. Remember, those are the runs we have scored in those games WHEN HE’S BEEN IN THE GAME. In some cases, like the Cubs loss, we scored some runs after he was chased…..
And that’s my main point. Scoring 6 runs in 5 games for the guy is ludicrous. But when their are questions about your effectiveness, when no one seems to have the answers and there’s 8 guys standing out there hoping, waiting, PRAYING that the “old Timmy” will show back up, I am telling you, that’s a misplaced focus and THAT’S the reason our offense has sucked so bad the last 5 games that he’s pitched…..
His 7.82 ERA/ 1.82 WHIP/ and .311 batting average against him in August didn’t help much either…….
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your…fans
Okay. Regroup. San Diego actually lost 2 in a row. As rare a sighting this year as sasquatch. So no movement in the NL West. Only 1/2 a game out of the WC. I know I’m the ultimate polly but I’m just not anywhere near panic mode yet. Lincecum has proven too many times he’s got the goods. They’re a little hidden right now. But I watched the post game interview and he obviously shampooed. Maybe that’s all he needs.
Zito? Uhm…go get ’em…big guy
Yeah, we are going on 6 weeks since he’s had a dominant start (1 run or less). The only thing that has been “Timmy” is his strikeout rate (27 in 25.1 IP).
He has Colorado at home next week . . . Time to put the Clark Kent guise to bed and become SuperTim again.
Sf offense I think got the “first time around” blues…nothing from much of anyone and some really bad ABs from Torres, Posey and Sando with guys on. Bounce back effort tonight pretty important.
One terrible pitch did him in…could not get the ball to LaRoche where he wanted it, way too much of the plate. But, the BBs before were just as much to blame..
The HS football game had more going on; lot of D-1 talent from Grant of Sacto, who could return to state playoffs behind junior RB Shaq Thompson and a 340 lb lineman Moala and a new QB. I just couldn’t watch too much of Enright…reminded too much of 2008 and 09, guys taking hittable strikes or popping them up and then flailing at the unhittable ones.
Maybe James is right about RF at ATT not being as hard to play as I thought, but after watching Guillen plod after the ball Drew hit…he makes Huff look like Andrew McCutchen.
Blade, WTF happened to Brad Hawpe? I thought SF should have been after this guy prior to ST to add some pop to the OF, Rox re-signed him, and now let him go to Rays. Something physical, or did his batting skills just desert him?
Enright was getting K’s on 89mph fastballs around the eyes. Pathetic. Today’s starter is Hudson, a guy they have never faced and who has a 1.7 era since coming to Az in the Clueless jackson trade. Bracing for more of the same.
Willied, quite frankly, Hawpe’s batting skills diminished late in the season last year and his stats this year confirmed that the latter part of 2009 wasn’t an aberration. He also has lousy fielding skills, e.g., the lowest fielding percentage (.956) and range factor (1.50), and most errors (9), of all major league right fielders. He would have been eaten alive at the Phone Park had we picked him up . . . Which is ironic because in 2006, everyone thought this guy was a “plus” fielder, he led all MLB right fielders in assists (16) and all National League right fielders in fielding percentage (.987) that year.
In short, Hawpe is finished and should get his resume ready for the “real world.”
Willied, I just checked what I wrote above and to be fair to Hawpe, he did well early in the season last year, where he made the All Star game. In his own words (after being traded to the Rays), he said, “Well, I didn’t play as well as I should have, you know,” Hawpe said. “I should have played better whenever I was in there. I lost a role there, and once you lose your role, we had some young guys who were there, who were looking for their opportunity in the big leagues. And that’s how I got mine.”
Hawpe said he had ongoing discussions with the Rockies about his future with the club. Colorado would have been happy to keep him as a bench player, but it offered him the opportunity to go elsewhere if he wanted. And he chose the latter and signed with the Rays.
Consequently, going forward, Hawpe was not going to get much playing time in Colorado due to the good outfielders they already have (Gonzales, Smith, and Fowler).
The bad pitch to LaRoche was a hanging change up. If Drew (as some of the journalists have speculated) tipped off the grip, LaRoche could have been ready for the low speed and kept his weight back. But the belt-high hang is what did Tim in. A true mistake pitch. With two on, an ace doesn’t make a mistake like that. Puzzling, too, because up to that point and afterward he had good command of his change up and breaking stuff. Something’s fucked up, for sure. (But again, whatever it is at least it’s not as serious as the shoulder flare followed by the Tommy John snap Strasburg managed to squeeze into a couple of months in the big leagues. KWood and MPrior took a lot longer than that to burn out.)
As to the team’s focus, most of the guys on the field behind Tim in August weren’t playing with him last year or the year before. (Hell, half of last night’s starters weren’t playing behind him when he was dominant this April.) So they’re not praying for the old Tim to get back, really. They’ve never really experienced the old Tim, week in week out. Maybe they’re watching the gun when they’re in the field, but I think it’s a stretch to conclude the tension is affecting their hitting. Cain went through run-support droughts just as bad as Tim’s. In other words, I don’t think Tim’s teammates are doomers.
Willied, Guillen’s utter lack of mobility is a problem no matter which park he plays in. Because he isn’t a “hackmeister” (they are very rare, far rarer than “patient hitters”) but merely a hacker (they are commonplace), I didn’t like him much to begin with. When he was thrown at 3rd trying to stretch that double, it was immediately clear that he had no business playing in the OF at any position.
Like Blade, I also noticed Lincecum’s K ratio, and I think it is a very hopeful sign. With the drop in velocity, Timmy’s stuff is now somewhat akin to Dirty’s. He hasn’t lost command — it’s just that hitters can afford to take more pitches. The solution, as everyone notes, is to develop better control.
Agreed on JG. No idea why this guy is in the lineup so often or why he wound up here in the first place.
I keep thinking back to last year when Tim was outstanding and how we should have taken advantage of his Cy Young year. Moreover, how the Giants pitching as a whole was outstanding. Sheesh, a couple of bats or even one EXTRA bat might have meant playoffs and who knows after that? With our pitching staff, all bets would have been off in a 5 and 7 game playoff series. Instead, we get to file this under the “woulda, coulda, shoulda” folder . . . sigh.
Lincecum’s First Inning = Giant Head Falling Asleep by the Bottom of the 2nd!
Hey Twin, did you get my picks earlier this week. I saw there was a list last night posted by you without my picks.
But I emailed you 702 runs and 93 wins.
Sorry SanDog, looks like we are are back to making the same picks…
I saw enough of Guillen the Gimp last night. We obviously could use the extra arm in the bullpen after the last couple of games until rosters expand. No reason Jose should be anywhere near the outfield..
In terms of the team not scoring runs for Timmy, I think Timmy has been hit right away. That does take the fight out of you sometimes knowing you have to come from behind.
After a big comeback on Wednesday, the team just look like they mailed it after LaRoche’s bomb. BTW, did people comment on Drew tiipping off LaROche on the pitch?
Rookie mistake by Jesus…he needs to work on that. We know Timmy can get pretty oblivious with base-runners. Of course Chris Young swung on that ball 4. Timmy really should have been out of the inning…the breaks are not going his way, but this first inning scuffling, throwing a ton of pitches, walking guys, all leads to bad things.
Lincecum’s 1st inning sure did deflate the crowed and the team as well but the offense was enemic. Enright is the kind of pitcher this group struggles against and they did again last night. Nothing was hit with authority.
Keep the faith Flav.
reno, there’s something very poetic about “deflate the crowed”. Bravo, sir
Even if your theory is correct BF about the offense, it has no bearing on Lincecum’s miserable performance the last couple of months. Maybe they are tight behind him, but the fact that Tim appears to have lost whatever it was that made him great is what concerns Giants fans. He gets it back, which I’m highly skeptical of, the offense in your theory loosens up again.
I was journaling yesterday about the very thing you mention in your post, about his fall to averageness, except I used the word mediocre. He’s average by the numbers now because his performance early in the year was good, which balance his recent stats. The fact is, right now, he sucks. Not much argument to be made there.
The damn Padres are having an unbelievable year in the team ERA department. I can’t remember the last time a team sported an of ERA 3.29 this late in the season. Hell, that’s good for one pitcher. They are just playing out of their minds this year and that’s hard to compete with. I would be just sick if the Pads won the WS before the Giants in my lifetime. Meanwhile, the G’s ERA has been tumbling in the wrong direction for a month now.
He sucks because of your expectations of him. He didn’t pitch all that bad. Perhaps if the offense showed up last night Timmy wouldn’t have had the same result.
A 7.82 ERA in his last five starts sucks. No question.
And he put the offense in the hole right off the bat. That’s not Lincecum caliber pitching.
If Posey is out any length of time the Giants are sunk.Hopefully it’s just a mild strain and a few days off.If that’s the case,Sandoval should be the catcher no matter what.Can’t afford to go with Whitey at all down the stretch.Same with Gimp Guillen.Lt Dan with no legs would still be a better option then Guillen.Cody Ross and Torres,and Burrell are the best options everyday in the OF with Nate taking over for Burrell late in games.
Hard to feel good about your team when you dread the games being pitched by their top 2 starters.
No shit. That’s exactly how I felt last night, so it was no surprise when I saw the final score.
I’ve already said why Tim’s struggling, it’s obvious and everyone knows it. He’s lost velocity, his location sucks and, according to Krukow he’s afraid to throw his four seam fastball. He needs to figure out how to pitch with less velocity, it’s that simple. Maybe he can’t do it, but that’s what he needs to do……
He needs to do a Frank Tanana.
Or a BarZitsmah
Buck up, you doomers. Zito’s going today. He’s goin’ to get it done. Big time. Really…
If Whip is the barometer, our once vaunted, hyped and extolled rotation is looking downright well, avg with the Cainer (whip 1.14) the exception.
Whips are out on Zits 1.30, Sanchez 1.30 and Bum 1.40.
Is that 2 tumblers up, Snarrk?
Even for me, too early for the tumblers. I’m stone cold sober. You guys are just bad at doomering. Amateurish. No heart in it. So, I’ve got to add balance back to this board. Zito getting it done is a mortal lock…
I agree Giants 10-8..Zito gone by the 4th….
tongue in cheek there…Zito should get us into the 7th, let’s hope we have a lead. I have loaded by money fantasy team with Giants and was rolling this week against the Reds. So I start frickin Posey, Torres, Huff, Uribe and Panda last night and laid a frickin egg…
Tim has put them in the hole almost immediately in each of his 5 straight losses. Alll 5 are on him ( and Posey, if the two are combining to tip pitches).
Sure, you just had to assess blame to the newly crippled young white boy for Timmy’s suckitude. The 45th Annual Labor Day Telethon starts a week from tomorrow, why don’t you crank call Jerry’s Kids while you’re at it.
Yeah Blade, huge missed opportunity last year. Timmy could have absolutely dominated teams in the playoffs. Oh well. It sure looks like his bravado is gone and he’s much more dependent on getting his first few pitches over than he’s probably ever been. By the second pitch, I was thinking it would be a long night. I’m not going to fret about it too much yet. It sucks but I almost think he needs to get get knocked down low enough to get a new perspective on his abilities. Like a mini version of what Zito went through in realizing he just needed to go out and throw strikes.
Well if tims tipping pitches and other teams are taking advantage of that then the blame is equally shared by our coaching staff who fail to see what everyone else is apparently seeing….PAC classic day, one of my favorite days in racing…
And the cry goes out throughout the land: bring on Jackson Williams…
Taking a shot with Battle of Hastings in the Pac.
Afleet Express in the Travers.
Add a little value to to your exotics, Del.
Shit, Loo, I didn’t see ya. No joke intended. Too late, Super Saver/Trappe Shot Box.
Damn, Loo. Might be a DH.
Flav, today’s field for the Pacific Classic can be summed up in two words; Timmy’s August. In other words, god awful. The ML fav is a goddamn turf horse. Richard’s Kid? Please, lightning doesn’t strike twice. Awesome Gem? The old horse’s barn is two blocks down the street. The rest instill about as much excitement as a Rowand 6-hopper to short. Where’s the Bet Pal’s? How ’bout a Tinners Way or a Lava Man? Or my personal favorite, there won’t be any Candy Ride’s today.
But since I’ll be compelled to play…Hold Me Back (8-1 ML) proven over the plastic and Go-Go goes. Why not, it can’t fucking hurt?
Where’s Loo with a Travers insight? 5 min to post, and I’m still in a quandary. Super Saver? Where’s my dart board?
Vern and Vera bobblehead night at the yard. Buster feels better today, hopes to play tomorrow.
Torres CF, F.Sanchez 2B, Huff 1B, Burrell LF, Guillen RF, Sandoval 3B, Uribe SS, Whiteside C, Zito P
Jesus, Denny! You know I own the fuckin’ Travers!
I didn’t wanna jinx ya, Loo. The Travers completed my perfect day at Saratoga; an Aaron Rowand let’s play two special: 0 fer 8. Speaking of hideous….tonight’s prevailing wind at AT@T… LF–Out–Strong. Who’s our starting pitcher again?
Hey, I just had a winner. Where’s The Remote in the 6th at Del Mar. 5/2 ML, goes off at even money.
I love racing.
Nice going Loo.
I’ve been trying to give the Splashers the link to watch the Niner game live and some fuckwad keeps getting the post deleted. Amazing.
3 to 1 it’s barryforever. Just for the fuck of it. God knows he’s had enough of yours deleted (just for saying “bootlicker”?)
Same shit happened to me over at the Insider. Fuck the Gate.
Hate the Gate
D-Train is in full derailment form. 2 1/3 2hits 3 runs 1 HR 2 HB 3 BB 2 K’s 11.57 ERA 2.14 WHIP. Home run he served up to Dallas McPherson last night still hasn’t landed.No need to see him in September,he does enough damage in AAA.
Tim’s struggles are tough for morale for team and fans, because we would need him to do well in the playoffs if we got there. It’s hard to see the point in getting to the playoffs without the “old” Timmy. Don’t get me wrong- I’m all for getting to the playoffs, obviously; but I’d like to think we had a real shot at running the table if we got to the playoffs. That isn’t possible without Timmy pitching well.
The overused Mora quote would fit right about here….
Not really.
Yeah, really.
Really?
Twin, did you get my email entry with my picks this week?
If Lincecum keeps this up, we would be looking at Matt Cain as the #1 guy if we are on the road as the wild card..
Or Cody
I have them now, GH.
Right now I wouldn’t even start Lincecum in any play offs, I wouldn’t even have him on the roster.
Word is they’re gonna let Alex air it out tonight in Oakland. Translation: Jimmy Raye only calls for runs up the middle 80% of the time tonight. How ’bout the Denny Green quote for the Padres right now? “If you want to crown them, then crown their ass!”
Here’s what I’ve got. Let me know if you’e MIA:
SportDude: 89 719
Kristen: 93 687
Kevin: 91 743
Pawlie: 90 737
Michael: 90 715
Zumie 90 715
IH1978 90 667
Macdog 92 705
Ted 92 714
3Bagger 92 708
Giant Head 93 702
Swick 92 710
SanDog 93 702
Craig 91 711
Dennis 93 722
dirt 86 730
Max 90 720
Bozo 93 728
WSW 93 727
Chuckles 91 697
Ed 90 696
Blade was in twice yesterday. MIA today. Unless he’s under a different name.
I’m teling you, the Russian Roulette matches are going to be awesome if it’s 90 715 or 93 702
Rather lively game discussion going on at the ESPN Dodger blog right now.
Just saying…
Thanks Twin for your generosity….I think it would be an interesting roster decision. I think you would have to put him on to not destry his confidence completely. But I would hesitate to start him unless it was game 3 and we were up 2-0 in the series…
Blade 83 671
SportDude: 89 719
Kristen: 93 687
Kevin: 91 743
Pawlie: 90 737
Michael: 90 715
Zumie 90 715
IH1978 90 667
Macdog 92 705
Ted 92 714
3Bagger 92 708
Giant Head 93 702
Swick 92 710
SanDog 93 702
Craig 91 711
Dennis 93 722
dirt 86 730
Max 90 720
Bozo 93 728
WSW 93 727
Chuckles 91 697
Ed 90 696
Now I see why you left him out
LTMSQ Ted 🙂
obviously Blade is focusing too much on our fantasy league…83?????
AZ announcers repeating the unbearably idiotic concept that the Giants should be focused on winning the division, not the wildcard. Like they play differently depending on which one they’ve set their sights on.
Surprised Guillen the Gimp is out there…
First time I ever saw an OF run a buttonhook…
Twilight should help Zito….ugh, maybe not…
What do faggy vampire movies have to do with Zito’s pitching?
Ledge time…
Yep. Reynolds owns Zits.
Screwed big time by the fuckin’ ump………
motherfucking coccksuckers!
When does football start?
Wow. We are in 9-1-1 mode with zito starts again….
You know? Zito could use a haircut as well
SOS different night!!!! How do i get the 49er game on?
a team loaded with left-handers destroying a lefty pitcher…embarrassing
Oh my god . . .
holy shit
Should be 1-0. Zito should bean the umpire.
I once saw Jerry Grote intentionally miss a fastball so it would nail the HP ump.
Ladies & Gentlemen your 1962 NY Mets….
What did I say about Guillen???? Twin, you have to fault Bochy for this…
Say it me with me gentlemen. Wait till next year.
Fuck this shit.
FUCK GIMP GUILLEN GET RID OF THIS PIECE OF SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At least they missed the PAT…
What’s on QVC?
same thing with the ump last night…Young should have been rung up swinging on a ball 4 and Lincecum would have been out of there…
Wow.
That about covers it
i’m on shasta tv…a couple minutes behind…i’m laughing, instead of crying.
Zito is pathetic. Multiple two-strike counts. But this will earn him the distinction of losing 3 games for the team in a 6 game span. Is that an SF record for starters?
Footnotes to the embarrassment: The umpire is a punk. You can’t allow an HBP when the foot never moves.
Guillen … hoo boy. They never should have picked him up, they never should START him certainly, especially with Zito. His attraction to Sabean and popularity with Bochy remains a huge mystery.
You can’t allow an HBP when the foot never moves.
—————————-
Really?
Padres Lost!
Torres Smokes!
Listening to the Mills Brothers while watching!
Watching the Milton Sisters while listening!
The links to the 49er game won’t work. I’m resined to the radio broadcast. Fucking Raiders marched 80+ for an opening drive TD. Now Nedney just missed a goddamn chippy. Oh, not to mention we gave up a TD of our own in the T1. Mighty white of the dumb Polack Janikowski to miss the PAT Hey, we just tallied one in the bottom half. Must be those fucking Canadian football rules, eh?
http://atdhe.net/22489/watch-san-francisco-49ers-vs-oakland-raiders
Thanks, WSW, but I tried that one already. It’s blacked out in my area.