And if you were at AT&T Park watching last night’s game against the Washington Nationals and booing—booing —Tim Lincecum, you should be ashamed of yourself.
You’re also amongst the dumbest life forms on the face of this planet.
Life forms, not just humans or even animals.
I’d wager on an amoeba or protozoa if you were matched against one in a battle of wits. In fact, you’re too stupid to breed or drive an automobile. Sadly, you’re probably allowed to do both.
The point is, you’re a moron. Plain and simple.
Let’s review.
For the first time in Lincecum’s brief career, the ace has been unable to get his Freak on in the month of May. Check that, he’s been unable to find his rhythm for PART of the month. Consider:
—May 4 : 7 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 13 K, 1 HR, 3 ER, 110 pitches, ND at Florida Marlins
—May 9 : 6 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 8 K, 0 HR, 2 ER, 116 pitches, ND at New York Mets
—May 15 : 8 IP, 4 H, 5 BB, 5 K, 0 HR, 1 ER, 120 pitches, W against Houston Astros
—May 20 : 5 IP, 5 H, 5 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 5 ER (all in one inning), 100 pitches, ND at Arizona Diamondbacks
—May 26 : 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 BB, 5 K, 0 HR, 6 ER, 96 pitches, L against Washington Nationals
In the absolute world of the Franchise, that’s four subpar outings in five starts.
The trouble began in the Big Apple, where Timmy was oddly hittable in spots and labored through six frames. It got worse in Houston, where Lincecum’s control went AWOL, and he again hiccuped through eight innings. Even though the line ends up looking pretty, it was because of a hapless Astro offense, and they worked one of Major League Baseball’s best hurlers for 120 bullets.
Normally, that doesn’t happen
The wheels officially came off in his last two turns as you can see. Even so, remember that’s measuring the man against his growing legend.
Measured by the relative standards of the mortal world, you’d have to be happy with three of the starts—in the muggy heat of Florida, in the adverse conditions of New York, and the win over the ‘Stros.
It would also be fair to point out that the Snakes play in a very live yard, and the knock that chased Lincecum from his dates with the Nats (in addition to plating two runs with two outs) was a check-swing blooper over first.
In other words, Tim Lincecum is having an awful month, and he’s still not getting battered around the yard. Once his control comes back, he’ll be virtually unhittable again.
Like he was in April.
The only reason there is even the slightest room for criticism is because the dude has been so spectacular to start his career.
Obviously, there are the pair of National League Cy Young Awards in his first two full seasons. But there is also the fact that Lincecum has quickly and easily become the beloved face of the franchise.
The Freak is cherished around the Bay Area as much for his approach to the game as his performances in one. Additionally, he’s replaced Barry Bonds as the image conjured in the national consciousness when minds bend toward the San Francisco Giants.
One other thing, his overall statistical brilliance speaks for itself (162-game averages): 34 GS, 227 IP, 15-6, 2.91 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 258 K, 83 BB, 3.12 K/BB, 10.2 K/9, .216 BAA, .605 OPSA.
And some of my fellow Orange and Black faithful had the audacity to boo him?!?!
Yeah, the diminutive Giant can’t or doesn’t hold runners on.
At all.
Nobody has been caught stealing with Lincecum on the bump thus far in 2010 and word has gotten out. Only two bags were swiped off him in April, but that’s probably because he was so dominant as far as keeping runners off the bases.
The two-time defending Cy Young has allowed more baserunners of late and the result has been a constant parade from first to second (sometimes to third)—two steals by the Metropolitans, three by the Astros, one by the D-Backs, and a quartet on Wednesday.
Needless to say, that’s a glaring weakness.
Unless things change, Lincecum is essentially surrendering a double every time a runner with good speed gets aboard.
Of course, it’s also a minor one given his arsenal of untouchable offerings, age, and experience.
When Tim Lincecum is going well, you could put a duck on third base to start every inning and he wouldn’t cross home plate. The flamethrower is that good.
More importantly, if you think he’s ever been forced to worry about runners at any point in his journey from high school to college to the Minors to the Bigs, you’re crazy.
This is a stud who Major Leaguers struggle to hit—I’m guessing holding runners was never much of a consideration until he graduated to the show. It’s pretty tough to believe it’s been much of a concern until recently given his TWO CY YOUNGS.
Furthermore, even if the franchise never solves the riddle of shutting down the running game, harping on the deficiency is a little like booing Picasso for bad penmanship.
After he spent two years painting masterpieces for your personal enjoyment.
This what-have-you-done-for-me-lately mentality that seems to be spreading is not the sign of a savvy or intelligent fan. It’s the sign of incredible hypocrisy—an abhorrent show of disloyalty from individuals who surely rankle whenever a pro athlete takes the money and runs.
In other words, it’s dumb.
Really, really dumb.
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