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| Tim Lincecum's hobby |
In tonight’s baseball event, the Giants scored three of
their four runs on double play ground balls. Tim Lincecum threw 72 hanging changeups.
Hunter Pence couldn’t be here because he was busy biting Peter Parker. It way taylor made for failure and a 6 game losing skid. If all this happened against the Dodgers last weekend, it
would be 17-0 in the 3rd inning and Hanley Ramirez would be looking
through his imaginary kaleidoscope while Matt Kemp rides his home run stallion
into the sunset.
Alas, tonight was a
different story. The Giants won 4-1, ending a season high 5 game losing streak.
Jacob Turner threw a possible inning ending double play ball as if he thought Ike Davis was 9 feet tall, which caused 2 runs to score. The Mets hitters caused everyone playing
the Mike Krukow “He was right on it” drinking game to pass out by the 6th
inning. I could sit here and write about how the Giants can’t rely on mistakes
by the other team and double play ground balls to win baseball games. I could
write that. I want to write that, because I could just stop typing now. But
nay, this was not a game worth complaining about. After watching the Dodgers
dink and dunk the Giants to the stone age, baseball was due to give the Giants
a break or two. Winning is fun! Let's do more!
*****
The David Wright at bat was Lincecum’s night in a nutshell.
2 outs, bases loaded and one of the best hitters in baseball pinch hitting in
the most high leverage situation of the game. Lincecum knew it was his last
hitter, and it was one of those times where you’re thinking “TAKE HIM OUT
BRUCE! YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE THIS WAY. LET GO.” You just knew this would be
his unraveling. So much good work on the mound would be for not, and we would
have to go another Giants pre-game show with this exchange:
Greg Papa: What
do you expect from Lincecum tonight Bip?
Bip Roberts: Well, if he can execute his pitches he'll be fine. If not, then he won't be.
Greg Papa: We'll see if you're right in the telecast!
It was one of those times where you wish Hunter Pence would
suddenly explode out of David Wright’s stomach. We were desperate.
Anyways the first scare in the at bat came when Lincecum
left one fastball right in the happy, jolly, fat zone that David Wright fouled
to the backstop. Bullet dodged. Then, he flopped over a splitter that hung up
longer than NBC’s primetime Olympic coverage. Wright was looking for it, waited
on it, and yet again, fouled it back to the screen. 2nd bullet
dodged. Then with the count 2-2, and the crowd on its feet, Lincecum caught
Wright completely off guard by throwing a knee buckling curveball right at the
knees for strike three call. David Wright’s cute little face got all scrunched up in a fuss.
He didn’t look excellent tonight, but he definitely got the
job done when he had to. It’s true, Tim Lincecum didn’t look completely vintage
tonight. But all throughout the season, too many bloops were falling that
had no right being base hits. His FIP and ERA are almost a full 2 runs apart.
Any luck he runs into is justified for me. This is now his 3rd start
in his last four where he’s given up 2 runs or fewer. It's a promising sign. However, if I say he’s out of the
funk, he’ll give up 10 earned runs next start. As a result I’m going to say:
*****
Scott Hairston has never been retired ever.
*****
Buster Posey should wear 3 cups during Lincecum starts. The benefits outweigh the cost.
*****
Hunter Pence is here! A healthy lineup:
1) Gregor Blanco
2) Marco Scutaro
3) Melky Cabrera
4) Buster Posey
5) Pablo Sandoval
6) Hunter Pence
7) Brandon Belt
8) Ryan Theriot
It's like... like... an above average hitting team. I've said too much.
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