MLB

Feed

> View All

Need to get an edge in your fantasy football league? Don't forget to check out our FREE Fantasy Football Draft Kit.

Get Draft Help Now

Read the latest baseball satire from the warped minds of
The Dugout.

Flaky, Freaky, Funky and Phenomenal

By LARRY STONE

AOL

posted: 35 DAYS AGO

comments: 0

filed under: MLB

Text SizeAAA

Sports Commentary

NEW YORK -- It figures. The one solitary All-Star that the world didn't get to see at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night (and Wednesday morning, for those in certain time zones) is the one solitary guy whose idiosyncratic charisma practically begs for a larger showcase.

Getty Images

Tim Lincecum, 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, can reach 100 mph despite his slight frame.

And boy, could the National League have used the lithe and lively arm of Tim Lincecum, if for nothing else than to calm the raging nerves of Bud Selig. The commissioner had to have sensed another sister-kissing in the making as the game droned on into the New York night -- and how would they decide homefield advantage in the World Series then? Rock, paper, scissors?

Both Clint Hurdle and Terry Francona emptied their benches and cleaned out their bullpens in pursuit of an elusive victory that finally came, for the American League, in the 15th inning. To the ever-lasting relief, no doubt, of Selig, who still has nightmare flashbacks to the embarrassing tie of 2002 in his beloved Milwaukee, when both squads ran out of pitchers.

Lincecum, the fresh-faced, impossibly limber and improbably explosive pitcher from the San Francisco Giants, was sitting, or more likely lying, in his hotel room during the 4-hour-and-50-minute marathon, which ended at 1:37 a.m., Bronx time. He was unable to contribute because of a nasty case of flu and dehydration that landed him temporarily in the hospital on Tuesday and rendered him a no-show for his first All-Star Game.

Tim's agonizing exile was shared by his father, Chris, who had journeyed from his Seattle home for his first trip ever to the Big Apple, eager to soak in his son's initial venture into the white heat of the national spotlight.

Landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated a week earlier, with a picture that captured his unorthodox pitching motion under the headline, "The Freak," had been cool enough for the Lincecums. The funny thing was, Mr. Lincecum couldn't find a copy of the issue anywhere in greater Seattle, driving from store to store to try to run one down until finally his subscription arrived in the mail.

"It gave me chills," he said of seeing his son as a cover boy, another validation of the path Mr. Lincecum had mapped out for Tim since practically Little League.

That's when Chris Lincecum honed the mechanics that confounded scouts but allowed his skinny and slight son (he was an 85-pound ninth-grader at Liberty High in Renton, Wash.) to unleash 100 mph fastballs and gravity-defying curves with a whirlwind of torque and leverage.

"In high school, Timmy was voted 'Most Likely To Be On A Wheaties Box,' but SI? Come on," Chris Lincecum marveled.

And the All-Star Game? In his first full big-league season? Come on.

Latest MLB Photos

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Alex Cintron (R) forces out Boston Red Sox base runner Jason Bay at second base but Cintron's throw to first base trying for a double play was too late during the ninth inning of their American League baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland August 18, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Giza (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora tries in vain to throw out Boston Red Sox batter Dustin Pedroia at first base in the ninth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland August 18, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Giza (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Boston Red Sox batter Coco Crisp dunks out of the way of an inside pitch thrown by Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Rocky Cherry in the eighth inning of their American League baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland August 18, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Giza (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Detroit Tigers' Edgar Renteria (8) looks at home plate umpire Marvin Hudson, left, after striking out against Texas Rangers' Frank Francisco in the seventh inning of a Major League Baseball game, Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, in Arlington, Texas. The Tigers won 8-7 Tigers. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Injured Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria watches their American League MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in St. Petersburg, Florida, August 18, 2008. Longoria broke his wrist and is not expected back until sometime in September. REUTERS/Steve Nesius (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon follows through on his pitching delivery against the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland August 18, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Giza (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Tampa Bay Rays' Willy Aybar (L-R), B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena, Justin Ruggiano, Akinori Iwamura and Gabe Gross celebrate a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels during their American League MLB baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida, August 18, 2008. REUTERS/Steve Nesius (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura dives but comes up short on a single hit by Los Angeles Angels' Erick Aybar during the seventh inning of an American League MLB baseball game in St. Petersburg, Florida, August 18, 2008. The Rays beat the Angels 6-4. REUTERS/Steve Nesius (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Boston Red Sox base runner David Ortiz (L) slides across home plate safely as Baltimore Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez reaches for the late throw in the ninth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland August 18, 2008. REUTERS/Joe Giza (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Boston Red Sox batter Jason Bay connects on a pitch from Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Rocky Cherry for a two-run home run in the eighth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland August 18, 2008. The home run was the second on the game for Bay. REUTERS/Joe Giza (UNITED STATES)

Reuters

The Monday before the game had been a real kick, all right. Even before witnessing the epic Home Run Derby show of Josh Hamilton, Tim Lincecum entertained a large media contingent for nearly an hour during the player-availability session at a downtown hotel, as Chris watched proudly from the side.

"It's crazy," Tim Lincecum said at one point. "There's three cameras in my face right now. I'm still trying to get used to it. I've never seen anything like that. It's absolutely hectic in here. I'm trying to take his all in, learn from it and get used to it."

The 24-year-old right-hander was poised, relaxed and endearing as he patiently answered repetitive questions about how thrilling it was to play in the last All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Little did he know then, of course, that he wouldn't even attend the game, let alone play in it.

He also addressed core elements of the growing Lincecum Canon. Such as his eternally youthful appearance, which causes ballpark security guards to invariably deny him entrance into clubhouses on the road.

"It's all good," he said with a smile. "I look just like a regular kid, anyway. Twenty years from now, when I'm 44, I'll still look 17."

Then there's his strange eating posture.

"I eat in a squatting position," he said matter-of-factly. "A couple of guys on the team, obviously, get on me about that. They think it's kind of funny, but it's just a quirk in me."

It's not his only quirk, as he happily admits. Unlike virtually every pitcher in baseball, Lincecum never uses ice after a start. Or before, or ever. His joking line on that topic, which he attributes to his father -- whom he calls his best friend, and Chris says the same thing -- is that ice is to put in cocktails. The serious reason, also attributable to Chris Lincecum, is that ice causes muscles to tighten. The Giants wisely decided from the beginning to let Lincecum do it his way.

Timmy, as his dad still calls him (or The Franchise, as his Giants teammates dubbed him as a rookie) is also happy to engage media members in conversation on the days that he pitches. Such interaction is taboo for virtually every other hurler, who believe that any interviews on game day are unnecessary distractions. But Lincecum says he gets antsy and bored and welcomes the diversion.

"It's just little mannerisms I do, different things that are outside of what other people do," he said. "I don't even think twice about it."

Maybe he really is The Freak. "Or maybe I'm just really weird," he said.

There's nothing weird, however, about Lincecum's 11-2 record for a team that's 15 games under .500. Or a 2.57 ERA that ranks second in the National League behind that of Cincinnati's Edinson Volquez. Or his league-leading 135 strikeouts.

In his first full season, Lincecum is already in the upper echelon of major league pitchers -- and not since Fernando Valenzuela, or perhaps Mark Fidrych, has there been someone more fun to watch.

"I can tell you right now, the only time I've ever been nervous on the field was the first inning of my first outing," he said. "After that, my butterflies went away. I feel so at home on the mound, no matter where it is. This is what I love to do, and this is where want to be."

And the Giants are eternally grateful that he's doing it for them. In the 2006 draft, they were elated when Lincecum was still available when their No. 10 overall pick came up.

None of the other teams ahead of San Francisco -- including Lincecum's hometown Seattle Mariners -- could bring themselves to pull the trigger on a pitcher whose 5-foot-11, 170-pound (that's being generous) frame defied the conventional blueprint of an ace, and whose funky motion frankly scared them all.

"They thought I had unorthodox mechanics," Tim Lincecum said. "But I'm like, unorthodox compared to what? Everyone has different mechanics."

Now Tim is getting the last laugh, and so is his dad, who taught the form that he firmly believes is designed to relieve, rather than create, stress on Tim's arm. But naysayers still whisper that his motion is too violent, and he will eventually break down.

"I think there will always be people out there who say, 'You're never going to do this, you're not going to make it,' " Lincecum said. "All I can say to that is, just watch."

No one got to watch Tim Lincecum in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, which is a shame. But don't worry. He'll be back.

2008-07-17 21:03:22

Must Read?

76 %

24 %

0 VOTES

Recent Comments

Post Your Own

1 - 7 of 7

7 comments

jeffd836 11:06:43 AM Jul 21 2008

Report This!

Tim would be even better if he was on a team who could give him some run support, the gians suck

roofdoc1 09:40:58 PM Jul 18 2008

Report This!

Go Brother Go. Thank your DAD for the training, and thank GOD for your heart son. I am an ASTRO fan, but I am following your career!!! You are all that is right with baseball. God Bless You, you give me something to believe in since the steroid scandal nearly broke my heart. Go with God son

jp38n 05:15:59 PM Jul 18 2008

Report This!

I had a chance to watch him pitch vs the Cub's at Wrigley last Sunday and unfortu-natley for the Cubs ....this kid is a joy to behold and one smart pitcher for his age. Hehad that lineup lurching with his change of speed and control. Baby Maddux

reikilight 01:34:52 AM Jul 18 2008

Report This!

I have been blessed to be able to see several of Lincecum's games this year ... a couple in spring training and a couple in the regular season and he is a pleasure to watch! He is an amazing young pitcher with the guts to be a great one for quite some time. It is hard to believe this teenage looking young man can pitch the way he can. His stuff is great and the heat is impressive. The Giants need a power hitter ... Rowan was a good find but they need a power hitting third or first baseman who can drive in some runs. They have a good talented young pitching staff of which Timmy is the BEST! Great job ... Keep it up!

coolhandfreak 12:52:37 AM Jul 18 2008

Report This!

As a S.F. Giant fan living in New York I watch every one of his starts on MLB.com. When you can throw moving 100 m.p.h. cheese,then a 95 m.p.h. slider that has drastic bite,then finally can toss a lollipop curve at 75 m.p.h. it doesnt seem fair. He already is the best pitcher in baseball on a team that has to scratch out 2-3 runs. He is the freak and yes he is the ''franchise''. Every losing streak the Giants have Timmy comes in and ends it in dramatic fashion. It is simple,,,,he is a right handed Sandy Koufax. He pitched very few starts last year,right out of college, and they(S.F.) shut him down the last month as a precautionary measure.. This year folks he is a boyish looking man who makes the best hitters look like menish looking boys. Volquez is a fine pitcher but relies on great change of speeds and a 92-94 m.p.h. fastball and slower cut pitches. Lincecum is still blazing 98 m.p.h.fastballs late in the game with an incredible assortment of razzle dazzlers. He is simply the best p

mchfoun 12:19:41 AM Jul 18 2008

Report This!

tHAT IS TYPICAL mariners type baseball management, and I hope Mister Nintendo, reads this article and gets the idea that he has a friggin loser in Armstrong and a yes sir boy, in Lincoln. Damnnnnnnnn, how many Lincecum's are gonna slip away before those sorry ass seattle "M's" wake up? M's is for Mediocrity. Ohhh sooo solly rofl Aside, Lincecum, is a terrific athlete and his fine family has to be commended. Salute................ the parents for a greaaat job of raising him. Wow!

whatiouorwat 11:33:20 PM Jul 17 2008

Report This!

The giants aren't having a great season this year, and being giants a fan for 53 years, the last 50 had more downs then ups, I can finally see the light at end of the tunnel.The pitchers, led by Lincecum, Cain and Sanchez have a bright future, now if the Giants can sign Posey,college player of the year, and keep Brian Sabean from makimg any ,"terrific trades", (God please, No),the Giants will be in contention for many years to come.And by the way watchiing Tim pitch is so entertaining, especially seeing the expressions of the opposing players on their way back to the dugout after beinig wiffed by Tim, all I can say is"Hum Baby, " and "Grab some pine meat"!

1 - 7 of 7

7 comments