Timmy freaked everyone out

Posted on June 17, 2010

Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants kneels on the ground after getting hit with a line drive during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at AT&T Park on June 16, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin)

 

The Freak. Seabiscuit. The Franchise. San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum has been called many things in his short big league career. The one word no one has wanted to call Lincecum is injured. This is why what happened yesterday during the Orioles and Giants game at AT&T Park in San Francisco was so scary.

Ever since Lincecum made his debut with the Giants in 2007 Giants fans have had a special bond with the young and frail-looking pitcher. This is a kid who most scouts said would never be able to hold up as a big league pitcher due to his slight frame and crazy delivery. Two Cy Young Awards later and all of those scouts are eating their words.

Lincecum has struggled on the mound for the past month or so. He has had a hard time with his mechanics has not been able to consistently locate his fastball, resulting in many more walks than usual as he struggled with his command. He seemed to be getting back to his old self last week when he beat the A’s, and the fans were looking forward to seeing him work against the Orioles yesterday on a glorious day at the ballpark by the bay.

Lincecum had nasty stuff and was piling up strikeouts as the game wore on, but he was also walking a few guys and getting hit pretty well as the Giants tried to cling to a small lead. With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning and his pitch up over 100 for the day I was shooting Orioles batter Miguel Tejada from the outside third base camera well next to the Giants dugout. Tejada hit a smash and as I shot his swing I heard the crowd groan and then cheer. I swung my 400 2.8 to the mound to see Lincecum curled up in a ball (see top photo). I realized the ball hit him. Tejada’s liner glanced off Lincecum’s shoulder and caromed to second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who made an nice play for the inning-ending out. Lincecum slowly got up and walked off the field with the trainer.

I immediately assumed the worst and was worried about the kid. I feared he was injured. Since I was situated near the dugout I could see in there and noticed that Lincecum was joking with teammates showing them where the ball hit him. He seemed fine. “I was more shocked than anything,” Lincecum said. “I didn’t know what to do, so I just lie there. I was like, OK, I’m fine. I can get up now.”

As soon as Lincecum got settled in to the dugout and unbuttoned his jersey Aubrey Huff and Juan Uribe hit back-to-back home runs giving the Giants the lead and making Lincecum the pitcher of record on the winning side. Lincecum went nuts yelling and screaming when Uribe’s ball left the yard (see above). After some nervous moments with the bullpen, closer Brian Wilson came in to notch a five out save. Wilson’s heroics gave the Giants a 6-3 win and Lincecum a 7-2 record. The best news of the day was the post-game news from the clubhouse that Lincecum was OK. He would be making his next start in Houston next week. Giants fans can breathe a little easier now.