Tim Lincecum took the ball six times in the 2010 post-season. Five of them were starts. He took the ball six times in 2012. Five of them were relief appearances. It was a topsy-turvy world for the man they call The Franchise. He had a regular-season to forget, but he remembered he was still The Freak when it mattered most. The Game Two loss at home in the LDS was the low point for everyone. It looked like Cincinnati had taken control and the Giants would soon see their season end. Tim came out of the bullpen to start the top of the 6th with the team down 4-0 and the crowd went nuts. He struck out two and gave up a hit and no runs, facing seven batters to get six outs. It was a good night for Bronson Arroyo who limited the Giant to one hit (they would get one other off reliever Jose Arredondo), so it didn't much impact the game. But it was exciting to see him out there flashing his freakiness. It paid off big time in Game Four when the Giants survived a shaky Barry Zito start and were clinging to a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 4th inning. Tim came in with two out and two on and struck out Ryan Ludwick (who was 6-18 with 3 HR and 5 BB in the five games) to keep the lid on things. He pitched four more innings allowing two hits and a run while fanning six and the Giants broke it open and won 8-3. The Giants not only forced a Game Five they also flashed a new weapon they would employ to great effect the rest of the way. Tim took a turn in the rotation against St. Louis in the LCS in Game Four that got ugly fast (Game Score 38), but righted the ship in the World Series. He worked 2-1/3 in both Game One and Game Three, slamming the door on any possible Tiger comebacks. He faced 16 batters and struck out eight! It was vintage Freak Time.
The Giants are the 2012 World Series Champions. I can't stop saying it over and over again.
--M.C.
2 comments:
I think it is impossible to over-estimate the Freak's contributions in the post season. A guy who can give you more than one inning if your starter looks iffy (4.1 in Cincy, 2.1 in each of two series games, and let's not forget another 2 in the first loss to St. L). That keeps the back end fresh - Romo, Casilla, Kontos, et al, and keeps the front end from getting ragged. Forget his struggles during the regular season, he was there when we needed it most.
Seeing Big Time Timmy Jim decide to show up was one of my favorite things about this year, the year... The Giants Won The World Series!
I saw him live in a losing effort, game 1 against St. Louis, the crowd went absolute apeshit. Any talk of trading Timmy is just wasted time. Ain't. Gonna. Happen. Sabean has too much success with him, and he will go to the wire with him.
Should be a fun time next year, he has a lot of work to do to get back to form, but my moneys are with him til the end. The Franchise, baby, The Franchise.
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