Big Time Timmy Jim

Tonight was a big night for the Giants

They finally won in Oakland, after failing to win a game there since June of 2009. The Giants offense, which had been meager in the last few games, rallied to score four runs in the top of the ninth inning. Brandon Belt extended his hitting streak to ten games with his 2-RBI double to tie the game in the top of the ninth, Hector Sanchez went 2-4 with the go-ahead RBI in the ninth, and Gregor Blanco also went 2-4 with two RBIs.

But the most promising part of tonight's game? By far, Tim Lincecum.

Coming into tonight's game, Lincecum was 2-8 with a league-worst 6.19 ERA. The Giants last won a Lincecum start on April 28th against the Padres (Timmy was brilliant in that start, by the way, going eight innings and giving up no earned runs). Tonight wasn't quite as great as that start, but after going 0-6 since that start, Timmy will take all the positives he can get. He gave up three runs in six innings. Lincecum has given up three runs or less in just five starts all season (including tonight). He was also pretty dang perfect after those first three batters of the game reached base. After those three, Timmy no-hit the Athletics through the next six innings. He did walk four but managed to strike out eight in his third quality start of the season. He lowered his ERA to 6.07. And while he didn't earn a win, he definitely didn't deserve a loss. And Brandon Belt made sure he didn't take one.

There's been lots of talk today about Lincecum's father, Chris, and his comments to USA Today. While maybe it wasn't the most productive way of getting his point across, Chris made some decent points. As a Giants fan, it's been really tough for me to hear over and over about how Timmy should be traded or sent to triple A or have a start skipped. If he would've floundered tonight, skipping his next start would've possibly made sense. But demoting him to Fresno? Or talking about trading him so early in his struggles? What kind of fans have we become. As Chris Lincecum said, this is a pitcher who brought us back-to-back Cy Young Awards (the first ever to do so in his first two complete seasons), four All-Star game appearances, and a World Series in which he was completely lights out (even winning the Babe Ruth Award for his efforts). He is still a starter that people want to pay to see (whether it's to see a great start or to see if he breaks out of a slump). He is still Tim Lincecum. And while his father may have spoken a little out of context, it's true that (some) fans are quick to forget what he's meant to the Giants. He is still The Franchise. He is still Big Time Timmy Jim.

And tonight he took a very positive step in the right direction. I can hardly wait until next Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.