Today, a big piece of the 2013 Giants puzzle took to the mound.
How Tim Lincecum is going to perform this season is a huge question mark for San Francisco - whether or not they'll have a 5th starter, another great bullpen guy, or even a future closer.
But after today, his first time facing batters this Spring, Lincecum took a step towards regaining his old, hard-throwing self. Despite lasting only 1 1/3 innings today against the Dodgers, while giving up three runs and four hits, Timmy came away feeling positive.
"Mechanically, I felt really good. The timing of my arm was good. I missed a couple of pitches high, but it was kind of because I wanted to. There wasn't anything way too far off where I wanted to throw it."
Not that we want to get our hopes up about The Franchise just yet, but there are indeed some positive signs to come out of today's brief start.
Today, Lincecum was throwing his fastball anywhere from 89-93. In 2012, his veloctiy averaged about 90 MPH. It was his worst career season, ending with a 10-15 record and a 5.18 ERA. His previous velocities averaged about:
2011 - 93 MPH
2010 - 91-92 MPH
2009 - 93 MPH
2008 - 94-95 MPH
It's not surprising that someone with Lincecum's frame (5'11", currently listed at 170 lbs., wiry limbs) would eventually decrease in velocity, but the sudden drop was alarming to both the Giants front offense and fans alike this past season. But the fact that he was throwing 89-93 today might be proof that Big Time Timmy Jim is back.
His routine this past offseason was certainly a step in the right direction.
When he reported to camp in February 2012, Lincecum had spent the offseason swimming and dieting and came to Spring Training about 20 pounds lighter than the previous season. As we all know, this lead to his worst season. Usually, more weight can mean more velocity and power behind a fastball, and obviously Tim's lack of weight contributed to a lack of speed on his pitches.
In 2011, Lincecum reported to camp after having spent his offseason throwing "the most [he's] ever thrown." He focused on making his legs strong, and he was so excited about winning the World Series the year before that he didn't take too much time off of throwing. Even though he went 13-14 that season, his ERA decreased to 2.74 (7th in the league), his WHIP was 1.21, and he pitched 217 innings (19th in the league), as opposed to a 3.43 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and 212.1 innings in 2010.
He had also said that he was motivated that offseason by his terrible August of 2010, in which he went 0-5 during a tight pennant race. Despite winning the World Series that year, and becoming the Giants postseason MVP, Lincecum wanted to show that he had put his struggles behind him in 2011. And he did.
This past offseason, Lincecum was instructed by Giants head trainer Dave Groeschner to put on weight. That was his big assignment, and Tim seemed just fine with it.
Timmy seems to be at best when he's just focusing on his pitching - not dieting, not losing weight, not worrying about which pitch to throw next. He's at his best when he's simply being Timmy Lincecum, throwing pitches and having fun. He also finds motivation in coming back from adversity, something he will have to do this year.
Or maybe, he just really loves pitching the season following a World Series win.
Hopefully he'll get the chance to do that many more times.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Brandons
A couple of the big question marks this year for the Giants are the Brandons, both Belt and Crawford. I've been a huge fan of both of them, and while last year started out slow for both of them, it ended on a great note. They both made huge strides and showed that they are capable of being major leaguers.
Now, the question is whether or not they'll continue to grow this year, or they've already reached their full potential.
Brandon Crawford ended up batting .248 on the season, but finished strong, hitting .281 in August and .290 in September. He had ten hits, seven RBIs, and seven walks in the 2012 postseason, despite hitting only .217. Luckily, shortstops don't need to bat .300. It is, however, the anchor of the infield defesively. The Giants have lacked a strong leader at this position for the last couple years, but the answer for the future to definitely lie in Crawford.
Quite obvious to anyone who watched the Giants in the playoffs, Crawford's greatest contribution was his defense. He was named the Giants' best defensive player and won the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year award, a new award that's figured out by putting a player's numbers through the "shredder system," a statistical analysis used by MLB Network. Although he made 18 errors last season, 12 of those came in the first 59 games. He went on to commit only six errors in the remaining 63 games that he started. And on the way to becoming a world champion, Crawford made just one error in 65 chances and turning nine double plays in the postseason.
Even though he lost out to Jimmy Rollins for the Gold Glove in 2012, it's pretty safe to say that he'll own that piece of hardware at some point in his career.
And now onto my favorite Giant (and yes, I realize labeling him as my favorite means he will probably get traded this season)....Brandon Belt!
Like Crawford, Belt really struggled at the beginning of the season, with many people calling for him to be benched. And he did struggle, I'm not saying that he didn't. He spent a lot of time swining at bad pitches and stranding men on base when he needed to get them home. However, he also didn't have a ton of consistent playing time over the first two months of the season. In June, when he began to start in back-to-back-to-back games, he batted .296. And though July was a tough month for him (batting .186), he finished the season strong, batting .293 after the All Star game. He ended the season at .275, with seven homeruns (tied for 5th on the team) and 56 RBIs (tied for 4th on the team).
Unlike Crawford, Belt really didn't shine in the postseason. He hit .304 in the LCS, but only hit .077 in the other rounds, giving him a cumulative total of just .184 with only three RBIs and one homerun. He did provide a solid defense, staying error-free in 125 chances, but Belt has got to learn to perform in the big pressure situations consistently.
Another possible concern about Belt is his lack of power. First base is definitely more of a power position, and Belt finished tied for 36th in the league among first basemen with his seven bombs. The Giants would love more power from him, and as he hit 23 in 2010 in the minors, we know that he has that capability. 2013 is a big year for Belt. Fingers crossed that he really comes into his own...and it wouldn't hurt if he made me look like a genius for always sticking up for him.
At 26 (Crawford) and 24 (Belt), the Brandons have long careers ahead of them. And I for one can't wait to see how many Gold Gloves they win between the two of them.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Take me out
Continuing to preview the 2013 Giants just a week (!) before pitchers and catchers officially report to Scottsdale for Spring Training, let's tackle the outfield.
Brian Sabean continues to make up for the Bonds years with great off-season signings, bringing back all three of the starting outfielders that played in the World Series in 2012.
Centerfielder Angel Pagan joined the Giants last offseason, when they traded Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez to the Mets for him. He finished the season batting .288 with 56 RBIs and fourth on the team with eight homeruns. He set a San Francisco Giants record (and led the major leagues) with 15 triples on the season. When Allstar game MVP Melky Cabrera was busted for steroid use on August 15, taking with him the Giants leader in average and hits, Pagan stepped up to fill the void. He batted .406 in August after Cabrera was suspended. And while he didn't have the best average in the postseason, he had some big hits in key games for the Giants. In Game 4 of the NLDS, Pagan hit the first leadoff homerun in Giants postseason history to help propel the San Francisco offense that had barely shown up in the playoffs. He also led off Game 2 of the NLCS with a homerun, helping to give the Giants their first lead at home in the 2012 postseason.
Once again, right field will be patroled by Crazy Eyes, himself. Hunter Pence was also resigned this offseason by Sabean. Even though Pence batted only .219 in the regular season, he had seven homeruns and 45 RBIs in 59 games for the Giants. And despite a .210 postseason average, Pence saved his biggest impact for the playoffs.
We've all heard the story of his inspirational speech prior to Game 3 of the NLDS against the Reds. The Giants, having lost the first two games of the series at home, now faced elmination in Cincinnati. Pence pulled his teammates into a huddle and encourages them to fight and to play for one another. And they did just that. The Giants would win an MLB-record six elmination games in this postseason. And Pence provided a speech for just about every one of those. His performance and leadership as a teammate more than makes up for any struggles at the plate, and I can't wait to see what a full season in a Giants uniform looks like for Hunter Pence.
The Giants also spent this offseason bolstering their left field. Gregor Blanco, who made great defensive play after great defensive play during the 2012 regular season, hightlighted of course by his hit-saving catch in Matt Cain's perfect game, will be the starter for the 2013 Giants (barring any sort of injury in Spring Training). Blanco batted .253 during the regular season, but, like his outfield counter parts, had a big impact during the Giants postseason run. Blanco started the six-run inning of Game 5 of the NLDS with a single. He laid down the "bunt heard round the world" in Game 2 of the World Series against the Tigers, and in Game 3 he drove in a run and then scored a run in a game the Giants won 2-0. He won't hit .300, he probably won't even hit .270 in 2013, but he will save you runs with his defense, and that's never a bad thing.
Finally, to share playing time in left field with Blanco, the Giants brought back fan favorite Andres Torres. Torres was an integral part of bringing the first World Series championship to San Francisco in 2010. Torres spent most of this last year playing for the New York Mets, batting .230 with with three homeruns and 35 RBIs. However, he committed just two errors in 124 games and had six assists. Again, he's not a player who's going to hit 20 homeruns or .300. But, like Blanco, he will save you runs with his defense.
All four of these players also provide a lot of speed on the basepaths and in the field. I'm not sure about you, but I feel pretty confident knowing those guys are going to be roaming the outfield at AT&T park come April.
Brian Sabean continues to make up for the Bonds years with great off-season signings, bringing back all three of the starting outfielders that played in the World Series in 2012.
Centerfielder Angel Pagan joined the Giants last offseason, when they traded Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez to the Mets for him. He finished the season batting .288 with 56 RBIs and fourth on the team with eight homeruns. He set a San Francisco Giants record (and led the major leagues) with 15 triples on the season. When Allstar game MVP Melky Cabrera was busted for steroid use on August 15, taking with him the Giants leader in average and hits, Pagan stepped up to fill the void. He batted .406 in August after Cabrera was suspended. And while he didn't have the best average in the postseason, he had some big hits in key games for the Giants. In Game 4 of the NLDS, Pagan hit the first leadoff homerun in Giants postseason history to help propel the San Francisco offense that had barely shown up in the playoffs. He also led off Game 2 of the NLCS with a homerun, helping to give the Giants their first lead at home in the 2012 postseason.
Once again, right field will be patroled by Crazy Eyes, himself. Hunter Pence was also resigned this offseason by Sabean. Even though Pence batted only .219 in the regular season, he had seven homeruns and 45 RBIs in 59 games for the Giants. And despite a .210 postseason average, Pence saved his biggest impact for the playoffs.
We've all heard the story of his inspirational speech prior to Game 3 of the NLDS against the Reds. The Giants, having lost the first two games of the series at home, now faced elmination in Cincinnati. Pence pulled his teammates into a huddle and encourages them to fight and to play for one another. And they did just that. The Giants would win an MLB-record six elmination games in this postseason. And Pence provided a speech for just about every one of those. His performance and leadership as a teammate more than makes up for any struggles at the plate, and I can't wait to see what a full season in a Giants uniform looks like for Hunter Pence.
The Giants also spent this offseason bolstering their left field. Gregor Blanco, who made great defensive play after great defensive play during the 2012 regular season, hightlighted of course by his hit-saving catch in Matt Cain's perfect game, will be the starter for the 2013 Giants (barring any sort of injury in Spring Training). Blanco batted .253 during the regular season, but, like his outfield counter parts, had a big impact during the Giants postseason run. Blanco started the six-run inning of Game 5 of the NLDS with a single. He laid down the "bunt heard round the world" in Game 2 of the World Series against the Tigers, and in Game 3 he drove in a run and then scored a run in a game the Giants won 2-0. He won't hit .300, he probably won't even hit .270 in 2013, but he will save you runs with his defense, and that's never a bad thing.
Finally, to share playing time in left field with Blanco, the Giants brought back fan favorite Andres Torres. Torres was an integral part of bringing the first World Series championship to San Francisco in 2010. Torres spent most of this last year playing for the New York Mets, batting .230 with with three homeruns and 35 RBIs. However, he committed just two errors in 124 games and had six assists. Again, he's not a player who's going to hit 20 homeruns or .300. But, like Blanco, he will save you runs with his defense.
All four of these players also provide a lot of speed on the basepaths and in the field. I'm not sure about you, but I feel pretty confident knowing those guys are going to be roaming the outfield at AT&T park come April.
it's official
After the 49ers made me so proud yesterday (albeit falling a little short), it means only one thing:
it's officially baseball season.
Giants pitchers and catchers report to spring training one week from tomorrow (February 12), so it's probably the right time for a 2013 preview. Let's start with the obvious, the backbone of the team for the last three years: the pitching.
The bullpen is going to be solid once again. Brian Wilson will be missed, personality-wise. He was an intergral part of the first World Series championship here in San Francisco, and fans will forever be grateful. However, they just won a World Series without him. He doesn't really have a leg to stand on when it comes to demanding more money for a contract. His replacement, Sergio Romo, went 1-0 with a .84 ERA in the 2012 postseason and converted all four save opportunities. During the regular season, he converted 14 of 15 save opportunities and had a 1.74 ERA. The Giants also have a great closer prospect coming up in Heath Hembree. In 2011 between single and double A, he combined for 41 saves, had 78 strikeouts in 53.1 innings, and finished the season with a .55 ERA. He struggled a bit in 2012, but he's the Giants #7 prospect in the organization.
Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, George Kontos, Jose Mijares, and Santiago Casilla are all back to give the Giants the same solid bullpen that helped them win the championship.
The starting rotation is also intact from last year. Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, and Ryan Vogelsong are all returning to anchor the staff that finished 7th in the league with a 3.68 ERA in 2012. The three went a combined 46-25 last season, highlighted, of course, Matt Cain's perfect game on June 10 against the Astros. Barry Zito finished over .500 for the first time in his Giants career, going 15-8 and giving the Giants four starters with at least 14 wins.
The obvious question mark for the pitching staff going into 2013 is their fifth starter Tim Lincecum. Lincecum has been a fan favorite since he came up through the farm system and joined the Giants in San Francisco in May of 2007. He won the Cy Young in 2008 and 2009, won the Babe Ruth award for being the postseason MVP in 2010.
However, Lincecum struggled from the get-go of the 2012 season. He finished 10-15, the worst winning pecentage of his career, and had an ERA of 5.18. He was resigned to the bullpen for the playoffs, but made the most of every time that he got to pitch. He finished the postseason with a 2.55 ERA, striking out 20 in 17.2 innings.
Which brings me to my point - what to do if Linecum struggles as a starter again this season? As wise men (my dad and brother) have suggested, make him the closer.
He's definitely got the stuff to make it coming out of the bullpen. It almost wasn't fair to watch him take apart the Reds, Cardinals, and Tigers. He can warm up quickly and be ready to go as soon as he's needed. In Game two of the NLDS against the Reds, when Bumgarner was struggling in his start, Lincecum was called upon to come in after just two warm-up pitches. And he was great. And he's not afraid to come in with the game on the line. Timmy has shown in the last few years just how comfortable he is pitching in the postseason, but in 2012 he showed us a new set of skills coming out of the bullpen that we maybe didn't know he had before.
Lincecum reminds me a bit of Dennis Eckersley. Ecks spent the first 12 years of his career as a starter, but transitioned into the closer role in 1987. By '88 he was dominanting ninth innings everywhere. He went on to pitch for another 10 years. Should Lincecum (or Bochy) decided to transition into a reliever full-time, I think that closer makes the most sense for Timmy.
Either way, I can't wait to start getting the reports from Arizona. It's gonna be a fun season.
it's officially baseball season.
Giants pitchers and catchers report to spring training one week from tomorrow (February 12), so it's probably the right time for a 2013 preview. Let's start with the obvious, the backbone of the team for the last three years: the pitching.
The bullpen is going to be solid once again. Brian Wilson will be missed, personality-wise. He was an intergral part of the first World Series championship here in San Francisco, and fans will forever be grateful. However, they just won a World Series without him. He doesn't really have a leg to stand on when it comes to demanding more money for a contract. His replacement, Sergio Romo, went 1-0 with a .84 ERA in the 2012 postseason and converted all four save opportunities. During the regular season, he converted 14 of 15 save opportunities and had a 1.74 ERA. The Giants also have a great closer prospect coming up in Heath Hembree. In 2011 between single and double A, he combined for 41 saves, had 78 strikeouts in 53.1 innings, and finished the season with a .55 ERA. He struggled a bit in 2012, but he's the Giants #7 prospect in the organization.
Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, George Kontos, Jose Mijares, and Santiago Casilla are all back to give the Giants the same solid bullpen that helped them win the championship.
The starting rotation is also intact from last year. Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, and Ryan Vogelsong are all returning to anchor the staff that finished 7th in the league with a 3.68 ERA in 2012. The three went a combined 46-25 last season, highlighted, of course, Matt Cain's perfect game on June 10 against the Astros. Barry Zito finished over .500 for the first time in his Giants career, going 15-8 and giving the Giants four starters with at least 14 wins.
The obvious question mark for the pitching staff going into 2013 is their fifth starter Tim Lincecum. Lincecum has been a fan favorite since he came up through the farm system and joined the Giants in San Francisco in May of 2007. He won the Cy Young in 2008 and 2009, won the Babe Ruth award for being the postseason MVP in 2010.
However, Lincecum struggled from the get-go of the 2012 season. He finished 10-15, the worst winning pecentage of his career, and had an ERA of 5.18. He was resigned to the bullpen for the playoffs, but made the most of every time that he got to pitch. He finished the postseason with a 2.55 ERA, striking out 20 in 17.2 innings.
Which brings me to my point - what to do if Linecum struggles as a starter again this season? As wise men (my dad and brother) have suggested, make him the closer.
He's definitely got the stuff to make it coming out of the bullpen. It almost wasn't fair to watch him take apart the Reds, Cardinals, and Tigers. He can warm up quickly and be ready to go as soon as he's needed. In Game two of the NLDS against the Reds, when Bumgarner was struggling in his start, Lincecum was called upon to come in after just two warm-up pitches. And he was great. And he's not afraid to come in with the game on the line. Timmy has shown in the last few years just how comfortable he is pitching in the postseason, but in 2012 he showed us a new set of skills coming out of the bullpen that we maybe didn't know he had before.
Lincecum reminds me a bit of Dennis Eckersley. Ecks spent the first 12 years of his career as a starter, but transitioned into the closer role in 1987. By '88 he was dominanting ninth innings everywhere. He went on to pitch for another 10 years. Should Lincecum (or Bochy) decided to transition into a reliever full-time, I think that closer makes the most sense for Timmy.
Either way, I can't wait to start getting the reports from Arizona. It's gonna be a fun season.
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