San Francisco Moves Lincecum Up
The San Francisco Giants begin their second-to-last regular season series tonight. The opposition is the Arizona Diamondbacks and the series precedes the biggest series of the season – three games against the San Diego Padres (whom they currently hold a one game lead on) that might very well decide who advances to the postseason and who does not. Today, the Giants swapped Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum’s starting assignments.
Lincecum will now pitch on Wednesday night while Bumgarner assumes his spot on Thursday. The move keeps Lincecum on full rest and allows him to pitch on Monday if required. Monday is important, as it would be day of a hypothetical game 163 – i.e. a tiebreaker between (presumably) the Giants and Padres. On the other hand, if the Giants find themselves needing to win on Sunday in order to reach the postseason, then Lincecum could come back on short rest in order to ensure their best chance at victory.
Pushing Lincecum back one day, in order to start on Friday night, might seem like an attractive alternative, but clearly, the key here is squeezing two more Lincecum appearances into the season. The Giants will not throw slop against the Padres, either, since their rotation members not named Tim are having an amazing month as well. Assuming no further changes, Barry Zito will open the series against the Friars, with the ever impressive Matt Cain going on Saturday, and then Jonathan Sanchez closing the regular season.
The Padres, meanwhile, will counter with Clayton Richard against Zito, Tim Stauffer, and staff ace Mat Latos going on Sunday. Chris Young would be in line for Monday’s start, if it comes down to that, although one would have to believe Jon Garland would get the call instead. While their ERA are nearly identical (Lincecum sits at 3.51, Garland at 3.58) the Giants would have the edge there, as Lincecum’s 3.24 xFIP is considerably superior to Garland’s 4.42.
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This is probably less about Lincecum and more about not putting a rook in a game 163. That said, Timmy seems to have “refound it” as of late.
It’s a shame if either the Pads or the Giants miss the playoffs, but I’d also like to see Cox get one last run with the Bravos.
I’d like to see the Giants and Padres make it. The Braves just aren’t playing that well right now (about .500 over the last month and a half) and with their injuries and struggling rotation, it seems like they’d get eliminated fairly easily. On the other hand, watching the Phillies rotation against the Padres offense would be brutal.
I think the Pads have even a worse record than the Braves over the last 45 games or so. It would be an upset if either made it past the first round.
Lincecum’s been pitching on another level this month. Insanely dominant.
That can’t be right. Dave Cameron told me he’s broken.
“While their ERA are nearly identical (Lincecum sits at 3.51, Garland at 3.58) the Giants would have the edge there, as Lincecum’s 3.24 xFIP is considerably superior to Garland’s 4.42.”
Does that really matter? The Giants still have to beat Garland and the Padres defense. Not just Garland.
Some of the difference between ERA and FIP or xFIP can be attributed to defense, but some of it is also luck (or whatever you want to call it).
Also, park factors. ATT is neutral overall, but PETCO’s the most extreme pitcher’s park around.
Lets not forget how awesome MadBum has been… and his fastball keeps getting faster… at 20, any chance he picks up a few more ticks to 96-97 (he hits 94 consistently right now)?
This is almost as likely as your name.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Bumgarner picks up a few ticks each year for the next dozen or so years. 120 mph could happen.
And here I was thinking that 175 was a conservative prediction
Nope — Sidd FInch, at 160, is the highest anyone can go ;-)
I see a crowdsourcing idea….
Sure could use 2 starts from Lincecum this week.
I don’t get this. Why prep Lincecum for a potential Game 163 when pitching him earlier could prevent the need for one? Throw Zito against AZ on regular rest, then Timmy, Cain, Sanchez against SD; winning a game against the Pads is more important than winning one against the DBacks. It makes more sense to put your best out there for the games that will happen no matter what; this sounds like resting your A squad in the last game with a one-game lead to prep them for a one-game playoff, when playing them in the last game means no playoff.
“On the other hand, if the Giants find themselves needing to win on Sunday in order to reach the postseason, then Lincecum could come back on short rest in order to ensure their best chance at victory.”
Bumping Tim up also positions them to bring him back on short rest to win the reg season and prevent a playoff game. It means they can bring him back on 4 days rest instead of 3.
You want your ace set up to pitch Game 163 if possible because that way, if it’s not ultimately necessary, he is available to start Game 1 of the playoffs. If you throw him in Game 162, he cannot pitch Game 1 unless on short rest.
Where is Dave Cameron for his Timmy crow eating?
Anyone want to post all of lincecum’s september peripherals?