(FanDuel Insider)
RENO, Nev. — In a stadium consumed with the third largest crowd in franchise history, the Reno Aces hosted the Salt Lake City Bees Tuesday, and fans were in for a historical treat.
Hometown hero Braden Shipley took the bump for The Biggest Little City as a familiar face took the mound for the Bees and for the first time all eyes weren’t on the Diamondbacks’ number one prospect. The sold-out crowd for the 11:35 AM start was no coincidence. Two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum would have the starting job for Salt Lake City.
Lincecum signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels after spending almost a decade with the San Francisco Giants at a prorated portion of a $2.5 million salary. He also has the ability to earn additional incentives in his contract according to Buster Olney of ESPN. With the fans filled to the brim with 10,000-plus Giants lovers, all they knew was they were about to watch one of their favorite pitchers throw.
After spending the blistering afternoon watching closely, here were a few things I noticed from Lincecum’s rehab start.
Rocky to Solid
It’s turning into a pattern for the veteran pitcher who had a rocky start in his last two rehab outings with the Bees, but managed to calm down towards the end. He finished his first outing against the Tacoma Rainiers last week with five innings pitched tallying three hits and the same amount of earned runs with five strikeouts. His time on the bump against the Aces wasn’t much different, starting off bumpy, but at one point had retired the last 14 out of 15 batters he faced.
Hip Surgery Helped him
Tim Lincecum is coming back from a hip surgery last year that didn’t cause him pain, but did affect some of his motions on the mound, calling it a “degenerative condition.”
“The Freak” told reporters he’s not doing anything out of the ordinary and not trying to overthrow and the surgery he underwent actually helped him be able to do things he used to do on the mound. “I’m just trying to stay within myself a little bit more,” he explains. “I think it gets lost when I start throwing pitches up.”
A self-proclaimed “rhythmic guy,” Lincecum also added once he finds that rhythm and keeps the ball down he can get through the inning. This may also be why he starts slow. He’s finding the rhythm. This may be one area where former catcher Mike Scioscia will be able to help Lincecum.
He’s Well Aware of His Age
Timmy will blow out 32 candles on his birthday cake next week and knows he doesn’t have the arm he used to when he started in Major League Baseball.
“I’m not 23 anymore, I don’t have the 95-96 to just go out there and wing it.” In fact, Lincecum is living in the 88-90 range with his fastball, which is right on the razor’s edge for effectiveness.
He Still Gets Nervous
When asked if the three-time World Series Champion still gets nervous, Lincecum admitted the jitters are still there, even in a minor league park. “I go out there and I don’t want to embarrass myself or the team, so that goes into play.”
He did explain that after a few more outings, things will come together and those jitters will go away. In other words, he’s not where he wants or needs to be, though it’s not clear if that means he’s not throwing all his pitches, just doesn’t feel comfortable with his hip, or what. Let’s hope the Angels know, especially with people like Bill Stonemason and Marcel Lachemann on the payroll.
His Relationship with the Giants is Still a Good One
He describes his relationship with the Giants like a marriage. “It’s like being married to someone for 10 years and sometimes you move on, the relationship ends,” he explains. “Hopefully it could be rekindled later, but I have to move on to where I’m at.”
It was unclear from Lincecum’s statements, but it seems like he could well have selected the Angels in part because he wouldn’t have to regularly face the Giants.
He Will Not Miss Hitting
Now that he’s going to be playing for an American League team, he doesn’t have to worry about getting any at-bats. Lincecum says he isn’t the one who is relieved with the news.
“I will miss hitting, but I don’t think my teammates will miss me hitting,” we all laugh. “I’m just being honest,” he adds. Given the option of Lincecum with a bat or Angels’ DH Albert Pujols getting plate appearances, I think we can all agree who’s better suited for the role. Stick to pitching, Tim.
He’s Not Quite Ready for the Angels, but Almost
Lincecum told reporters he wanted to have one more outing with the Bees and see how he is feeling despite multiple reports that he would be pitching for the Angels Sunday. The question now is what that outing is expected to accomplish. Lincecum appears to have the stamina to make a major league start and his velocity has held steady.
The good news is his hip didn’t look like it was causing him any discomfort so when he told reporters he felt good, we believed him. His rocky starts could cause some nerves for Angels fans, but the moment Lincecum finds his groove, he’s a force to be reckoned with. His decision to have another minor league start is a smart one. When he does make his way to the Major League club, he will show you why he’s eager to get back into the game.