Is Tim Lincecum Finished?

[barrysloate]

It was often said that with his unorthodox pitching motion and small frame, Tim Lincecum might find himself having a rather short career. As we hit the All-Star break, Lincecum is 3-10 with a 6.42 ERA and it seems like every one of his starts is a train wreck. Is the guy done? I certainly hope not, but he is pitching as poorly as anyone can and still be in the rotation. And didn't he turn down a monster contract before the season began? That was a huge mistake.

[Runscott]

Steve Blass had 5 great years, then a sudden career-ending meltdown. Lincecum is just slightly younger, with 4 full seasons under his belt, but the meltdown seems very similar.

[D. Bergin]

Yeah, his decline has been predicted for some time now.

Guys with wacky motions are rarely effective long term. Either they injure themselves with poor mechanics or the league just begins to figure them out.

The smallest issue can knock them out of whack. I think Lincecum will have to change his approach and learn to pitch a different way if he is ever to become effective again.

I wonder if anybody can think of any other pitchers with crazy wind-ups, outside of perhaps Luis Tiant, who had long productive careers.

[pclpads]

With that arduous pitching motion, TL's bb future could be like Micah Ownings and Rick Ankiel: converting to a position player.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by pclpads

With that arduous pitching motion, TL's bb future could be like Micah Ownings and Rick Ankiel: converting to a position player.

Only problem with that is, Lincecum can't hit.

[novakjr]

Hope he turns it around. He was my 2nd round pick in fantasy this year, and he's been killing me. Loaded up on some DL options just in case he doesn't turn it around though.

As far as predictions of his early demise. I believe most of those were based on the injury probability, rather than people figuring him out. Don't get me wrong, dude's looked bad, but usually for 1 inning per game. In most of his starts, it's just one meltdown inning(at random), and the rest of the time, he looks like old Timmy...Usually the meltdown begins with an infield single, an error, or one of those 12 pitch at bats where he just can't seem to put the guy away. Personally, I think it's all mental.

Supposedly, he quit smoking pot, which could be part of his mental issues. He's just not used to dealing with adversity, where as in the past, I think he was too high to notice it. As a man in the trades, I've had to deal with plenty of "functional potheads" over the years, and I've seen plenty of meltdowns once they've quit(usually irritability, frustration, and an inability to focus). and more often than not, it just takes some time for them to become "functional non-potheads"

Keep in mind, I'm not advocating the use of pot. Just offering some insight into what might be Timmy's issues...

[scooter729]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Yeah, his decline has been predicted for some time now.

Guys with wacky motions are rarely effective long term. Either they injure themselves with poor mechanics or the league just begins to figure them out.

The smallest issue can knock them out of whack. I think Lincecum will have to change his approach and learn to pitch a different way if he is ever to become effective again.

I wonder if anybody can think of any other pitchers with crazy wind-ups, outside of perhaps Luis Tiant, who had long productive careers.

Tiant hit a similar wall after five years in the league - he was 9-20 in 1969 and 1-7 in 1971, and some thought he was done. Then he turned it around with an awesome run from '72-'76 that now has people talking about him as a potential HOFer.

So it is possible for someone with an unorthodox delivery to turn it around as Tiant did, but it is certainly not an everyday thing.

[Jlighter]

He's finished in my opinion he can make a few QS but as an all star I doubt we will see him in his past form. I luckily traded him from my fantasy team 2 months ago, now the guy is begging me to take him back.

[drc]

Well, if he is finished, two Cy Youngs make for a good career.

[rjackson44]

he smokes weed what do you want

[gorrister]

Juan Marichal
Fernando Valenzuela (not sure if the length is his career qualifies)
Dennis Eckersley had a pretty radical delivery

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

I am also intrigued by Sandoval.


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[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Lincecum will never new what he was but can still be very good if learns to adapt to his loss of velocity.