Tim Lincecum: Unraveling the Mystique of "The Freak" Pitcher

By Oliver Wiener June 28, 2024 17:02

Photo by Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

One of the most beloved former Giants is Tim Lincecum; who has been forever known as "The Freak" due to his diminutive stature, and dominance on the mound. Lincecum may have defied pretty much everything regardless throughout his rise to be one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball history. His performance in baseball, his quirky mound actions and his delivery with superior results have made him one of the most interesting - if not unconventional - pitchers of his generation.

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Dominance

It was clear right away that Lincecum had an immense pitching talent from the moment he burst onto the scene with San Francisco Giants back in 2007. Lincecum's unconventional delivery, high-90s fastball, and devastating changeup made him one of the more buzzworthy young arms in baseball. Crafted by his father, and handed to him - there arose the spellbinding ace of an era. His explosive delivery that looked less like a man throwing and more of an act of the marvels of modern physics was one off-putting part in what otherwise continued to be consistent, captivating excellence from Kimbrel.

Impact on the Game

The numbers only tell a little bit of Lincecum's story. The strikeouts, which led the league at times; a run of back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2008 and '09 when nobody was better than he was (or close); his ability to take over games however they needed to be taken over that day for all those very good Giants teams with their depth and resilience-it made hitters shake. He was historically dominant at the beginning of his career, with unprecedented consistency and a winning percentage second only to a few individuals throughout baseball history.

The Decline and Challenges

But, Lincecum's peak didn't have a very long lifespan. After 2012, Tim struggled to get his form back to par. His decline came due to his physical limitations, the loss of velocity on what was an elite fastball (99.6 MPH AVG in 2009), control issues, and increased injury concerns because from then until now he has made only one appearance at any level of professional baseball. Lincecum tried reinventing himself with occasional comebacks on other teams but was never able to reclaim his prior dominance.

Physical Limitations

The fact of the matter is that being undersized played to Lincecum's strengths in many ways over his career, but it also held him back on the mound as well because there are only so many bullets a 5-foot-10 body can fire off and have left.
Velocity loss and command problems
The tracked decline in fastball speed and his loss of command surfaced, forcing him to adjust how he got batters out.

Attempts at Reinvention

Struggling to resemble his former self, Lincecum made drastic adjustments in both his delivery and pitching mechanics which included developing a faster slider (he always had great control with the pitch but would often use it as more of an offspeed offering before 2013) at the expense of some lost velocity from suddenly reduced fastball usage. While these changes proved to be even a bit more effective, they were unable to completely resuscitate him from his career.

Legacy and Future

Even in his decline, Lincecum will always be one of the most unique and exhilarating pitchers we've witnessed in a generation. What lies ahead is unclear for Lincecum, who did not retire from baseball outright and thus remains a potential comeback possibility. Also, many fine athletes have refused to be defined by a slump and successfully reinvented themselves afterward so much so that Lincecum might carve out a new position or niche in the game; it is their way.

The Impact of "The Freak"

What Lincecum has meant to the game transcends numbers. It's why his weirdness and brilliance as a pitcher, combined with his desire to be more than just that, ensured he will remain forever one of the greats Though he struggled in the latter part of his career, Lincecum's talent and success early on secured him as an all-time great pitcher whose legacy will stand tall in baseball history.