Known as “The Freak,” Tim Lincecum owns such a wide load of pitches you’d be hard pressed to tow them with an eighteen wheeler.
Listed at 5’11” and 170 lbs (soaking wet), there is nothing freakish in the appearance of the 26-year-old All-Star ace, but as hitters across the Majors have found over the past four seasons, his array of pitches are anything but hittable.
His 93 mph two-seam fastball - paired with a nasty split-finger that serves as his “changeup” - has some of the league’s best hitters looking rather foolish at the plate. Just ask veteran Atlanta slugger Derrek Lee, who struck out three times during game 1 of the NLDS at the hands of Lincecum.
After registering 14 strikeouts and surrendering only two hits in his first-ever post-season appearance, Lincecum would set the tone for the Giants’ run to their first World Series berth since 2002. His post-season ERA is sitting pretty at 1.93, a full run and a half below his regular-season average of 3.43.
Lincecum is scheduled to face Texas Rangers ace Cliff Lee in a game 1 World Series showdown that could be one for the ages. As Wednesday night approaches and the Rangers prepare for their first-ever World Series appearance, they should be forewarned: The Freaks come out at night.
Here’s a look around the Twitterverse at what some users are saying about The Freak:
@RyanStoppable - Cliff Lee vs. Tim Lincecum. If that doesn’t get you excited for the @WorldSeries, then nothing will.
@trmehalko - Agreed, game 1 Lee vs. Lincecum, the pitching alone is worth tuning in.
@youkhanhdoit - Pumped for a Cliff Lee vs. Tim Lincecum match up. Can't get any better than that.
@JasonBarron1 - Game 1 matchup: Lee v Lincecum. That should be a dandy. My money is on The Freak.
@PacNWFitness - Love the line about SF Giants; Lincecum in the WSJ Sports: "The Pitcher With the Long Hair Who Looks 14" ... you rock Tim!
@Dusty70 - San Fran wins NL. Lincecum is my favorite athlete right now. The Freak is gonna win the World Series!
@subterranean_ - Has anyone ever seen Tim Lincecum and Conor Oberst in the same place at the same time? Just sayin...
In case you missed The Freak’s 14k performance to kick off the 2010 postseason, you can re-live every strikeout complete with Japanese commentary:
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