Posted on 05/18/2016 9:58:34 AM PDT by Mariner
SAN DIEGO – The Los Angeles Angels sought out a character reference on Tim Lincecum. They did not need to think twice about whom to call.
“They asked my opinion,” said Bengie Molina, “and I gave it to them straight-up.”
For all that Lincecum accomplished with Buster Posey, he always talks in glowing terms about Molina as the catcher who shepherded him as he broke into the big leagues, became his friend and support network besides his batterymate, and channeled his talents when he was at the height of his powers.
While Molina does not hold an official title with the Angels, he is a regular guest instructor with them and is spending time working with kids in extended spring.
He’s about to receive an old friend.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.mercurynews.com ...
Two Cy Young's and led MLB in strikeouts in both 2008 and 2009.
As a kid, still in diapers.
He's but 31 now and one of the best loved Giants of all time.
Angels could use some pitching. If he performs he will be quickly accepted by the team and fans. Good luck!
I wish “the Freak” the best in restarting his career. I’m just glad he won’t be in the NL West anymore.
Why are the Giants moving him out?
I hope Timmy does well
His last good season was 2011. He has shown some flashes and was better last year than the previous 3, but he wasn’t good enough to keep in their rotation.
Sad he did not end up in SEA. The city is San Fran North and would have likewise embraced his flakiness. And another good arm wouldn’t have hurt either!
His contract expired and the Giants stated they don't have a spot in the starting rotation for him.
Lincecum believes he can still pitch at the elite level and the Giants amorphous, incentive-based offer was not what he was looking for.
Lincecum was born and raised in the Seattle area.
He had a nagging hip injury on which he had surgery in the off-season. His fastball which topped at 97 during his prime had fallen to 87 last year. He only weighs like 160 and relied on a very strenuous delivery to generate his speed. When his body faltered, so too did his ability. In his post surgery showcase, he was back up to 91 on the gun. The Giants are looking to contend again and they needed more reliable starting pitching, so they let Timmeh go FA.
“Angels could use some pitching.”
That’s putting it mildly. The number of season ending injuries hitting the Angels has been astounding.
It’s the curse of Arte Moreno changing the name...
They're the only player on the team that goes out each game and gives it all they've got at the threat of burning out their arm at an early age.
You've got to give credit to the old successful workhorses who stayed strong and healthy enough to pitch into their late 30's........
One of the problems is overuse of young pitchers before their arms fully develop. It used to be you started in the bullpen, and then you became a starter when you were around 25 years-old, when the shoulders finally are fully developed and better able to handle the strain of pitching. That’s why Nolan Ryan lasted as long as he did, because he started out in the Mets’ bullpen.
That’s why they’re going to pitch counts now, even for the veterans.......
One of the problems is overuse of young pitchers before their arms fully develop. It used to be you started in the bullpen, and then you became a starter when you were around 25 years-old, when the shoulders finally are fully developed and better able to handle the strain of pitching. That’s why Nolan Ryan lasted as long as he did, because he started out in the Mets’ bullpen.
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The problem starts earlier, with kids who are 10 years old being taught to throw curveballs. Long before they are developed enough to do so safely.
Most pitchers started out as relievers because the starters were set and they brought up pitchers earlier than they do now for relief stints. The Mets had Seaver, Koosman, etc. Ryan actually ca,e up briefly in 1966.
Pitchers in those days actually threw more than players do today. The starters pitched on three days rest (four man rotations) and relief and backup starters, no real mid reliefs then, threw batting practice every day.
The problems today are the pitchers are the delivery they teach and the scouts depend on speed rather than the ability to pitch. Greg Maddox probably would not even be signed today. His fastball is not fast enough for the metrics and his curveball is not snarp enough. Baseball has become boring because the pitchers are all the same and the the hitters mostly have the same stance etc.
You pay a good man well, thank him for his GOOD service to the team...and then you let him go...for the betterment of...THE TEAM!
....you don't sign long-term $200M contracts to players(for their PAST performance), often past their prime...and then dumpster-dive through other teams garbage to try to fill holes in your line-up/pitching staff while depleting your farm-system of talent in the process.
Stupid management = bad baseball club.
...somebody better check on owner Mike Ilitch, he might be starting to eat his checkers.
...and then there's Brad Ausmus...(facepalm)
Jim Leyland "heh, miss me yet?"...uh, no.
Madison Bumgarner tops out at 91mph, and has a crappy curve.
And there's not a team in MLB that would not sign him to a 5+ year deal at $20+ mil per year.
That’s why there’s only two knuckleball pitchers and much fewer junkball guys left. If you can’t throw 90mph they don’t want to even see you. Like you said, boring. With all the free swinging hitters that never choke up with two strikes it would be the perfect era for some variety.
Freegards
Lefties have much more consideration besides raw stuff. His point was there are probably aces out there that are never going to get the chance to get into the big leugues because they don’t light up the radar gun. Because a lot of scouts and orginazions have this cookie-cutter approach, and if you don’t fit you don’t get a chance.
Freegards
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