10 reasons why Tim Lincecum can succeed with Angels
By John Shea
May 21, 2016 Updated: May 21, 2016 10:31pm
Tim Lincecum is expected to make his Angels debut between June 9 and June 19. He’ll throw 75 to 100 pitches in a simulated game Monday at their facility in Tempe, Ariz., and report next week to the minors to make a few starts before his call-up.
There are doubters, including some Giants fans, who believe Lincecum has nothing left, that his career is over and that he’s done.
Here are 10 reasons his comeback can succeed:
1. He has no arm issues: When Lincecum was placed on the disabled list last summer, it wasn’t because of an ailment in his elbow or shoulder or a result of pitching, but because he was hit on his forearm by a line drive. He normally has a load of high-leverage innings by this time of year, so the fresh arm should be a benefit. By the way, we’re told, he went through his entire Giants career without icing after starts. Except when he was pelted by a batted ball.
2. His mechanics are back: Over time, the hip problem restricted Lincecum’s unique delivery and made him land differently with his front foot. When he’s right, he ends his long stride with his foot pointing either toward the target or a bit closed (toward the third-base line). Last year, as the hip progressively limited him, he was landing with his foot a bit open (toward the first-base line), affecting his balance, command and velocity. After surgery, he has the mobility, stability and strength to use his windup, with the familiar rotation and torque, without restrictions.
3. He’s not over the hill: At 31, Lincecum should have several seasons remaining. He’s 11 years younger than Bartolo Colon, 10 younger than R.A. Dickey. He’s younger than Jon Lester,John Lackey, James Shields, J.A. Happ and others succeeding this year. Want inspiration? Back in the ’60s, the Tigers dealt Jim Bunning to the Phillies when he was 32, thinking he was past his prime following a down year, and Bunning then posted his best four-year run (74-46, 2.48 ERA), solidifying his Hall-of-Fame resume.
4. The opportunity is perfect: The Angels desperately need Lincecum, who wasn’t going to return to the Giants so long as they offered only a bullpen role. Despite a rotation decimated by injuries, the Angels aren’t done in the not-so-great AL West and believe their Mike Trout-led team can contend even with Jered Weaver (5.76 ERA) and Matt Shoemaker ( (6.81) pitching.Garrett Richards is avoiding Tommy John surgery (for now) with stem-cell therapy. Tyler Skaggs is coming off Tommy John surgery. C.J. Wilson is recuperating from elbow surgery to remove bone spurs. And Andrew Heaney has multiple arm ailments. Lincecum is the healthiest of the bunch. Imagine that.
5. His stuff is good: A scout at Lincecum’s Arizona showcase said he envisioned a role as a third or fourth starter for the pitcher, who touched 92 mph during the 41-pitch audition, mostly throwing 89 to 91 — not close to his Cy Young years, but up from last year’s 87-88. Lincecum felt comfortable with his slider, cutter and changeup and especially liked his curve.
6. He has incentive: Lincecum wants to prove to himself and the industry that he can succeed again, not just so he can get a big contract next winter but because he’d rather be known as a pitcher with a long shelf life, not one who dominated at a young age and could never return to form. It helps that the next free-agent pitching crop isn’t deep, especially with Stephen Strasburg signing long term with Washington. For starters: Brett Anderson, AndrewCashner, Clay Buchholz, Doug Fister, Wilson, Colon, Rich Hill and Jake Peavy. So, yeah, Lincecum could make himself an appealing target on the open market.
7. He has a support group: Angels manager Mike Scioscia is an old All-Star catcher with a lifetime of pitching knowledge, and former pitching coach and manager Bud Black, universally respected in the game, is a special assistant to first-year general manager Billy Eppler, who’s a big Lincecum advocate. Black knows all about Lincecum, who twice no-hit the Padres on Black’s watch. Former Giants catcher Bengie Molina, an Angels special instructor who caught/tutored Lincecum in his early seasons, will be around for his old batterymate’s road to Anaheim.
8. He wasn’t terrible in 2015: Lincecum had a 2.08 ERA a year ago today, through eight starts. In half of those, he pitched six or more shutout innings. It was a carryover from spring training when he said his mechanics were back on track. As his hip worsened (which sometimes caused him to stumble off the mound after his release), so did his ERA. Five starts later, it was 3.31. In his next and final two starts, before he went on the disabled list, he failed to last two innings. The ERA wound up at 4.13, which was his best in four years and would rank fourth in the Giants’ current rotation.
9. He never left the West Coast: Lincecum grew up in Washington and loved the cool climate in San Francisco. In a Friday conference call, he said, “I’ve had a knack for being a West Coast guy, and I’ve always had a curiosity about the Angels, just because they were in my sights as a young kid, a West Coast team.” The Padres (or even the Dodgers) would have seemed a perfect fit, considering their rotation issues and Lincecum’s familiarity with NL West ballparks. The AL West could be the next best thing. He has never pitched in Anaheim Stadium, which is pitcher-friendly. The Angels play at the Coliseum June 17-19 and Sept. 5-7.
10. He’s his own character: Anaheim has a mouse named Mickey, a duck named Donald, a dog named Pluto, an elephant named Dumbo, a tiger named Tigger, a cricket named Jiminy, a cow named Clarabelle and now a pitcher in a hoodie and shades named Freak.
John Shea is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter:JohnSheaHey
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