Honoring Tim Lincecum's remarkable career; Fil/American pitcher designated for assignment

Tim Lincecum, in his prime, was unhittable which led to winning the Cy Young award for two consecutive years.

By Louis Chan
Reprinted from AsAm News
A PHOTO of two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum’s trade mark fist pump and smile hangs on my wall.

The picture actually had been put away in my closet, but when I heard the charismatic, yet quiet ex-San Francisco Giant had been sent bags packing by the California Angels, I decided to put his picture back up.

Too many memories of better days to let Timmy collect dust.

His bid to comeback to prominence apparently is over after going 2-6 with the Angels during which he give up an average of nine runs a game after not being resigned by the Giants.

You had a feeling something wasn’t right with the Filipino/American pitcher when he kept pushing back his audition this off season. He had been working on his game in private away from view of the public, refusing to let even the scouts see until he threw himself an open audition attending by some 20 teams after the season started.

Its been a steady decline that started in 2011. Sure, there were glimpses of the old Timmy including his second no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in 2014. It was moments like that that gave long time fans hope the Timmy magic had not completely disappeared, but it did. In 2014, the last of the Giants three most recent World Series championships, Lincecum was a non-factor appearing as a reliever for just one inning the entire post season.

I prefer to remember the glory days. He quickly became the team’s name plate after coming up from the minors in 2007. After Barry Bonds left the team, it was Timmy who would bring the Giants back to greatness and lead the team to the first of three World Series titles starting in 2010.

Who could forget, let alone hit, his 97 mile per hour fast ball. Who could forget his back to back Cy Young Awards for being baseball’s best pitcher in 2008 and 2009. Who could forget Timmy playing a key role in the 2012 World Series coming in as a reliever at pivotal points during the post season–doing whatever it would take to bring home another championship.

It’s expected Lincecum will clear waiver. He’ll then have to decide if he wants to continue to work on his games in the minors where the Angels have offered him a spot.

Timmy, your glory days may be gone, but you’ll always have a place up on my wall and in my heart.

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'The Freak' is back, fans cheer Tim Lincecum's comeback

Tim Lincecum fans came out to support their favorite Filipino/American baseball player.

By Louis Chan
Reprinted from AsAm News

TWO-TIME Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum made his debut as a Los Angeles Angel in Oakland not far from where he spent his first nine seasons as a San Francisco Giant.

Fans wearing Giant hats and number 55 jerseys greeted him with cheers as he walked on to the field in the bottom of the first.

Lincecum, whose mother is Filipino/American, pitched six strong innings allowing just four hits and one earned run to defeat the Oakland A’s 7-1.

“Pretty incredible, I wasn’t expecting that,” said Lincecum about the warm reception the fans gave him. “They came out today and showed their support. It’s nice being out here close to where I started and having my Bay Area fans here. Definitely made it few like a home game to me.”

Lincecum was making his comeback from hip surgery and four sub par seasons during which he went 39-42 with a 4.6 ERA. That’s a far cry from his Cy Young years when he routinely mowed down batters and earned the nickname of “The Freak” for his unorthodox delivery and long hair.

Much has been made of Lincecum getting a fresh start away from the critical eye of frustrated fans who adored him those nine seasons as a Giant. On this day, it was the Giant fans who helped to energized him.

“I was pretty lucky to have that kind of following out there today. Inning by inning and throughout the game. So if anything, it helped me. It helped my cause.”

Tim Lincecum wasn't overpowering but he did enough to win; 6 innings, 4 hits.

Tim Lincecum: Face of the Giants is now an Angel

Tim Lincecum in an Angels uniform will take some getting used to.

IT JUST doesn't look right. Pitcher Tim Lincecum in a baseball uniform other than the orange-and-black of the San Francisco Giants.

Much to the disappointment of his many fans in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Filipino-American hurler has agreed to a deal to play for the Anaheim Angels.

He apparently has recovered from his hip surgery. The weak hip has hampered his effectiveness on the mound the last four years. 

RELATED: Has Lincecum pitched for the last time?

While there's no certainty that Lincecum can come close to being the player he once was when he won two consecutive Cy Young Awards, Eppler wanted to take the chance.

"With guys that have shown the ability to be that star-level talent, when you have an opportunity to bring that in and there's something to reclaim there," said Angels general manager Billy Eppler. "Is he going to be the version of himself from six or seven years ago? I don't know."

Lincecum on Friday (May 20) signed a one-year free-agent $2.5 million deal with the Angels laden with incentives including  $1,175,000 in performance bonuses and $500,000 in roster bonuses, according to the Associated Press. He would receive $25,000 for making 11 starts, $50,000 for 13, $100,000 for 15, $200,000 for 17 and $400,000 each for 19 and 21 starts.

In addition, he would receive $125,000 each for four, 30, 60 and 90 days on the active roster, excluding disabled list days spent due to a right hip injury.

The 31-yeard old right-hander had spent his entire career in San Francisco, going 108-83 with a 3.61 ERA. He made history in 2009, becoming just one of four pitchers to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards. He was also a part of three World Series-winning teams with the Giants (2010, 2012, 2014), going 5-2 with a 2.40 ERA in the postseason.

RELATED: Lincecum interviews Bruce Lee

The Giants made an offer to their long-time pitcher but they offered a role in the bullpen. The Angels will let him compete for a starter's slot and that was what apparently clinched the deal.

He was a fan favorite and because of his small stature, he was nicknamed "The Freak" and with his long hair, slight frame and laid back manager, he lived up to the monicker. One other thing he did: Because of his presence, the Giants discovered the Filipino/American market known in the Bay Area.  They were the first sports franchise to hold Filipino Heritage Night's a couple of times a year. They were usually timed whenever it was Timmy's turn to start.

RELATED: The Golden State Warriors' Asian connection

NOTE TO ASIAN ANGEL FANS: Timmy's a good guy and acknowledges his hapa heritage. Maybe he'll bring in a lot of Asian fans from Carson, Torrance and the San Gabriel Valley. If he doesn't work out, the Giants will take him back. 

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For more news about Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.

Has Lincecum pitched for the last time?

Tim Lincecum's slight frame and his skill on the mound earlier in his career, earned him the
 nickname, "The Freak."

HAS TIM LINCECUM thrown his last pitch in professional baseball?

UPDATE: Today, Sept. 3, the Giants announced that Lincecum is done for the season.

In an exclusive story, the San Jose Mercury News reports that the Filipino/American pitcher has continued difficulty in recovering from a hip injury that has had on the San Francisco Giants' disabled list after being struck on the arm by a line drive in a June 27 game against the Colorado Rockies. 

"The bad days are outshining the good ones," Lincecum admitted to a reporter.

The highly popular pitcher reached the zenith of his career in after winning consecutive Cy Young Awards for best pitcher of the year in 2008-2009 and led the Giants to the World Series championship in 2010.

RELATED: Lincecum interviews Bruce Lee

In 2011, his pitching prowess declined rapidly and was never able to recapture his winning form.

Even if he was to have surgery during the off-season, it is doubtful the Giants would resign him since this is the last season of his current contract and he becomes a free agent. Before his current injury, he was the fifth starter in a 5-man rotation and that position was already shaky.

His inconsistency and inability to control his fastball made his starting position in doubt. There was talk among the coaches and fans that he might be moved to the bullpen, a position he was in last year during the post-season. Manager Bruce Bochy didn't have enough confidence in him to put him in, even in relief. It was most telling that in a 18-inning game with the Washington Nationals during the 2014 postseason, the Giants had to use all its pitchers but Lincecum remained on the bench. (Editor: Earlier versions had the wrong opponent vs. the Giants.)

Born and raised in Seattle, Lincecum's mother is a Filipina/American raised in Hawaii. He is the only Filipino/American baseball player currently on a major league baseball team.

While the story hints strongly that Lincecum's career may be over, we hope that he he regains the unique form that made him the game's most dominant pitcher in 2008 to 2010 ... even (gasp) if it is not in a Giants uniform.

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