San Francisco Giants: Final Spring Training Headlines As Opening Day Looms

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The Starters Look Ready To Go…Except Tim Lincecum

Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Barry Zito and Ryan Vogelsong have all had impressive springs. Cain has a 4.50 ERA, Bumgarner has a 2.29, Vogelsong has a 2.70 and Zito has a 3.00.

But the headline entering spring training remains the headline in the fifth or so week of spring training: Tim Lincecum.

March 23, 2013; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) reacts after starting pitcher Tim Lincecum (55) is lifted from a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics in the third inning at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

2013 is a big season for the “Freak.” Not only will he become a free-agent after the season, but he’s fresh off a very disappointing 2012 campaign that saw him post the worst National League ERA among qualified starters.

So while he generally isn’t good in the spring, a quick start would give the Giants some kind of relief. But he hasn’t provided them with much relief at all. He has a 10.97 ERA in 10.2 innings, and he’s using a lot of pitches to get through his starts. In other words, like last year.

Spring training is spring training, and the regular season is an entirely differently animal, but there has to be some concern regarding Lincecum. He looks like he did and 2012 in terms of his pitching, and a repeat performance obviously won’t bode him or the Giants well this year.