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San Francisco Giants: X-Factors For The 2015 Season

By Dan Fappiano

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Tim Lincecum, Starting Pitcher

Mar 11, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum (55) throws in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

From 2008-2011, Tim Lincecum had a string of four straight All-Star seasons and won the Cy Young award in 2008 and 2009. Lincecum was one of the most dominant young pitchers in the game.

And then 2012 hit.

Since the 2012 season, Lincecum has had an ERA over four, and has not won more than twelve games. After reaching at least 200 strikeouts in his four year run of dominance, Lincecum has topped out at 193 K’s. He has also not pitched more than 200 innings since 2011.

He has become a completely different pitcher than he was while racking up Cy Young’s.

The player formerly known as “The Freak,” has bounced around from the bullpen to the starting rotation, but is poised to take over the fifth spot in San Francisco’s rotation.

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    • While the fifth starter isn’t usually looked at as someone vital to a teams success, Lincecum’s performance is key to not only the Giants, but to Lincecum’s wallet as well. He is a free agent at the end of the season, and he needs to show teams that he is not just a shell of himself if he wants to get any form of big-time money. Lincecum will need to perform more like his Cy Young self if the Giants want to return to the postseason.

    The Giants cannot afford another lost season from Lincecum. After all, they are paying $18 million for his services this year. That is quite the number for a “fifth starter.” It is because Lincecum needs to be more than just that fifth starter. His name holds value as one of the most dominant pitchers of his time.

    Lincecum needs to return to his 2008-2011 self. If he does not “Big Time Timmy Jim” might be seeing his way out of San Francisco, and San Francisco might be seeing their way out of the playoffs.

    Next: Starting Pitcher: Matt Cain

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