Tim Lincecum: Professional Pitcher

Inning	Batter	Velocity	Result
1	D. Lee	84	Ball
1	D. Lee	82	Ball
3	R. Theriot	81	Ball
3	M. Fontenot	82	Swinging strike, K
3	D. Lee	82	Ball
4	J. Edmonds	84	Ball in dirt
6	D. Lee	83	Called strike
7	H. Blanco	83	Called strike, K
7	K. Fukudome	84	Foul
8	D. Lee	83	Swinging strike

Once again, Lincecum precludes what could have been a depressing All-Star Break for the Giants with a dazzling performance: 8 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 9 K. He even helped his own cause by driving in the first run of the game with an RBI triple.

Two key points of the game, I think, were Fukudome's at-bat in the 7th and Ramirez's at-bat in the 8th. Fukudome is one of the few hitters that consistently gives Lincecum a workout. Yesterday was no different. The slider was only one pitch of an 11-pitch at-bat before Tim struck him out with changeup.

In the eighth, Tim gave up two infield singles and Aramis Ramirez was at the plate. Given the Giants' tendency to give up 3-run jacks on this road trip, I was nervous. Turned out I didn't need to be, as he got Ramirez to ground into a double-play.

With these two batters, Tim showed that he's matured as a pitcher and can get the timely out in a big situation. He has the patience to grind out an at-bat and not give in to the hitter; he knows when to get quick outs by pitching to contact instead of trying to strike out the hitter. As Krukow says: "He's a pitcher, now. Not a thrower."

The only question now is if Tim will participate in the All-Star Game after throwing 116 pitches. Clint Hurdle chose Ben Sheets as the starter because Brandon Webb pitched yesterday, so it's likely that Tim will be limited to an inning, if he even pitches at all. Good. There's no rush to push him into an All-Star Game with 129.2 IP already under his belt, and I don't want to see one of the Giants' lone bright spots on the DL because of an exhibition game. Besides, he'll have another opportunity, or 8, to start the All-Star Game.

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Odds and ends to wrap up today:

- The Giants signed 16-year old Rafael Rodriguez from the Dominican Republic over the weekend. He's vaunted as the "next" Vlad Guerrero and Dave Winfield, but Giants scouting director John Barr discouraged those comparisons. They're unfair, considering he just turned 16 and is still raw, but the Giants like what they see in him. Here's what Barr said about Rodriguez:

We felt he was one of the best international players we got a chance to look at. This player is 6-foot-5, 198 pounds. He's shown us really all the tools to play the game. He can run. He can throw. He's shown us power and the ability to take the ball the other way. He's a five-tool player. Adding to that, he has the makeup and work ethic to fulfill his abilities.

- Could Omar Vizquel retire during the break? Not so, says the wiz himself.

- Baggs also speculates that the team just isn't that high on Schierholtz. I think they like him enough not to burn up his options with Winn playing the majority of the time in RF, but not enough to promote him regardless of Winn's contract status. Not to mention the cluster of young outfielders, Lewis and Bowker, who are also making a case for regular starts.