Tim Lincecum, a right hand pitcher who has spent his entire nine year career with the San Francisco Giants, signed a one year $2.5M deal in late may with the Angels and is now nearing his return into the big leagues since having hip surgery nine months ago.
After making his two scheduled starts in AAA with the Salt Lake City Bee’s the 31 year old right hander is showing good progress on his way back and was supposed to make his debut this Sunday June 12th vs. Cleveland.
After his AAA start this past Tuesday were he gave up 4 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, and six strikeouts on 5 innings pitched, the freak has asked for one more start in AAA. Most of his troubles have come in the early innings as all four of those charged runs came in the bottom of the first inning. So far in his two starts this year in the minors he owns a 0-2 record with 10.0 innings pitched while giving up 5 earned runs, 5 walks, and 11 strikeouts while posting a 4.50 ERA.
With Licecum asking for one more start that puts the soonest debut date around June 17 or 18 in Oakland vs. the Athletics. Now may we be reminded that Oakland is right across the bay to the well known city where the freak is worshiped. That well known city of San Francisco is were Timmy owns a lifetime 108-83 record with a 3.61 ERA with 1704 Strikeouts in 1643.2 innings pitched. He has won two CY Young awards there (2008-2009), three world championships (2010, 2012, and 2014) as well as a being a four time NL All-Star from 2008-2011.
Hopefully as the freak progresses he can continue his winning ways while sporting some Angel red. If he has a good outing he will join a rotation of Jhoulys Chacin, Hector Santiago, Matt Shoemaker, and Jered Weaver. While Tyler Skaggs, Garrett Richards and Andrew Heaney are some of the Angles pitcher who still wait to come off a very crowded disabled list.