Game one of the NLCS between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants came and went. It left yet one more Jerk in its wake. Madison Bumgarner got the nod from the Giants and lasted all of 73 pitches. Bumgarner’s performace was a prelude to San Francisco’s 6-4 game one loss.
In 3.2 innings, Bumgarner allowed six runs on eight hits. In a blink of an eye San Francisco was facing a deficit from which they would never really recover. He is easily our Jerk of the Day.
This was the 22 year old’s second appearance this postseason. His first appearance—in the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds—did not go so well either (four runs allowed in 4.1 innings).
But this goes beyond a Jerk of the Day.
Although San Francisco lost the game, they have to feel good about Tim Lincecum. Entering Sunday night’s game Lincecum had a postseason ERA of 1.42 in 6.1 innings pitched. He had struck out eight batters and walked none. He only added to his impressive numbers on Sunday with two more innings of shutout relief.
What it really boils down to is this: Lincecum should start game four of the NLCS.
Ryan Vogelsong will start game two on Monday. Matt Cain will start game three. That leaves an opening for game four—an opening that should be filled by Lincecum.
Although Lincecum’s overall numbers during the regular season don’t look all that great on paper (10-15, 5.18 ERA and a career high 90 walks) he seems to have regained some of his 2011 form.
In fact, he started to look like a pitcher who was beginning to break out of his funk in the middle of July. After a July 8 start against the Pittsburgh Pirates where he allowed six runs in 3.1 innings, something seemed to change. After that start he began to act like a different pitcher—a pitcher more recognizable to San Francisco fans.
From July 8 to the end of the regular season he went 7-5, with a 3.83 ERA in 89.1 innings pitched. He held opponents to a .243 batting average and struck out 80 hitters.
But a September 25 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks put some worry back in the San Francisco faithful. In that game Lincecum only lasted four innings, allowed seven earned runs, walked four and hit a batter.
When the playoffs started Bruce Bochy decided to place Lincecum in the bullpen. Lincecum may not have been happy but he said all of the right things.
“I didn’t really have a say in the situation. I can go out there and tell him I’m ready to start, but in the end it’s his say. And when it’s postseason he’s going to pick the lineup. I can only be ready for when he calls my name or whatever he wants me to do.” (ESPN.com)
Lincecum has been ready when Bochy goes to the bullpen—with his performace on Sunday as just a small piece of evidence. Linecum is 28 years old, a two time Cy Young Award winner, and seems to be riding a wave of confidence. It’s time for San Franciso unleash Lincecum from the bullpen and hand him the ball to start game four.
Stats courtesty of Baseball-Reference.com
