Tim Lincecum: Back on Track or Cause for Concern?

Tim Lincecum has won the last two National League Cy Young Awards.

In 2008, at the age of 24, Lincecum dominated, striking out 265 batters in 227 innings. He was 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA, a 169 ERA+, and a WHIP of 1.172.

In 2009, Tim continued where he had left off. His record dropped off to 15-7, but he was just as dominant, striking out 261 batters in 225 and one-third innings.

His ERA was even better than the previous year (2.48), his ERA+ improved to 177, and he had a WHIP of 1.047.

This season, Lincecum is striking out batters at about the same rate as in his last two seasons, but he has lost some velocity off his fast ball and is throwing more breaking pitches.

It has been reported that Tim has been experimenting with a new delivery, which has been described as the hand-over-head windup he used in college.

He felt that he had to slow the top half of his body in order to improve his control.

After last night's win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lincecum, who worked seven innings with nine strikeouts, told the media that the change was "a little 'twirk.' I guess for me, it's a big 'twirk.'"

He intends to continue using it.

The win was Lincecum's first win in two weeks.

The last time he faced the Dodgers, which was in Los Angeles on July 20, they roughed Tim up for five runs and seven hits in only four and two-thirds innings. Tim walked three and recorded only two strikeouts.

In baseball, as in life, one never knows, but it seems as if Lincecum will not repeat as the National League's Cy Young Award winner.

Ubaldo Jimenez (16-2, 2.67 ERA), Adam Wainwright (14-6, 2.23 ERA), Josh Johnson (10-3, 1.72 ERA), and Roy Halladay (12-8, 2.21 ERA) are the front runners.

Lincecum is having a fine season. He has 11 wins, is striking out hitters at the same rate as in the past, and was selected for the all-star team, but there have been some unsettling problems.

He had four consecutive games in which he walked five batters, and his ERA, although very good, is 3.10 so far. He falls behind the batter too often.

During inter-league play, the Boston Red Sox roughed up him up, and he was not Tim Lincecum in his next start against the Colorado Rockies.

In a no-decision against the offensively challenged Arizona Diamondbacks on July 25, Tim allowed nine hits in eight innings, striking out only five. He allowed only two runs.

His only dominant game before last night was against New York's most beloved team, the New York Mets, on July 15. Tim pitched a shut out, allowing six hits and striking out five.

Tim Lincecum has a weird delivery. He is listed a 5'11' and 170 pounds, which today, is considered small, especially for a power pitcher.

There has been some concern about Lincecum, but it should be emphasized that he is having a fine season. It is a little too early for any real concern. Isn't it?

References:

Tim Lincecum at CBS Sports

Tim Lincecum Beats Los Angeles