June 29, 2008
Giant Duel
Tim Lincecum and Justin Duchscherer lived up to expectations Saturday night. Tim won the game 1-0 as Duchscherer allowed a single and double in the fourth which set up the one run to score on an error (the run was earned, however). Lincecum struck out eleven. Tim struck out ten or more in a game three times this season and five times for his career.
Duchscherer's eight innings qualifies him for the ERA title and gives him enough innings that he won't slip out between starts.
Posted by David Pinto at
09:26 AM
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Both pitchers were excellent, with Duscherer actually pitching at least as well as Lincecum. Fewer strikeouts, but both pitchers were just dealing.
Lincecum has been the best pitcher in the game with two exceptions. (And he might have been the best even with them.)
First, Tim entered last night's game with a shocking .448 OBP against to team's hitters leading off innings. 47 leadoff batters had reached against him in the 105 innings he had started. Last night only two of seven reached -- and only one in the game's last six innings.
Second, Tim has been dominant against batters when he get his first pitch over, allowing them less than a .500 OPS. But he hasn't been getting enough over (only 53% entering play last night). In last night's game, he threw 19 first-pitch strikes to the 28 batters he faced (67%).
Tim had all four pitches working and was able to steal a strike with a first-pitch breaking ball on several occasions.
As the Giants' rotation is set right now, Lincecum would have had five days' rest the day of the All-Star game. I would think that with Edinson Volquez and Brandon Webb likely to have had at least two days' less rest, Tim would be the favorite to start the game for the National League.
Both pitchers were excellent, with Duscherer actually pitching at least as well as Lincecum. Fewer strikeouts, but both pitchers were just dealing.
Lincecum has been the best pitcher in the game with two exceptions. (And he might have been the best even with them.)
First, Tim entered last night's game with a shocking .448 OBP against to team's hitters leading off innings. 47 leadoff batters had reached against him in the 105 innings he had started. Last night only two of seven reached -- and only one in the game's last six innings.
Second, Tim has been dominant against batters when he get his first pitch over, allowing them less than a .500 OPS. But he hasn't been getting enough over (only 53% entering play last night). In last night's game, he threw 19 first-pitch strikes to the 28 batters he faced (67%).
Tim had all four pitches working and was able to steal a strike with a first-pitch breaking ball on several occasions.
As the Giants' rotation is set right now, Lincecum would have had five days' rest the day of the All-Star game. I would think that with Edinson Volquez and Brandon Webb likely to have had at least two days' less rest, Tim would be the favorite to start the game for the National League.
Both pitchers were excellent, with Duscherer actually pitching at least as well as Lincecum. Fewer strikeouts, but both pitchers were just dealing.
Lincecum has been the best pitcher in the game with two exceptions. (And he might have been the best even with them.)
First, Tim entered last night's game with a shocking .448 OBP against to team's hitters leading off innings. 47 leadoff batters had reached against him in the 105 innings he had started. Last night only two of seven reached -- and only one in the game's last six innings.
Second, Tim has been dominant against batters when he get his first pitch over, allowing them less than a .500 OPS. But he hasn't been getting enough over (only 53% entering play last night). In last night's game, he threw 19 first-pitch strikes to the 28 batters he faced (67%).
Tim had all four pitches working and was able to steal a strike with a first-pitch breaking ball on several occasions.
As the Giants' rotation is set right now, Lincecum would have had five days' rest the day of the All-Star game. I would think that with Edinson Volquez and Brandon Webb likely to have had at least two days' less rest, Tim would be the favorite to start the game for the National League.