Skip to main content

33 replies

Tim Lincecum on ESPN sunday night baseball.

baseballbumbaseballbum100+ posts
Lincecum To Start For Giants On ESPN Sunday
Posted May. 4, 2007 5:51 am by J.J. Cooper
Filed under: Daily Dish, Promotions

If you’ve wanted to see Tim Lincecum pitch but don’t live around the Bay Area, you’ll get your chance on Sunday.

The Giants announced Thursday night that Lincecum will be promoted to the big leagues to replace Russ Ortiz, who was placed on the disabled list with a sore elbow. As Baseball America correspondent Andy Baggarly explains in today’s San Jose Mercury News, the Giants called up second baseman Kevin Fransden to replace Ortiz on the roster. They’ll make another roster to move to add Lincecum to the roster before Sunday.

The callup to the majors completes a rocket-like ascent for Lincecum. He spent only 62 innings in the minors, where his final minor league statistics almost defy comprehension: 6-0 with a 0.99 ERA. He allowed 26 hits and 23 walks in 63 2/3 innings while striking out 104.

His stats this season have been even more impressive. After making the jump from high Class A San Jose to Triple-A Fresno, Lincecum allowed only one run in five starts, going 4-0, 0.29 while holding opponents to a .119 batting average. He struck out 46 batters in 31 innings while walking 11.
At the time of his promotion Lincecum was third in the minors in ERA (behind Brandon Hynick and Joe Winkelsas), tied for sixth in wins, first in strikeouts, second in strikeouts per nine innings (behind Gio Gonzalez) and second in batting average against (behind Emiliano Fruto).

If you want to know more about Tim Lincecum, here’s enough background on the righthander to keep you busy until Sunday’s start.
- "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth"." - Roberto Clemente
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Rob KremerRob Kremer1,000+ posts
Is there anything illegal about having your back foot off the rubber at release? I never thought so. In fact I have been told that doing this is good, because the closer to home plate your release the ball, the faster your "perceived velocity" as opposed to your "actual velocity." (Because the ball has less distance to travel.)
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
quote:
Is there anything illegal about having your back foot off the rubber at release?


How can you throw a ball without lifting off the rubber ? His delivery is perfect.
I can't understand how anyone could think your foot has to be in contact with the rubber. Try it it is impossible. He drags his foot after coming off the rubber and then his leg goes up as it should.
Last edited by BobbleheadDoll
T thepainguy1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by infidel_08:
Here is an interesting breakdown and analysis of Tim's delivery. I don't know who wrote it or if it's even valid. I'm certainly no expert. Can anyone here affirm or deny the assessment? It looks reasonable to me.


I mostly agree with the analyst except in the area of arm action.

I like Lincecum's arm action precisely because it's a little longer. He also doesn't pick up his arm with his elbow as much as some pitchers do, which I think is a good thing.

I saw the first couple of innings of the game and didn't think Lincecum pitched bad. However, hitters seemed to be sitting on his fastball. I didn't see as much variety as I do in a guy like Maddux, and I think that explains all the hits and home runs.

It's harder to just blow away ML hitters with a 95 MPH fastball.
T thepainguy1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Rob Kremer:
Is there anything illegal about having your back foot off the rubber at release? I never thought so. In fact I have been told that doing this is good, because the closer to home plate your release the ball, the faster your "perceived velocity" as opposed to your "actual velocity." (Because the ball has less distance to travel.)


No.

Relatively few ML pitchers (e.g. <25%) have their PAS foot on the rubber at the release point.

Here's a photo of Nate Robertson just short of the release point. His PAS foot is roughly 18 to 24 inches off the the rubber.



This is an indication that a pitcher is getting their hips around, which is a good thing.
Last edited by thepainguy
T thepainguy1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by baseballbum:
Probably one of the greatest "step Over move" I have seen.

Very Flexible kid as well.


Agree on the quality of his move.

Also, his hip/shoulder separation is excellent. As these stills show, it is something like 90 degrees, which is top 10 percent. Notice how his belt buckle is facing home while his shoulders are still closed and facing 3B.

Don't try this at home.







The kid knows how to throw the ball with his entire body.
Last edited by thepainguy
T thepainguy1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
How can you throw a ball without lifting off the rubber...I can't understand how anyone could think your foot has to be in contact with the rubber. Try it it is impossible. He drags his foot after coming off the rubber and then his leg goes up as it should.


It's technically possible but hard to do in practice.

I certainly wouldn't teach a pitcher to do it (and rate higher pitchers whose back feet are well off the rubber at the release point).
Last edited by thepainguy
B BeenthereILHSBBWeb Old Timer
Rob...Exactly what I'm saying.

If you don't have to keep contact with the rubber before releasing the ball, why do you need a rubber?

What you're saying, you could pitch from anywhere!
---------------

Went back and viewed the links...

He's at least 1-2 feet off of the rubber (his right foot) and the ball is still in his hand.

--------

Look at the Nate Robertson photo (Detroit pitcher)...ball is still in his hand and he's off of the rubber by 1 1/2 feet.

---------------------

If you're saying you don't have to have your foot on the rubber...well, then, you're right.

I just haven't been able to find anything that says you don't need to keep contact with the rubber while delivering a pitch/and release after you've delivered the ball. If that is true, however, why not pitch from anywhere?
Last edited by BeenthereIL
T thepainguy1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by BeenthereIL:
If you don't have to keep contact with the rubber before releasing the ball, why do you need a rubber? What you're saying, you could pitch from anywhere!


The rules of baseball only discuss where the foot has to be at the start of the delivery (in contact with the rubber), not where the foot has to be at the release point.

Both Mike Marshall and Tom House have incorporated this fact into their teaching and want their pitchers to release the ball as close to the plate as possible. That means not leaving the foot behind on the rubber.
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
quote:
It's technically possible but hard to do in practice.



And you say you are a scout/advisor ???

Most pitchers plant the back foot in front of the rubber after rocking back. The foot is against the rubber and not on it. You start with both feet on and then rock back.
Again many here do not know anything about pitching. The ones who do seem to have dropped out of these threads.
Last edited by BobbleheadDoll
T thepainguy1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
quote:
It's technically possible but hard to do in practice.

And you say you are a scout/advisor ??? Most pitchers plant the back foot in front of the rubber after rocking back. The foot is against the rubber and not on it. You start with both feet on and then rock back.
Again many here do not know anything about pitching. The ones who do seem to have dropped out of these threads.


I'm not sure what the controversy is.

In terms of keeping the foot on the rubber through the release point, just because it's technically possible, that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

I also understand how wind-up footwork works.
Last edited by thepainguy

Add Reply

Post
.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×