DUGOUT: Lincecum’s success defies the odds

The world has never seen anything like Tim Lincecum.

Nicknamed “The Freak,” Lincecum has an incredibly bizarre delivery and fascinating mullet-like hair to go along with amazing on-the-field results. He has captured the imagination of sporting fans everywhere.

If you have ever watched the 170-pound-when-soaking-wet Lincecum pitch, the first thing you notice is his tiny frame. Listed at 5-11, Lincecum looks more like a batboy than an All-Star hurler who boasts 98-mph fastballs and dizzying curveballs.

After seeing him pitch, the second thing you’ll notice about Lincecum is his unique delivery. Nine teams passed on Lincecum in the 2006 MLB Draft, some completely removing him from their draft boards because of the injury threat he poised. So far, Lincecum has yet to bow to the injury bug, but it’s easy to see why teams were skittish on draft day.

Lincecum’s throwing motion is far from traditional. Taught by his father, the goal of the delivery is to get as much as possible out of Lincecum’s small frame. Basically leaping off the mound as he propels the ball forward, everywhere Lincecum goes he has scouts envious, but trainers skeptical. How does a guy whose knee almost touches the ground every pitch stay healthy?

When watching in real-time, the delivery looks like a flailing of every limb at the batter as quick as possible. If the film is broken down, though, you find a method to the madness that is Tim Lincecum.

About 22 frames of motion exist between Lincecum’s knee raise (which points almost directly at second base) and release. That’s phenomenally quick. His fast delivery is led by his hips, which allows him to release the ball very quickly. That quick tempo greatly improves his velocity because the body is basically moving the arm forward by itself. Lincecum also has one of the fastest arm releases in the majors.

Perhaps most puzzling about Lincecum, though, is his seven-and-a-half foot stride length. He nearly steps off the mound when he plants his foot after every pitch. The Giant’s coaching staff doesn’t mess with Lincecum’s mechanics despite warnings from medical staffs because Lincecum is well on his way to a second Cy Young award and changing anything might ruin that chance.

Lincecum spent three years at the University of Washington before signing with the Giants following the 2006 Draft. As a 22-year-old in 2006 Lincecum pitched eight games in Single-A ball. In 2007 he jumped to Triple-A, where he had a total of five starts. With a record of 4-0, an ERA of 0.29, and more strikeouts than innings pitched, the Giants realized that there was nothing more he could accomplish in the minor leagues.

After appearing in just 13 minor-league games, Lincecum made his major-league debut on May 6, 2007.

Four-and-a-third innings later, Lincecum was removed from the game, his debut not going according to plan. He bounced back, though, finishing the season with a 7-5 record to go with an ERA of 4.00.

Last year, Lincecum’s first full season, brought both an All-Star selection (he fell ill the night of the game and wasn’t available to pitch) and a Cy Young Award. Lincecum boasted an 18-5 record and an ERA of 2.62. After the departure of Barry Bonds, the Giants were once again watchable.

Physicians were watching Lincecum with great interest, as well. They did not understand how it was possible that such a fast object was being hurled from such a small frame. Most pitchers can accelerate a ball from zero-to-90 miles per hour in just three tenths of a second. This g-force, sustained for 60 seconds, can be lethal, according to the American Sports Medical Institute.

How Lincecum did that more than 100 times a game without getting hurt was tough to figure out. He has been compared to a robot, throwing as well as he does simply because it is all he knows.

Put as simply as possible, Lincecum is a strikeout pitcher. He has the perfect combination of pitches that allow him to work ahead in the count before ultimately forcing an opposing batter to retire to his dugout before even making contact with the ball.

It is very rare that a strikeout pitcher like Lincecum also has outstanding endurance and durability. Lincecum once had a start interrupted by a rain delay. After an hour of sitting in the clubhouse, Lincecum chose to return and finish the game — a rarity among pitchers. This combination of excellent pitches and durability only further elevates Lincecum in the minds of baseball fans.

Lincecum could very well be doomed to a career of perpetual injuries and extended stints on the disabled list. He could be required to undergo Tommy John surgery and may never again be able to throw like he is right now.

For now, though, the 25-year-old Lincecum is continuing to amaze the baseball world with his durability, devastating curveball, and incredible velocity. He heads into the All-Star break as the Cy Young frontrunner and has tallied 23 consecutive scoreless innings after Saturday’s outstanding start against Houston.

This may end up being the high point of his career, or Lincecum could just be getting started.

Andrew Kneeland will be a junior at Sahuarita High School. He is an intern at the Green Valley News.