The emergence of Tim Lincecum, relief pitcher, has been an interesting storyline in the 2012 Major League Baseball postseason.
Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, had the worst year of his career in 2012 but has been a valuable part of the Giants’ run to the World Series with his work out of the bullpen. He’s made one start in the postseason and five relief appearances. In the relief work, he’s allowed one run and just three hits in 13 innings. He has struck out 17.
As far as Lincecum’s recent career history, the bullpen success has come out of nowhere. Before these playoffs, he had made two relief appearances in his Major League career, one in 2010 and one in 2008. He made no relief appearances in the minors, and in his final season at Washington, he made five.
But he’s been a relief pitcher before.
In the 2005 Cape Cod Baseball League season, Lincecum was playing for Harwich and was forced to the bullpen because of an injury. He dominated from there, putting up a 0.69 ERA and striking out an amazing 68 in 39.1 innings. He saved seven games.
That was a long time ago, and I don’t know if Lincecum is drawing on that experience at all, but it’s cool to mention.
Tim Lincecum, relief pitcher, is nothing new on Cape Cod.