>>>snip
>>>Lots more snipping
>>
>>>Not continuing the debate, honest. I think we already agreed they are both great pitchers and we are lucky to have them in the majors at the same time. Here is an article about Lincecum you may enjoy. It ran in the NY Times a couple of days ago, in advance of his start against the Mets today.
>>>
>>>http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/sports/baseball/07giants.html?scp=1&sq=tim%20lincecum&st=cse
>>>
>>>I am definitely an example of a fan who finds himself cheering for the Giants now that Barry Voldemort has slithered from the scene. The new bunch has a lot of appeal. And with Barry Zito pitching like his old self again, their starting rotation is formidable. Other teams aren't going to catch many breaks with Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, and Zito coming at them four out of five days.
>>
>>It was a good story. There's also a good one on Halladay in today's National Post (Toronto paper). There is no getting around the fact that Lincecum is extraordinary. More importantly he's always been a real likable guy. It's always a matter of opinion (I guess until the final stats are in), but I just think Halladay is going to really show this year now that he's out of Toronto. I contend it's harder to pitch well (even for a guy as inhumanly focused as Halladay) in front of 60-75% empty seats. You'd be amazed at how many Toronto fans are now Phillies fans 1 game out of 5. Unlike almost all the players before him who've left for greener pastures, nobody, and I do mean nobody feels any animosity for Halladay, and everybody is rooting for him. The Phils got more than just a great pitcher.
>>
>>I'm still trying to figure out what's going on with Ubaldo Jimenez. The guy's never been this good before, and he's throwing for a team that's playing under 500 ball. What's he been eating?
>>
>>Oh, almost forgot. If you're interested, the story on Halladay: http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=3003113
>
>This is irritating. I am doing some computer maintenance and have the ESPN baseball scoreboard running in a window. For the third start in a row Lincecum left the game with a two or three run lead, and the bullpen has coughed it up every time. All fairly spectacular blown saves. The first time he left with one out in the ninth, one man on, and a three run lead. The last two times the reliever has come in at the start of the inning with a two run lead. His record remains 4-0 and should be 7-0.
>
>I know what you're thinking. If he were more durable he could finish the games and not be dependent on a leaky bullpen. Let's resume this discussion in August or September when Halladay's arm is dead ;-)

That's not exactly what I was thinking. I was thinking more along the lines that if the pitch counters would butt out and let him finish, it might make all the difference. I mean what's the point of taking the guy out in the ninth inning unless he's falling apart, which I assume he was not. I do say might make all the difference. After all, it might just be that he can't do complete games. If the former (that was Doc's problem with the pitch counters on the Jays), then he has my sympathy. If the latter, then I think the debate is pretty much over. After all, if he simply can't do nine full innings, then turning it over to people who can't do the job is on his own head.

He has a radical delivery, and it may be very hard on his arm, so maybe he can't go nine. But if that's the case, then there's no sense blaming the losses on the rest of the staff who give up runs just because they aren't as good as he.

Like I said, that was Doc's problem for years with the Jays. He could have finished games, but they wouldn't let him, and then they'd turn the game over to mere mortals who would throw it away.