Fil-Am 'Freak' in historic bid

MANILA, Philippines - Since moving from New York to San Francisco in 1958, the Giants have played in three World Series, losing to the Yankees, 4-3, in 1962, the Oakland Athletics, 4-0, in 1989 and the Anaheim Angels, 4-3, in 2002.

It hasn’t been easy sailing for the Bay Area major league baseball franchise after relocating. Before this season, the Giants failed to make it to the playoffs for six straight years. But things are looking up. San Francisco is back in the World Series and with Fil-Am pitcher Tim Lincecum on the mound, hopes to turn things around by defeating the Texas Rangers in the best-of-seven race for the pennant.

Lincecum, 26, is in his fourth year with the Giants and finally, has a chance to make history. The two-time Cy Young awardee delivered a strong message in his first-ever playoff appearance by posting 14 strikeouts against Atlanta in Game 1 of the National League Division Series last Oct. 7. He went the distance in leading the Giants to a 1-0 win, giving up only two hits. San Francisco ended up ousting the Braves, 3-1, in the best-of-five duel.

In the National League Championship Series, Lincecum once again got the nod to start for the Giants in Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies. And he didn’t disappoint, outdueling Roy Halladay by compiling eight strikeouts and yielding three earned runs in seven innings for a 4-3 victory. In the Game 6 clincher, Lincecum came in as a reliever in the eighth inning as the Giants closed it out with a 3-2 decision.

At first glance, Lincecum wouldn’t impress you with his looks. He is listed at 5-10 or 5-11, depending on which scouting report is credible, and weighs slightly more than 170 pounds. Lincecum is skinny with shaggy black hair. It wasn’t surprising that he was once stopped for trespassing by the Giants’ clubhouse security when not too many knew of his elevation from the minors in 2007. Lincecum just doesn’t strike you as a major league player. No wonder Giants manager Bruce Bochy calls him the “Freak.”

Cleveland Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said when Lincecum throws a pitch, “it looks like his head is going to snap off and his arm is going to fly off.” His physique was probably why he was picked in the 48th round – 1,408th overall – in the 2003 draft by the Chicago Cubs who didn’t sign him. Lincecum went to college and reentered the draft in 2005 but was virtually ignored once more as the Indians picked him in the 42nd round. He failed to sign and was back in the draft next year but this time was chosen by the Giants in the first round as the 10th overall pick after taking the Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur player for registering a 12-4 record with a 1.94 ERA, 199 strikeouts and three saves with the University of Washington.

Gifted with a gymnast’s flexibility and coordination, Lincecum’s delivery has been measured to pack a speed of 98 miles per hour. The velocity is incredible and according to Tom Verducci in Sports Illustrated, what sets him apart from others is the length of his stride – 129 percent of his height or roughly 7 1/2 feet compared to average of 77 to 87 percent. “Such velocity was possible only because Lincecum’s delivery is an engineering marvel and he has the athleticism and fine-gague musculature to pull it off time after time after time,” added Verducci.

Lincecum’s variety is also dazzling with curveballs, change-ups, sliders and scorching fastballs. “What makes him so tough is he can throw his off-speed stuff for strikes at any time,” said Rangers rightfielder Jeff Francoeur. Verducci said Lincecum “pitches with the intentions of a drag racer – it’s go time from the start, his delivery gives the illusion of being one movement rather than the cobbling of several separate ones.”

In four regular seasons, Lincecum has posted a 56-27 record with 907 strikeouts, a 3.04 ERA and five shutouts. He has led the National League in strikeouts the last three years.

Lincecum owes his development to his father Chris, a parts inventory employee at Boeing in Seattle. He learned the game at the age of five and developed his style from drills and hours of watching tape with his father.

Lincecum’s mother Rebecca (Becky) Asis is a full-blooded Filipina. Her father Balleriano was born in Honolulu and mother Philomena Marasigan in Stockton, California. Balleriano’s father Genaro was born somewhere in Mindanao and mother Albert Alcoy in Cebu. Philomena’s father Leoncio was born in Batangas and mother Anastasia Dominguez in Siquijor.

Lincecum inherited his strong sense of family ties from his mother. Writer Kevin Riley said a few days after Lincecum’s Filipino grandfather Balleriano Asis died in 2007, he was distraught and didn’t play up to par against the Chicago Cubs.

“It was my fault, I had a lot of stuff in my head,” said Lincecum, quoted by Riley. “Out there, I was thinking about my grandpa. I was thinking of past stuff as well as using him to help me. A lot of people do that, they look to God and relatives who have passed away. They look to them to help get though stuff. I guess I used him like that and it was great. It’s sad to see him go and it’s kind of tough to deal with but on the field, I’m just trying to be as focused on the game as possible.”

When the Giants face the Rangers in Game 1 of the World Series, Lincecum will likely get the starting job as pitcher against Texas’ Cliff Lee in a classic match-up. He opened the last two playoff series with San Francisco and scored two wins for the Giants. Unless the Rangers refuse to cooperate, the “Freak” is on track to make it three playoff-opening wins in a row.