It’s not very often that a two-time Cy Young award winner will find himself pitching out of the bullpen, but for Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants, it’s looking to become more and more likely.
With Matt Cain and Jake Peavy set to rejoin the San Francisco Giants starting pitching rotation, there simply isn’t enough room for all the arms and the Giants seem to feel a move to the bullpen would be good for Lincecum.
Also possibly joining him will be Tim Hudson, though it’s likely he’ll be headed to the disabled list.
Bochy cautioned that an off day Monday could allow him and pitching coach Dave Righetti to tweak the rotation and do things differently. Bochy did not specifically say Hudson and Lincecum would be out, but said generically, “If somebody misses a start and goes to the bullpen, sometimes that’s a good thing. It gives them a break.”
He probably meant Lincecum, who was hammered for five runs in 11/3 innings at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night, his shortest career start, and has a 7.00 ERA over his past six starts.
Lincecum has come out of the bullpen on a few occasions before, most notably during the Giants’ 2010 World Series run though it’s understandably his preference to start.
The Freak has done decent in the rotation this season, but has struggled in recent weeks. It’s unlikely the move will be permanent and it’s also possible that Ryan Vogelsong, who has also fallen on hard times, could be moved to the bullpen as well.
