Timmy :)

50 awesome things about Tim Lincecum's no-hitter

I guess this is a tradition. A glorious, amazing tradition. After Jonathan Sanchez threw a no-hitter, there were 50 awesome things about that no-hitter. When Matt Cain threw a perfect game, the same thing happened. Tim Lincecum, you magnificent bastard. Here are 50 awesome things about you and your no-hitter.

1. It was Lincecum. Tim Lincecum. The guy who lost his talent in a poker game before the 2012, then came back to be a relief hero in the playoffs. The guy who was alternating good starts with bad. The guy who dragged the franchise out of the post-Bonds doldrums and won a couple of Cy Youngs and championships.

There’s so much weight behind something like this. Metaphorical weight. Lincecum still weighs a buck-fifty.

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8. This happened when Lincecum was struggling Look, a no-hitter when Lincecum was winning Cy Youngs would have been dandy. It would have been the cherry on a dominance sundae. But there’s a little added poignance with the struggles of the previous years. It’s not like he’s going to emerge from the depths of the ocean reborn, a new pitcher, a new man, everything is fixed. But, screw it, Lincecum was awesome for a night.

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14. There was a pitch-count concern, but it didn’t really matter. Pretty cool, everybody.

15. /tugs at collar Yeesh. Whatever. No-hitter!

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17. Twenty-nine swings and misses was a career high Except for the 2010 NLDS (31), which is still probably still the best game ever pitched in San Francisco Giants history

18. Lincecum didn’t have some sort of 94 m.p.h outlier of a game. This was pretty much the Lincecum that we’re used to now. And it was still quite good enough.

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20. That we get to punch the next trade rumor about Tim Lincecum right in the crotch One free shot. We all get one.

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25. There were hella strikeouts There’s something pure about a no-hitter with all sorts of swings and misses. Lincecum struck out 13 on Friday night, the most since April 6, 2011

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28. Tim Lincecum scored a run That’s one more than the Padres scored. Because they were shut out. Also, no-hit.

29. The curveball Dat curve. It was a non-entity for the last few years. But it’s back, and Posey’s calling for it.

30. This came in the middle of a bad season Look, it would be better if it came in another championship season. But as an oasis in a desert of losing? This will do fine, just fine.

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33. This is the face that Tim Lincecum made when a pitch hit the umpire in the beans

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36. That it wasn’t Chad Gaudin. Or Eric Hacker. Or Yusmeiro Petit Nothing against those guys, but this no-hitter was thrown by Tim Lincecum. There will be Tim Lincecum giveaways at AT&T in 2045. Don’t take that for granted. He’s kind of a big deal..

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38. The All-Star break will give Lincecum a big-ass rest Easy there, big fella.

39. BABIP Lincecum’s batting average on balls in play has been a big deal over the last two years. He threw an 89-m.p.h. fastball in BABIP’s earhole in this game. It kind of hurt.

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41. This is a Tim Lincecum quote:

I felt fine out there from the first pitch. Maybe just a little sweaty.

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50. Tim Lincecum Fine work, Tim Lincecum. Fine work. You done pitched a no-hitter. Fine work.

It had to be Tim Lincecum.