Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
file photo sfexaminer.com: Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tim Lincecum
ANAHEIM– Mike Scioscia, manager of the Los Angeles Angels told me on Monday during our pregame show for Fox Sports West that he has Tim Lincecum starting his first game as an Angel this next Saturday when the team will play a weekend series at the Oakland Coliseum. Lincecum asked the Angels for one more start in the minors, and he got it, as he pitched this past Sunday against the Fresno Grizzles (Triple A team for the Houston Astros), he went 7 innings gave one hit and no runs and said he was ready.
The Angels pitching staff has been decimated, losing their #1 starter Garrett Richards for the whole season, and they really never had their “normal” rotation as of today this season, (no Heaney, Skaggs, CJ.Wilson) having to go and acquire guys like Jhoulys Chacin and David Huff. The Angels bullpen has been a mess all season long, their closer Huston Street was on the disabled list, he was recently activated but their set-up man Joe Smith is now on the DL.
These are trying times for the Angels manager Mike Scioscia the longest tenured manager in the majors, 17 years at the helm of the LA Angels. Tim Lincecum is a perfect fit here in Anaheim, where they are seriously looking for starting pitching, he wanted to be a starter again and he is getting his wish this Saturday.
Tim Lincecum who won two Cy Young Awards with the San Francisco Giants and pitched only for them from 2007 to 2015, just concluded his minor league work with the Salt Lake City Bees (AAA) for the Angels feels good and ready to go after a great outing at Fresno the Triple A affiliate for the Houston Astros and from 1998 to 2014 the San Francisco Giants Triple A affiliate, he threw his fastball 87-89 MPH, a curve-ball in the low 70’s and his best pitch was a change-up between 81 to 85 MPH. He said after the outing” I am definitely ready for the Angels”.
“The Freak”returns to the bay now wearing an Angels uniform, and he is about to celebrate his 32nd birthday on Wednesday the 15th. Lincecum’s outing could help the Oakland A’s at the box office, since he still enjoys great popularity in the Bay Area. The Giants wanted him back for bullpen work, but Lincecum says he still a starter and wants to prove it. How much does he has left? We will see. Angels pitching is desperate and six innings on a good first start would be very nice for Scioscias’ Angels. But then again, isn’t it six innings of a “quality start” this day anyway?
Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish TV voice for the Angels, the Spanish radio voice for the A’s, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
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