Calm Down

I won't argue with anyone that Saturday night's loss to the Diamondbacks was one of the worst losses of the year. Tim Lincecum was brilliant, with a thrilling thirteen-strikeout, zero-walk performance. But listening to Ralph Barbieri and other Giants' fans on KNBR, one would think that he was throwing a perfect game.

Lincecum had thrown 111 pitches through seven innings. Let's flash back to last Sunday against the Brewers. Lincecum, in his first start since the flu took him out of the All-Star Game, came out for the seventh with 100+ pitches. He didn't record an out and gave up a three-run homer to Ryan Braun that put the game out of reach. After the game, Giants' fans hammered Bruce Bochy for pushing his young ace too far. On Saturday, when Lincecum struck out Alex Romero to end the seventh inning, I think everybody knew his day was done. If he had pitched the eighth and allowed three runs instead of Tyler Walker, do you really think Bochy would have gotten a free pass?

I'm not saying Bochy's completely guilt-free, however. Not even close. Tyler Walker hasn't proven that he can consistently hold a lead of five runs, let alone one. After a good start, Walker has worn out his welcome as the setup man. The Giants should see what they can get for him and give the eighth inning to Sergio Romo or Alex Hinshaw.