Tim Lincecum's first career complete game was a 138-pitch shutout of the Padres on Saturday. Lincecum is an incredible pitcher. We're really hoping that's still the case in a few years, but we're becoming more skeptical every time Bruce Bochy sends him back out for that one extra inning. Does anyone really think the NL's ERA leader needs a confidence boost at this point? Why on earth send him back out to pitch the ninth in a 7-0 game when he's already thrown 118 pitches? He just threw 127 pitches on Monday. He had an 132-pitch outing on Aug. 27 (and followed it up with one of his worst starts of the year). Lincecum gave up two hits in the ninth tonight, bringing the Padres' total for the night up to four. He ended up striking out 12. It was an outstanding performance. However, it wouldn't have been any less impressive had he left after eight.
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In related news:
Edinson Volquez needed 121 pitches to get through six innings Saturday against the Diamondbacks.
He gave up two runs, walked six and struck out eight. Even though the Reds have absolutely nothing to play for, Volquez has thrown 117, 119 and now 121 pitches in his three starts this month. At least Dusty Baker's teams were in contention when he rode Mark Prior and Kerry Wood into the ground. Volquez is being worked harder than even for no good reason at all.
Ryan Shealy went 4-for-5 with a homer off Bryan Bullington in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Incredibly, Kila Ka'aihue, which apparently is Hawaiian for Justin Huber, didn't play in either game. We haven't given up on Shealy, but if it comes down to him or Ka'aihue getting a September audition for a 90-loss team, we'd vote for the one who isn't 29 years old. And don't get us started on Ross Gload. Shealy is now 7-for-22 with two homers since being called up. He might have some fantasy value over the final two weeks, but that will be mostly determined by the whims of Trey Hillman.
At least he doesn't baby his young pitchers.
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