Blister could hinder Giants’ Lincecum

Added on Oct 14, 2010 by Ted Sillanpaa in

MLB

Giants ace Tim Lincecum has had a blister flare up on the middle finger of his pitching hand, but doesn’t expect it to keep him from full effectiveness in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday night.

The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to send Roy Halladay to the mound Saturday at home in Game 1 in what should be a classic match-up with Lincecum. However, Lincecum has struggled with his command earlier in the season when the blister developed.

Lincecum confirmed to the San Jose Mercury News that his blister returned during his dominant 14-strikeout complete game against the Atlanta Braves in the NL Division Series opener Oct. 7.

“It’s not a big deal, and we’re taking care of it,” said Lincecum, who has received extensive treatment.

If the Giants had faced elimination in Game 4 of their NLDS versus the Braves, Lincecum wouldn’t have been able to pitch, even though manager Bruce Bochy said Lincecum insisted he would have been fine.

“It’s under control,” Bochy said.

The Giants, and Lincecum, didn’t even mention the blister problem until all sorts of rumors began to circulate about his sudden ineffectiveness in May, then again in August.

If the blister is an issue, it could affect the Giants’ ability to match aces in this series. Still, it doesn’t mean the Giants would be doomed because 21-year-old lefty Madison Bumgarner pitched well in Game 4 of the NLDS and could match-up well against the Phillies left-hand hitters if forced to pitch while Lincecum is given full rest.

Bochy isn’t ruling out the possibility that Lincecum could start three times if the series goes the distance, though.

“You get in a seven-game series,
sure, that’s the option you want to have,” Bochy said. “Both sides will have that option. Where he’s at (with the blister), sure, all that will come into play. That helps make your decision, no question.”

Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti won’t look past the series opener.

“We don’t know how they’ll come out of these starts, so we’re getting ahead of ourselves,” Righetti said. “When do you let a guy go? It’s a great question. Do you wait till they’re in their 30s? Or when they’re young and strong, but you’re worried about the effects?”

The Giants are confident in Lincecum. He is the two-time defending NL Cy Young Award winner.

“He pretty much clicked on all cylinders,” catcher Buster Posey said. “He had movement, location and really good deception.”

Lincecum is 6-1 with a 1.60 ERA in his past seven starts.

“It’s a grind, but if you do your work and don’t battle yourself, you’ll be fine. That’s kind of the way I had to think about it,” Lincecum said Thursday.