From Roy Halladay to Tim Lincecum, pitchers are in full effect in this year's MLB postseason play.
Pitchers in the MLB division series' are putting on a show early on starting in game 1. Roy Halladay's no-hitter seemed to be the best it might get this post season, but then came Tim Lincecum. Tonight, he shined bright in his first post season appearance for the San Francisco Giants. He struck out 14 batters while only surrendering 2 hits tonight in was has become a controversial first game due to an incorrect stollen base call.
Giants Catcher Buster Posey stole the first base of of his career against the Atlanta Braves which clearly should have been called out. Even Posey himself had admitted that he 'was sure glad that instant replay wasn't being used in the series. If it were, the call would have definitely turned the other way. But yet and still, it would have been difficult to say that the Braves would have won it the call had been overturned. The Braves won't be the ones to make any excuses either. Besides, Lincecum ultimately was the difference maker in this game. Second baseman Brooks Conrad made no negative comments about the play.
His fastest pitch only clocked in at about 93 MPH, but the Braves were swinging so late, they looked like 100+ MPH. Also, the amazing change-ups that ended up in the dirt after starting way up in the box seemed to be fooling the entire Braves team. Lincecum brought his best stuff tonight and made Atlanta pay with every pitch. With the crowd fully behind him, he made the top of the 9th look very easy. He almost went the whole game striking batters out swinging.
This performance shouldn't be much of a surprise, especially from a two time Cy Young winner. It just appeared that he would have his troubles because it was his first appearance and he was really struggling before the start of the postseason. But Lincecum handled the situation as if he had been there before. With the final score of 1-0, let's see how well the Giants' next pitcher follows up.
Wait for more good performances later from a few more pitchers before this postseason ends. Yankees closer Andy Pettite played well in the New York and Twins series in their second game. Instead of looking for the big bats in this postseason, keep an eye out for the pitchers, they are on fire!