Nearly 24 hours after one of the greatest pitching performances in postseason history, Tim Lincecum was still trying to gain perspective on what he did in Game 1 against the Atlanta Braves.
But mostly, he was thinking ahead to his next start — whether it be on three days of rest in Game 4 Monday, on regular rest in Game 5 Wednesday or in the NLCS if the Giants advance.
“If I have to face these guys again, I kind of have an idea how to attack them,” said Lincecum, who struck out 14 while throwing a two-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory. “And if that’s the case, if they need me (Monday), I’ve just got to push it and get myself ready.”
The Giants surely would have saved Lincecum for a potential Game 5 at AT&T Park if they held on to win Friday night and take a 2-0 lead in the series. But after the Braves’ comeback victory, manager Bruce Bochy said Lincecum remains very much in play as a Game 4 alternative to rookie Madison Bumgarner.
Braves manager Bobby Cox said he was leaning toward bringing back his Game 1 ace, Derek Lowe, on short rest for Game 4, regardless.
Lincecum generated 31 swings and misses Thursday night — the most by far by a major league pitcher this season. Toronto’s Brandon Morrow was next with 25 missed swings in a May 5 start against the Cleveland Indians, according to ESPN. Lincecum’s 14 strikeouts were the third most in a shutout in major league postseason history, trailing only Bob Gibson (17) in 1968 and Roger Clemens (15) in 2000.
“Yeah, I heard that,” Lincecum said. “You soak it up a little bit. You have a little appreciation, maybe a pat-yourself-on-the-ass kind of thing. But then you’re getting ready for your next start.”
Lincecum said there was a reason he reacted with just a quiet fist pump after striking our Derrek Lee to end the game.
“You know, it was almost like the game wasn’t over for me,” he said. “I was in that mentality where if another batter steps to the plate, I want to be ready for it.
“You could even see I was surprised to get the ball from Buster (Posey) when he threw it at me. It’s been so long since I’ve thrown a complete game. I forgot all about that.”
Lincecum’s father and boyhood coach, Chris, was having more trouble processing the game than he did.
“It was one of those situations where he’s got to pinch himself a little bit, I think,” Tim Lincecum said. “It’s hard for him to believe what’s been going on this year and the last couple years. It takes a little perspective to teach him to be supportive and just be a fan.”
A blubbering idiot?
“Yeah,” Tim Lincecum said, smiling. “Yeah, he kind of was.”
For more on the Giants, see Andrew Baggarly’s Extra Baggs blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs.