Tim Lincecum: The new face of Major League Baseball?

Shocker! ESPN2's SportsNation's viewers believe that Tim Lincecum can become the face of Major League Baseball.


SportsNation co-host Michelle Beadle says that The Freak is "a two time Cy Young winner and a World Series Champion." She notes than Lincecum is "not the kind of corporate face that's been boring people for years and losing young fans." Ouch!
 
As for myself, I find Lincecum a fascinating dude, not just because he's a great pitcher, but he because he's got personality to spare. He's very charismatic, in a quirky, San Francisco sort of way. He reminds me a little of Shaun White, in that both of them have their own unique looks.
 
And as a Yankee fan, it's fun to see somebody like him, who would never "fit in" with the Yankees' hair code or image. I felt the same way watching Manny Ramirez and his own non-corporate hair.
 
Lincecum is one of the more memorable faces in MLB these days, but I don't know if he can become "The Face of MLB," because of his love of, um, a certain herb. When asked about how San Francisco was reacting to the World Series victory, he said:

"Just a lot of craziness, I'm hoping," Lincecum said. "A lot of beer flowing. Smoke in the air, I'm hoping."

Don't think he's talking about tobacco smoke there!

What do you think? Tell us about it!

Photo by Estebomb

World Series bridges Squawker divide

In the ten years that the Squawkers have known each other, the end of the World Series has usually left one of us fuming. We started working together shortly before the 2000 World Series, and I'm still not ready to talk about that one. In 2001 and 2003, the Yankees lost, and in 2004 and 2007, the Red Sox won. Lisa took none of these Fall Classics very well. In 2002, I rooted for the Angels, who had been the first AL team in five years to beat the Yankees in the playoffs. Lisa, naturally, rooted against the Angels.

In 2006, I rooted against the Cardinals after they beat the Mets in the NLCS. The Cardinals' easy victory over the Tigers so easily only made the Mets' failure to make the World Series that much worse. In 2008, the Phillies won, and 2009 was, for me, a nightmare all around.

Aside from 2010, the only time we have been on the same side was in 2005, when both of us rooted against the Astros of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, though from different perspectives.

The irony of us being on the same side in 2010 and not feeling too bad about the outcome is that both of us were actually rooting for the Rangers. Lisa rooted for them because of having lived in Texas. I rooted for the Rangers because I thought a World Series victory would give them a better chance of keeping Cliff Lee.

But both of us are finding plenty of reasons to enjoy the Giants' victory. The Giants have some similarities to the 1969 Mets - great pitching and patchwork hitting. Both the Giants and Mets upset a great-hitting AL team in five games. Both the Giants and Mets had a Cy Young ace (Tim Lincecum, Tom Seaver) and a no. 2 pitcher who was sensational in the World Series (Matt Cain, Jerry Koosman). Both the Giants and Mets had a rookie starter combine with a reliever for a shutout (Madison Bumgarner/Brian Wilson, Gary Gentry/Nolan Ryan).

The Giants also have some appealing personalities, notably Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson. And they have a great history and an enthusiastic and creative fan base that had never seen a title in San Francisco.

So Lisa and I are uniting for once to say congratulations to the Giants and their fans, and condolences to the Rangers and their fans.

The Squawker truce will last until Cliff Lee files for free agency.

God only knows why Brian Wilson has that beard

I've been watching most of the World Series so far, even though it's been a bit of a snoozer so far. The San Francisco Giants are dominating the Texas Rangers, the way Texas dominated the New York Yankees.

It is funny to see the contrast between the two fanbases, though. One other thing that has cracked me up is San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson. Check out an article I wrote for The Faster Times about him.

I did like seeing the kid dressed up as Ron Washington last night. And whatever you think of George W. Bush's politics, he can still throw a great first pitch.

But geez, the Rangers need to find their bats, and soon, or San Francisco will be celebrating their first-ever World Series title!

What do you think? Tell us about it!

Why couldn't that be the Yankees? The Giants get to Cliff Lee

Remember how I wrote a few weeks ago that Cliff Lee could be "beatable" in this year's postseason, because the Yanks did get to him for five runs in Game 5 of the World Series last October? Well, I was right about Lee not being automatic, but I was wrong about who would get to him. The San Francisco Giants made the Texas Rangers pitcher look very hittable last night, with that six-run fifth inning.

And I'm sure a lot of Yankee fans were thinking the same thing I was -- why couldn't that have been the Yankees who did that? Yes, I'm still bitter about Joe Girardi giving up in Game 3!

Much like the Twins made the Yankees look like worldbeaters in the ALDS, I wonder if the Yanks made the Rangers, especially Lee, look completely dominant in the ALCS. It will be interesting to see how the Giants handle Colby Lewis, the starter who shut down the Yankees twice. If San Francisco manhandles him, I'm not going to be happy!

Tim Lincecum wasn't at his sharpest, but it didn't matter. I've heard some Yankee fans coveting him, though. First off, he's not a free agent for a few more years. Second, he'd have to kill his personality, and everything that makes The Freak fun to watch, as a Yankee. Can't see him in pinstripes at all, no matter how much I like watching him pitch!

Oh, and how about Barry Bonds sitting in the stands? Squawker Jon was repelled by seeing him. I think it's okay that he's there. After all, he had a lot to do with the Giants being able to get that wonderful new ballpark, and he did get them to the World Series in 2002. Why should they hide him away? Like it or not, he was an important part of the franchise's history. (And no, Roger Clemens doesn't even come close to being as important in Yankeeland!)

What do you think? Tell us about it!

Please reunite Mike and the Mad Dog -- if only for one day

If WFAN is smart, they'll have Mike Francesa do part of his show today with his old partner Chris Russo, and get the Mike and the Mad Dog band back together. Because hearing the Mad Dog celebrate his beloved San Francisco Giants making it to the World Series, while Francesa pontificates about the failure of the Yankees to do the same, would be radio gold.

I'm not the only one thinking this way -- I saw lots of fans express similar sentiments Saturday night. After all, New York radio listeners heard Chris squawk about his Giants for the last 20 years; he's arguably the most famous San Francisco Giants fan in New York! And given that most fans in the tri-state area don't have Sirius/XM Radio, they're not going to get to hear what the Mad Dog has to say about his team.

I do have XM in the car, but I don't want to have to go for a ride this afternoon just to hear Chris' infectious laugh! I'd love to hear his whole excited "good afternoon everybody" thing on local radio here, and I think many fans agree.

After Mike and the Mad Dog broke up their partnership two years ago, neither has been the same. And when they did reunite for one show last year, during the 2009 playoffs, it reminded me of how much better they were together than apart.

Let's hope WFAN gives Mad Dog a call to have him on this afternoon's show. It would be must-listen radio!

* * *

Speaking of which, I will also make sure to listen to Michael Kay's explanation this afternoon about how the Texas Rangers were able to win the ALCS, when he declared the series "over" after Game 1! Hope some listeners give him grief.

What do you think? Tell us about it!