KC Royals: Tim Lincecum to Kansas City
By Charles Lam
Could the KC Royals be looking to bring in another reclamation project? It’s probably at least worth taking a look at.
The former back-to-back NL Cy Young award winner, Tim Lincecum, will show off his talents once again this Friday. The Royals spotted him practicing in Arizona at a “secret” location March 9th. They were asked to leave. That means they have interest in him.
The KC Royals could use another starting quality pitcher. The back end of the starting rotation hasn’t been that great through the first month of the 2016 season. Chris Young started off shaky, giving up 12 runs in his first three games. Since then he’s given up five earned runs the last two games combined.
Young isn’t that young anymore. He turns 37-years-old, May 25th. I’m not sure with his age if he can pitch a complete season as a starter.
Kris Medlen‘s ERA through four starts is 4.87. Medlen also has dealt with health issues having undergone Tommy John surgery twice.
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This is were Lincecum comes into play. Tim Lincecum will be 32-years-old June 15th. Almost five years younger than Chris Young. He has a history of dominance as a starting pitcher.
Back in 2008 and 2009, his ERA was a 2.62 and a 2.48, respectively. During the 2010 season, his ERA rose to a 3.43 but the next year in 2011 he rebounded with a 2.74 ERA.
He’s been a work horse as well. He’s averaged 33 starts per season from 2008 to 2014. He’s also been an innings eater. At the peak of his career, from 2008 to 2011, Lincecum pitched more that 200 innings per season. In 2008 he pitched a whooping 227 innings in 34 games.
The last four seasons have been a struggle though. Something happened to him between 2011 to 2012. In 2011, Lincecum pitched extremely well. He started 33 games that season and had an ERA of 2.74. The following year his ERA blossomed to a terrifying 5.18 in 33 games pitched. Ever since 2012 his average has been in the mid to high four’s.
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The KC Royals have had success with reclamation projects. Last year is a prime example. Ryan Madson and Joe Blanton came into Kansas City with low expectations and blew away what many thought they would do.
Before coming to Kansas City, Madson hadn’t played an MLB baseball game in more than three years. Madson had a 2.14 ERA in 63.1 innings pitched at the age of 33 for the Royals in 2015.
Blanton retired briefly in 2014 but came out of retirement to hook on with the Royals in 2015 (good idea). Blanton started four games for the Royals and even got the win against Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners last year. Blanton’s total season ERA came out to be 3.89 in 41.2 innings pitched.
Most of the credit for Madson and Blanton’s success should go to General Manager Dayton Moore and pitching coach Dave Eiland. They are the ones who took a shot at these players when most other teams would have had no interest. Moore found the talent left in these guys and Eiland enhanced it to the top level.
Who’s to say they can’t repeat their success with Tim Lincecum? I think it’s worth a shot. He doesn’t have to be a Cy Young award winner but he just needs to pitch better than what he has the last four seasons.
Do you have faith in Dayton Moore to do it again? Would you like to see Tim Lincecum donning a Royals jersey? Leave a comment below in the comments’ section below.