#5 Most Thankful: Tim Lincecum

Sep 26, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants fans hold up signs starting pitcher Tim Lincecum during the fifth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park.

It’s officially Thanksgiving time and we thought we’d kick off the holiday weekend by showing our gratitude for the Giants. The Giants have given us a lot to be thankful for over the past few seasons.  Over the weekend we’ll share our favorite 10  Giants and possibly some honorable mentions. So for all the times we whine and complain about the state of our team, let’s take some time to be thankful this offseason.

See the full list here: Top 10 Giants Most Thankful For This Year

Tim Lincecum

After fans spent the last part of the season wondering whether the Freak would be wearing a Giants uniform next season, the Giants and Tim Lincecum agreed on a shiny new contract. Listen, Lincecum hasn’t been the pitcher he used to be. He’s struggled the past few seasons and he’s no longer the ace of the team. But Timmy has shown grit. He took us through the 2010 World Series with ease and domination. In 2012, he stepped into a reliever role in the postseason and was dangerous to opposing batters. He added pitches and has gotten better command of them. He’s not strictly a fastball guy anymore, and he’s probably not going to blow one past opposing batters like he used to count on doing.

But he’s got heart, he’s made changes, and he’s fought tooth and nail to stay competitive. Let’s also not forget it pitched No-Hitter in 2013 in San Diego. He dropped his ERA from 5.18 in 2012 to 4.37 in 2013. It’s not great, but it’s good enough for a #4 pitcher. He’s maturing and showing fans and the Giants that he’s in this pitching business for the long haul. I expect him only to get better in 2014 & 2015.

Oh, and he’s always good for a “F*ck Yeah!” at just the right time! (NSFW)