The Padres defeated the Giants 8-2 on Sunday to extend their NL West lead to 3 1/2 games. Wade LeBlanc pitched a fine game, giving both runs on four hits and two walks over seven innings, striking out seven. Adrian Gonzalez went 0 for 5, but the rest of the offense picked him up as they knocked out 11 hits.
Tim Lincecum pitched poorly again, allowing six runs, five earned in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out six, which was great, but he also walked three. Of the thirteen batters who put the ball in play, eight collected hits. So Tim either got them to miss entirely or put good wood on the ball. The recap says some of those hits were bloops, but even if he gave up five solid hits in the that span, it’s not good. He’s walked 47 in his last 103 innings. That’s not Lincecum, and I would hate to see his game go to pot so early in his career.
I think that 9 Million $$$ is the real problem. Who wouldn’t lose their motivation? How hungry can you be, after you win the lottery at each paycheck?
I remember after Will Clark got his Big Contract, he was just an average player for the rest of his career….