There are not many professional athletes like Tim Lincecum. Very few players cut across the partisan boundaries of team allegiances like Big Time Timmy Jim.
The love Giants fans have for the diminutive former ace is understandable. He came out of the wilderness, leading the Giants to a World Series championship in 2010. Lincecum was nearly unhittable during those playoffs and was fresh off his second Cy Young-worthy season.
The Tim Lincecum of today isn't the same guy. His fastball lost some zip and he struggles with his command and some nights it appears that every hitter in the opposing lineup might hit the cover off the ball.
It wasn't just his greatness that endeared him to baseball fans beyond the Bay Area. There was always something about Lincecum, from his unconventional wind-up to his laid back stoner demeanor and long hair.
He can still miss bats with his assortment of nasty off-speed pitches. His changeup disappears and his slider dives and his curve snaps into the strike zone and, if they all work in concert, he looks like the best pitcher in the world again.
Wednesday afternoon, Lincecum dominated the Padres as, well, as many others have done before and many will do again. Lincecum owned the Pads for the second time in less than a year, pitching his second career no-hitter. His legend grew and one of the most popular players in baseball showed his everlasting appeal to a large segment of baseball fans.
As is the modern tradition, baseball fans took to Twitter to discuss the outing in real time. MLB.com allowed fans to stream the last few outs for free. The affection for Lincecum was palpable across social media and in a ballpark 2600 miles away.
Everybody was watching Timmy. Fans watched and cheered as they settled into their seats at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Divisional rivals watched the last few outs unfold as they prepared to play in stadiums across the country.
Even when Lincecum struggles, Giants fans seem to love Lincecum in spite of themselves. Dedicated fans know his contract is probably too rich and his on-field contributions are largely outpaced by his sentimental place in their collective hearts.
But when he started rolling and the line of zeros started growing longer, all thoughts of “value” melted away and their love affair with the skinny kid from the Pacific Northwest began anew.
After celebrating his 30th birthday last week, he’s no kid anymore. His 4.42 ERA suggests he's no ace anymore, either. But his two no-hitters, two Cy Young awards and two World Series rings put him into a very special place in baseball history.
That success, not to mention the way he earned it, acquired Lincecum as much goodwill as any baseball player in recent memory. He is loved because he is different and he is loved because he’s great.
Baseball fans love to love Tim Lincecum. When everything comes together just so, he makes it very easy to do so.
