Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain are Giants' All Stars
San Francisco Starting Pitchers Share a Unique Mid-Season Honor
Jul 6, 2009
"I'll leave the germs at home," he said after discovering he was one of two Giants' starters to be named to the 2009 Mid Summer Classic along with rising star Matt Cain.
At the time of their selections, Lincecum and Cain were both 9-2 with ERA's under 3.00. Lincecum was second in the National League with his 2.23 and Cain was third with his 2.48.
Lincecum, who led the NL with 141 strikeouts, and Cain, with 88 'K's,' made a bit of San Francisco history, becoming just the third set of starters to be named to the same all-star game, and the first since Hall of Fame pitchers Juan Marichal and Gaylord Perry were so honored in 1966.
"It's obviously a dream come true," Cain said. "It's nice to be rewarded for all the hard work you've put in the past."
From Little League All Star to Major League All Star
Lincecum pointed to his 11-year-old baseball season as his first all-star experience. He started that game at third base.
"You grow up with the same kids in those leagues and even when you play against each other, you know each other," said Lincecum, who acknowledged he weighed no more than 86 pounds at the time. "We were pretty close."
Whenever Cain dreamed of being an all-star he too thought he'd be playing a position in the field.
"I probably didn't watch too many all-star games because I was always too busy playing," Cain said. "All you really want to do as a player is get to an all-star game and get to the postseason. The all-star game is a huge first step."
Lincecum, last year's NL Cy Young Award winner, said "it would be awesome" to start the game but that getting there is the big thing.
"Just to be in the game would be nice," he said.
Bengie Molina Shares the Limelight
Lincecum shared some of the glory with Giants' catcher Bengie Molina, whose younger brother Yadier was voted into the starting lineup.
"They don't call it a battery for nothing," Lincecum said. "He's been the guy for me the last three years. I hardly shake him off. He's easy to work with."
It was an emotional day for Molina, who took pride in helping Lincecum and Cain to good first halves, and also took family pride for the youngest of three Molina catchers in the major leagues.
"He texted me, 'I made it bro' and it was an emotional couple of seconds," said Molina. "We can finally say a Molina made it. It means a lot to our dad."
