I have to admit I don't really understand exchanging Lewis for Linden. Lewis is the same age as Linden and has much less upside. He might be fast, but he has terrible baserunning instincts and is a poor fielder. I don't expect much from him.

The Giants have developed a bunch of questionable outfielders in Linden, Lewis, Ortmeier, Ellison and Torcato. They all seem to have huge holes in their game, but Linden is probably the best among them. Unfortunately, the Giants have never given any of them (other than Ellison) any consistent play. It doesn't really matter what they do with any of them: they're not can't miss prospects, so they'll play once or twice a week, and as soon as they put up a few bad pinch-hit ABs, they'll be gone.

Lincecum info: 1. Upset about the talk in his first game about not swinging the "stick" since HS. He said he was 2 for 6 at the plate in Fresno ( haven't confirmed though). 2. Had a GREAT bullpen session and the curve was there (he said at Fresno it was so "ON" that he could throw at any time for a strike). Also said he normally throws about 55-65% fastballs which keeps the hitters off balance but threw over 80% in game one with the lack of the curve. 3. He did develop a blister that seems to be doing OK but they'll need to keep an eye on for tonight.

Well, that's not quite accurate, gdog. Linden ranked 10 on the Giants in ABs. As far as OFs, Winn had 119, Roberts 97, Bonds 82, Linden 55. Going backwards, he played 2 games against NY (pinch hit in the other), 2 games against Philly, 1 each against Colo, Az, and LA (LA 1 for 5 w/ 4 Ks). He didn't play play the whole games when we were swept by Az, but started against St Lo (1 for 6, 4 Ks). So, in the past 8 series (23 games) he started in 9, and picn hit/ran in the others. He got 40 ABs, 19 Ks, 6 hits. In the last 3 series, he had 19 ABs, 2 hits, 8 Ks.
This is not the treatment that Sweeney or Alfonzo get. It is about what Klesko is getting (BA 320). I don't think playing time is the issue. Pitchers developed an approach that was completely lights out with Linden - and Linden didn't adjust. I don't think the Giants can be faulted for the way he was played - nor for not prolonging the suffering. Like a lot of other AAA guys (Pie, in Chi, Encarnacion, Cinci, and others), if you dan't hit MLB ptiching and need regular ABs, you go back to AAA.

bigO, exactly what was the problem with the curve in his first start?

Still shocking, nonetheless. But, obviously they felt it was time to cut bait...

Frank - If I had to wager on it, I'd guess it was a case of nerves. He just wasn't able to throw the curve over the plate for strikes so he had to resort to using his fastball much more than he normally would.

He didn't use this as an excuse but he said afterward that he had a blister on the tip of his index finger. Other than that I just speculate nerves or over-throwing.

As I stated yesterday, I was with Lefty in the belief Linden should get another week or two before the Giants cut bait, but those are good points you make, Frank. Linden was striking out at an alarming rate, and not hitting the ball with any authority (only 1 XBH all season). I honestly can't think of one ball he scalded -- even for an out -- all year. That's the really shocking part -- he was actually hitting in GOOD luck. Considering how seldom he made contact, and the fact that just about every hit this year was a bloop or ground ball with eyes, he was lucky to be hitting what he was. I don't have much confidence in Lewis either, but at least he hit the ball hard twice last night that's more than Linden had done all season.

I know people will say 373 ABs is not enough to know if Linden can handle MLB pitching, and likely will cite slow-starters like Matt Williams. But what they forget about Williams is that even when he was striking out half the time, he hit the ball with authority, and could catch up with top-notch heat (I specifically remember a HR off a Nolan Ryan fastball up in his eyes). Linden couldn't catch up with anything 92+, so he was essentially Reggie Sanders without the ability to crush off-speed pitches in the zone.

Linden's real shot came in '05, when he had his monster year in Fresno. He was at the top of his game. He got called up, and given 200 PAs. These are the opportunities in life one must take advantage of. Linden used this extended chance to OPS all of .613. After that, the writing was on the wall, and all his encouraging 77 ABs in '06 did was delay the inevitable.

I think the best comment from Bochy was that it was going to be increasingly difficult to give him ABs. It's a competitive environment and you just can't throw away 4 ABs game in game out AND get routine incompetence on fly balls, all the under the banner of development. At some point it becomes unfair to his teammates and the fans and I guess Bochy thought that point was now.

If the rest of the team was "ripping the cover off the ball," we could have carried Linden for awhile. However his defense lapses cannot be tolerated. These are the kind of games we look back on in October, after we miss the playoffs by two games, and realize how much it really screwed us.

Shocked me too, but perhaps Linden is the classic AAAA prospect who kills at AAA but flails in the majors.

Age shouldn't matter much, as long as he produces. Small sample, but so far Lewis has. Maybe he can do a Francoeur for us and hit great for a month before fading off, at which time Roberts come back.

I expect Schierholtz to come up once he's healthy and take Ortmeier's place if Lewis is not doing well or just doing OK.

If Lewis just rakes, the Giants probably won't mess with success and use Ortmeier as the 4th OF, which is the type of role he appears to be qualified for now. He was pretty good a couple of seasons ago, so I wouldn't mind if the Giants give him a chance, an opportunity, should Lewis fails.

I wouldn't call Lincecum's problem nerves, but rahter getting too excited. Krukow noted after Lincecum's start that he was probably too ampped up because when you get too much adrenaline, your arm goes numb and you lose your touch for breaking pitches. Since they weren't working, Molina just went to the fastball almost exclusively.

I was a pretty big Linden fan at the start of the season, predicting he would get 400 ABs and win the RF position for 08 with his strong play this year. Boy, was I wrong. I wouldn't have complained one bit if management had given him another week, 2, even 3.
But, as arrogant as I am about my analytical skills and baseball knowledge, I do think this is a decision that should be made by the professional baseball people. It seems clear they perceived there were no indications he was going to start hitting anytime soon. I am glad to see them take some aggressive action.
Even without Roberts on the DL, this is one hell of an opportunity for our minor league OFs. These guys are going to get a bonafide opportunity. I have never been in favor of just parking a guy in the lineup. Niekro last year is the downside. I like the approach of having veteran starters, with significant playing time for the prospect. 4th OF, especially with the Giants, is ideal for a prospect.
Now a couple of young guys, whether they be Lewis, Ormeier, or Shierholtz, will get some serious looks. And we will not have to suffer thru half a year of Niekro-itis. Produce and you play. Produce well and you have a chance to take playing time away from a veteran.

The very same "professional" baseball people who just cut Linden are the same people who gave extended playing time to these guys:

Finley 240/320/394
Hillenbrand 248/275/415
Niekro 246/286/387
Sweeney 251/330/382
Grissom 212/248/285
Ellison 264/316/361
Tucker 240/317/372

I have zero confidence in the ability of Sabean et al to separate the wheat from the chaff.

I don't think the Giants did a good job developing Linden - and he probably has zero value now. Fred Lewis is just as old as Linden and doesn't have the minor-league track record Linden did.

Bottom line: a lot of guys who have no business playing the outfield for the Giants have spent considerable time out there over the last few years. That's why we've had to watch these 75-win stinker seasons.