FBG: Joura: Aaron Cook, Tim Lincecum and Edinson Volquez Take Aim at Steve Carlton’s 1972 Season

And a very nice touch by the Generals in having that charming Carltonian fatigue color scheme as a backdrop!

While Cook and the Rockies are both a surprise, Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants are both more in line with what fans expected coming into the season.  The Giants lost 91 games last year and then subtracted Barry Bonds from the lineup.  If anything, the Giants are performing a bit better than expected in 2008.  Lincecum went 7-5 as a rookie last year.  Everyone expected he would be a good pitcher; his hot start just pushed forward the time when fans thought he would challenge for 20 wins.

Unlike Cook, Lincecum has a realistic .323 BABIP mark this season.  He also has 53 strikeouts in 50.1 innings.  Where Lincecum has really excelled this season is on the road, where he is 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in four starts.  After a relatively hot start, the Giants are 3-6 in their last nine games.  San Francisco has found its expected talent level.  The question is: has Lincecum?