Currently, Lincecum is the worst pitcher in baseball history..

[Upton]

If the season ended today, Lincecum (above)—a two-time Cy Young Award winner—would have the worst adjusted ERA, 55, of any pitcher who has thrown at least 95 innings in a season since at least 1901. Adjusted ERA (also known as ERA+) alters a pitcher's ERA based on his home ballpark and the average ERA of his league.

Lincecum (3-10, 6.42 ERA) must improve his adjusted ERA by at least two points to avoid setting a rather undesirable record. Bill Stoneman of the 1973 Montreal Expos, Carl Lundgren of the 1908 Chicago Cubs and Rube Bressler of 1915 Philadelphia Athletics all finished seasons with record-low adjusted ERAs of 56

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304373804577520961253358968.html

Looking back, you could say there were warning signs. Still, it's difficult to understand how Lincecum has gone from one of the best to possibly the worst almost overnight. It's hard for Giants fans to accept..

The Giants have won only 4 of his 18 starts. Obviously, if Tim continues like this, he may cost the Giants a playoff spot. Something Sabean and Bochy are acutely aware of, as they've finally stopped stalling around and admitted if he doesn't pitch well in his next start then some decisions need to be made..

[Upton]

2. This is going to be only my 2nd alert in 4+ years..

you should feel honored..

[NYC_SKP]

3. Spammer

Kill it.

[trumad]

4. 2nd alert in 4+ years

snarf

[Auggie]

5. He can redeem himself Saturday ...

in San Francisco, against the Astros.

If he stumbles again there's a strong possibility Bochy will skip his next start. Local pundits speculate he could be relegated to the bullpen or find himself on the DL.

[Upton]

6. If he can't pitch well at home against the Astros..

you've got to wonder ..who can he stop? I'm sure that goes into Sabean and Bochy's thinking. I hate to see this, but no star, no matter how popular, is more important than the success of the team..

Lincecum has to be feeling the pressure. Not so much from the Giants and their fans, but according to reports, he left at least an $100 million extension on the table this past off season. Now, he has to be kicking himself, for his expected big FA payday also looks to be in jeopardy.

[JonLP24]

7. I think worst may be a stretch

The ERA is bad but it isn't my favorite stat for pitchers. His K/9 is not far off from his career average. His FIP is also pretty good too.

Agreed he isn't the same pitcher, at-least as of yet. Just disputing the "worst" label. I've read that his fastball dropped 2mph so he throwing it less so based on what I'm reading he is figuring out how to be a dominating pitcher without a dominating fastball so I think it is a matter of figuring things out.

[Upton]

8. Sure it's a bit of hyperbole..

and the "worst" claim is only based on the ERA + metric anyway, but it does serve to illustrate just how far Lincecum has fallen..

I've seen diehard Lincecum supporters on Giants boards use the same SO/9 stat as a way to prove he still has good stuff. And I grant there's some truth to be seen there. Problem is, everything else is way up over his career averages..ERA, WHIP, H/9, HR/9, BB/9..

If he doesn't figure it out with the Giants this year...it'll probably have to wait on another team. Tim becomes a FA after next season...and there's no assurance he won't be traded before then. Some contending team in dire need of pitching would be willing to take a chance he could return to his former self..

[madinmaryland]

9. Too much weed??

[Upton]

10. If anything it's not enough..

I'm not even sure of he's smoking right now. Tim won 2 Cy Youngs and a WS as a regular user of what I consider to be a wonder drug.

Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly, in his book on the 2010 season, relates how you could sometimes smell pot in the Giants clubhouse after games...most notably after the game 2 NLCS loss to the Phillies..sure didn't hurt Tim or anybody else then.

[TZ]

11. I'm wondering if its mostly the NL learning how to hit Lincecum

Even the year you guys won the WS, the Nats seemed to be able to hit him. I'm thinking other teams picked up on whatever it was the Nats saw.

[Auggie]

13. It's not that. He's not locating his pitches properly ...

or else they've lost the movement they once had. The pitches are hanging out over the plate, like they would at a batting practice.

[Auggie]

12. I wonder if his heart is really in it ...

not the weed, but playing. Either that, or his body is giving out.

When he signed the contract for only two years he said something like "anything can happen after two years." I thought that was a very odd comment at the time and still do.

Unlike other athletes, Tim might feel the $30 or so million he's earned is enough. A fraction of that would have been enough for me to retire -- or change careers -- at the age of 29.

What's left for him to prove? He has two Cy Young awards and a World Series Ring.

[TZ]

14. maybe he should think about

Going the Rick Ankiel route...

[Auggie]

15. Heh ...

Watching him play in right field and bat consistently would be hilarious

[madinmaryland]

16. He really should work on a knuckleball. Talk about a nasty pitch coming from a tall

lanky pitcher!

The new Tim Wakefield!!!

[Auggie]

18. That's a great option ...

really.

[El Supremo]

17. He can't be worse than Denny Neagle.

Who made The Clenis look virtuous.