He’s got a style all his own. He’s a full-bore guy who’s got every pitch, who looks like he’s trying to protect a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. He’s a competitor. He comes after you, and he can only get better. The kid’s got a great future.”
   

There’s observation, and then there’s experience talking. That quote was the latter. Charlie Silvera, six-time World Series champion, San Francisco native, and current Chicago Cubs scout who backed up catcher Yogi Berra during the New York Yankees dynasty, reflected on the San Francisco Giants sophomore sensation, Tim Lincecum, during a warm and sun-splashed April afternoon at AT&T Park.
   

“If anyone gets a chance to see him pitch,” he continued, “you better come out and watch him because he’s that impressive.”   

Silvera is joined in his enthusiasm for the flame-thrower by fans, teammates and opponents alike.    

After each game Lincecum pitches, Internet comment boards light up like Christmas trees. When the 23-year-old right-hander pitched seven scoreless innings against the high-powered St. Louis Cardinals on April 19, running his record to 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA, Giants fans weighed in:  

“Is cloning legal in this country yet?”   

“Think about how good he’ll be when he can shave. Don’t trade him ever!”  

“TimLin killed it today. Giants ownership, pay him Zito money and don’t look back.”   

Lincecum backed the St. Louis performance up with another win (4-0) against the San Diego Padres on April 24, striking out nine and extending his scoreless streak to 16 1-3 innings while lowering his ERA to 1.23.
   

Giants announcer Mike Krukow, a former All-Star with the Giants, and usually an energetic guy to begin with, got really excited talking about the prodigy.