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Tim Lincecum was vomiting when Giants were introduced before Game 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For reasons only he knows for sure, Tim Lincecum was not being truthful when he tried explaining why he missed the San Francisco Giants introductions Tuesday night before Game 1 of the World Series.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday he was told that Lincecum was vomiting about a half-hour before the first pitch. Bochy said the Giants head athletic trainer, Dave Groeschner, knew about Lincecum's illness, and pitching coach Dave Righetti was aware, too. Bochy, who didn't find out Lincecum was feeling ill until the next day, said it was his understanding that he was ready to pitch in Game 1 if need be.
"He was OK to pitch," Bochy said. "So he didn't feel he had to tell me [about missing the introductions] at that point.
"That's the honest truth."
Perhaps, but it's a different story than the one Lincecum told the day before, when he was absent from the traditional introductions where both teams line up down the first- and third-base lines. Fortunately for the Giants, only the starting players for both teams were announced at the stadium and on TV. In another World Series at another time, it would have been a doubly embarrassing moment for Lincecum and the Giants for him to be announced and not appear.
After the Giants 7-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals in which he did not pitch, Lincecum made no reference to being ill when asked directly. Instead, Lincecum said he simply was late lining up with his teammates because he "was doing some stuff" in the trainer's room.
Perhaps the reason Lincecum lied was because of what happened the week of the 2008 All-Star game in New York City. Lincecum was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms and did not make it to Yankee Stadium for the game.
From the San Jose Mercury News:
Lincecum began feeling ill Monday night and did not ride along with teammate Brian Wilson in an All-Star motorcade Tuesday morning. He was released from the hospital after receiving fluids, sources said.
There were rumors that Lincecum was taken from his Midtown hotel room on a stretcher, but Wilson doubted that was true.
“I’m pretty sure I would have heard about that,’’ Wilson said.
A respiratory ailment ripped through the Giants on their road trip last week to play the Mets and Cubs. Several players were limited or held out of action, including shortstop Omar Vizquel.
Additional speculation centered on Lincecum partying too much the night before the game. Perhaps the bad experience in New York moved him to make up a cover story this time. Regardless it's an odd way for Lincecum to behave.
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David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rdbrown@yahoo-inc.com and follow him on Twitter!
