Sports Radio Service


		Michael Duca on A's and Giants By Michael Duca July 18, 2010

	Sportsradio: Miguel Tim Lincecum's All-Star break was truly just that a break. He said after the Tuesday midsummer classic that he should have had a part in the game but as it turned out the two time Cy Young Award winner looked like he was bidding to get back on the Cy Young track throwing a shutout against the Mets 2-0 on Thursday night, one of Timmy's best performances of the year? No, it was ALL of Timmy's best performances of the year. He was in command all the way, not nibbling, not walking hitters. It was a pleasure to watch, and giants fans should hope they will see that every 5th day well into October. Sportsradio: Then on Friday night Barry Zito tosses another shut out for a 1-0 win, Zito was superb going eight innings two hits and a lot of strikeouts with ten. Was it a matter of Zito being in a zone or did he have the Mets line up off balance all night? These things are always a combination of things. Carlos Beltran, New York's biggest offensive threat, has just started his season -- he's not taking Beltran-like swings on every pitch just yet. Zito had his fastball command Friday night, and with that, he's a very, very difficult pitcher to hit off. Without it, hitters can wait for a "get-it-in" fastball and drive it. Zito was clearly in a zone Friday night, but -- he's also a second-half pitcher, and Giants fans have a lot to look forward to if he repeats that performance, since it will come on the heels of his best first-half in a long time. Sportsradio: Outside of the Yankees for the month of July the A's have actually won all their series from teams like the Angels and Cleveland. So far so good with their best DH with only four homers its been an share and share alike situation in the line up getting some lumber on the ball for some games? The A's need contributions from every person in their lineup -- Kevin Kouzmanoff has to heat up, and it appears he is beginning to. I doubt that they are going to suddenly find power hitters lying around in their clubhouse -- so they are going to have to become near-perfect at practicing small ball.