Tim Lincecum Playing In M’s Favor

Sep 27, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Fireworks explode over the left field stands of Safeco Field concluding fan appreciation night against the Oakland Athletics. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Best-case:

The Mariners give Lincecum a 2 year/ $32 million dollar contract and 2014 starts with a bang. Felix is vintage Felix. IwaKKKKKKKuma strikes out the first 60 batters he faces. And Timmy the Freak Lincecum rounds out the most devastating 1-2-3 rotation in baseball. Then, with the pressure off of youngsters Taijuan Walker and James Paxton at the bottom of the rotation, the M’s start consistently winning baseball games.

Loving spacious Safeco Field and loving being back home, just miles from where he grew up and where he played college ball (the University of Washington), Lincecum posts a sub-3.00 ERA before the All-Star break. By the end of the season the M’s manage a wild-card game berth against the Baltimore Orioles. Lincecum mows them down en route to an eventual ALDS series loss to the Red Sox.

But with that extra year of development the young M’s position players take a step forward in 2015. The Mariners win 117 games (beating their old record of 116) behind four 20-game winners: King Felix, the Fresh Prince of Seattle (Tai Walker), IwaKKKKKKuma, and the Freak. They cruise through the ALDS and the ALCS and sweep the Giants in the World Series for their first ever championship.

At the end of that 2015 season Lincecum is 32 and receives a 5 year/$98 million dollar contract to go play for the Yankees. The Mariners now with the world on their shoulders, trade for Matt Harvey of the Mets and never lose another game.