The San Francisco Giants have decided to shut down rookie starting pitcher Tim Lincecum for the season.  He started 24 games this season for the Giants and he was 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.  Lincecum threw 146.1 innings this season and he allowed 122 hits, walked 65 batters and whiffed 150.  Pat Misch has pitched in 17 games (3 starts) and he has worked 36 innings allowing 38 hits, walking 10 batters and whiffing 25.

Brian Wilson was supposed to battle Armando Benitez for the closer’s job at the start of the season but he injured himself in Spring Training.  It took him quite a while to rehab from the injury but he has been awesome this season for the Giants since his return.  He has pitched in 19 games this season for the Giants and he is 1-1 with 4 saves, a 0.98 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP.  In 18.1 innings, Wilson has allowed 10 hits, walked 6 batters and whiffed 11.  I look for him to beat out Brad Hennessey next season for the closer’s job as long as he can stay healthy.  The Giants are going to take a look at a lot of their young players the rest of the way.  They are currently 67-84 which had them in last place in the National League West, 17.5 games behind the D-Backs.

The Giants are going to finish in last place in the National League West as they are 66-79, 15.5 games behind the Diamondbacks.  But all is not lost as the Giants have found that rookie Tim Lincecum is the real deal.  Add him to Barry Zito, Noah Lowry and Matt Cain for 2008 and the Giants have the makings of a fine starting rotation.  The Giants will have to get younger in the starting lineup and get an arm or two for the bullpen but they won’t be down long.

Ray Durham has been awful the second half of the season.  In 48 games since the All-Star Break, Durham is 24 for 157 (.153 avg, .502 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 18 RBIs!  For the season, Durham has now played in 126 games and he is hitting .216 (.646 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 11 homers and 64 RBIs.  Watch Durham closely the next couple of weeks because the Giants would be nuts to re-sign him for 2008.

This baseball season for the San Francisco Giants didn’t go well for out fellow fans in SF. Some goals the Giants nead to achieve are getting young talented players. We need to build on out hitters, and let go such players as: Ray Durham, Randy Winn,etc. The Giants also have to work on their bullpen because they have blown good portion of our losses. What are you other Giants fans thinking about next season and beyond.