Reclusive former Giants ace congratulates Bruce Bochy on title

It's not a surprise that Madison Bumgarner congratulated Bochy, since he jokingly offered to pitch in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. Nor is it unusual that Buster Posey would contact him, since they spend so much time driving in his Toyota to get tacos.

But hearing from Lincecum is rarer, according to Bochy.

Lincecum, who won three rings with the Giants, along with back-to-back Cy Young awards in 2008 and 2009, keeps to himself. He left the Giants after the 2015 season, and didn't return to Oracle Park until Bochy's final game as team manager in 2019. He's a private guy, telling reporters, "I’d be happier if there were no phones. I’m terrible about texting."

Back in 2019, Bochy was very touched when Lincecum was the last former player out to pay tribute to his old skipper, coming out of center field to a deafening ovation.

"Timmy’s somebody that’s really close to my heart and for him to come down here, that’s a pretty big deal for me," Bochy said after the game. "He’s a tough one to get a hold of. I’ve tried to text him. I’ve tried to see him in Seattle."

Even during his playing career, Lincecum was somewhat of a mystery. While comfortable with his teammates, The Freak never sought out the spotlight. "Big Time Timmy Jim" did record a memorable ESPN commercial, but he wasn't the polished, media-friendly face of the franchise that Posey or Matt Cain was.

Lincecum's recent personal tragedy may have made the already "extremely private" player withdraw further. Last year, Lincecum's wife, Cristin Coleman, died of cancer at age 38. The two had been together for years, with Lincecum splitting time between Seattle and the Bay Area, where Coleman worked as a school principal in Burlingame.

That's why Lincecum missed the team's reunion of the 2012 World Series champions last year, where the team held a moment of silence for Coleman.

It also must be difficult for Lincecum, who won his first Cy Young at age 24, his first World Series at 26, and was out of baseball thanks to hip injuries by 32, to adjust to a post-baseball life. He never looked like a typical dominant pitcher, so skinny that he had to depend on an outrageous In-N-Out Burger order (three double-doubles with no lettuce or tomato, two orders of fries, chocolate-strawberry shake) to keep weight on during the season. He did cut one of the burgers before the 2012 season.

In 2019, he told reporters that he'd never formally retired. "I think the hardest part was coming to grips with who I was after baseball," Lincecum said. "And I haven't even done it fully yet."

Tim Lincecum is still beloved by SF Giants fans and especially his former manager. Perhaps this will open the door to Bochy finally visiting his former ace in Seattle. After all, they can always borrow Buster Posey's Toyota Highlander.