SP Player Profiles : The Lofty Ceilings of Lincecum, Gallardo and Co.

We all thought we'd have to wait a little longer to see Lincecum in the big leagues, but after he started 2007 in AAA going 4-0 while striking out 46 and allowing only one run in 31 innings, the Giants (and everyone else) realized he was ready. And ready he was. From May on, the little guy from Washington struck out more than a batter per inning, sporting a 3.39 post-break ERA and limiting his opponents to a .226 BAA. Thankfully, the Giants had the sense to shut him down in September before he broke off one too many of his nasty curves. But when talking about how good his stuff his, there's no reason to consult a fantasy pundit for advice. Ask somebody who has faced him, like Rockies prospect Ian Stewart, who called Lincecum "the toughest pitcher [he] ever faced," adding "Guys on our club who have been in the big leagues said he's the toughest guy they ever faced too … I'm not really sure why he's down here, but for a guy who was drafted last year … that guy is filthy." Or you can ask Ryan Theriot, who said Lincecum's was the "best stuff he had seen all year." Read more at Seamless Baseball