Breakthrough for Lincecum and Wilson means big dollars

“I feel like I want to rage… Right now.” OK, so maybe the quote from San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Brian Wilson, just moments after he tossed the last out of the World Series, isn’t exactly one for the ages. However, the display that he and the rest of the Giants rotation put on to bring the championship to the City by The Bay for the first time ever surely was.

During the five games that made up this year’s fall classic, Giants pitchers made the Texas Rangers batting order look like they were swinging with bats made of Swiss cheese. Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero, the Rangers’ two best power hitters, (batting third and fourth, respectively) combined for just [three hits in 34 at-bats, which translates to a miserable .088 batting average.

Tim Lincecum, the cornerstone in the Giants rotation, and all-around snazzy dresser, demonstrated the scope of his talent, giving up only three hits and one run in eight innings, and beating one of the best post-season pitchers of his era in Cliff Lee.

Now, the San Francisco Business Times is reporting that Lincecum and Wilson may be doing more pitching, and this time it won’t necessarily involve a mound. Bob Dorfman, author of the Sports Marketers’ Scouting Report, recently said that Lincecum was “poised for a national breakout.” Lincecum signed with energy-drink company Red Bull last summer, and was spotted wearing a company logo-emblazoned cap during the Giants’ World Series parade.

As for Wilson, whose jet-black beard [seemed to captivate the nation during the post-season run: “The Machine” made an appearance on Jay Leno, and even has some fan support to host Saturday Night Live.  Wilson “ought to pitch whatever product he uses to color his beard: Just For Men, Kiwi shoe polish or Sharpie markers,” Dorfman said.

The product’s competitors would surely “fear the beard” in that case.

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