Adjustments

Like most people, I suspect, I was not surprised by the Ferguson decision...on the hand, looters should be shot; on the other...well, the police are killing too many people, and even if in this case it was justified...there are others -- such as the one in our backyard -- where other judgment could have been used.  To be sure, pulling a gun on a cop is unwise, but the notion of the Taser...well, I think there is a point to be made.

Anyways, we were discussing Tim Lincecum -- the former ace of my strat staff -- on last night's fun run and I mentioned that maybe part of the problem (in addition to the ridden hard, put away young issue) is that his mechanics are such that they preclude adjustment.  Many pitchers, as they age/lose effectiveness, adjust arm slot, rotation, etc., in small or more visible ways to compensate for velocity loss, give a different look, etc.  However, with Lincecum, given the nature of the delivery, there isn't a lot of room to make these adjustments, and given that he has pitched like that since day one, making a change could lead to other problems (See Willis, Dontrelle.) and the Giants still owe him $17 million or so (for a reliever, albeit one who could be an effective middle innings/2IP closer type).  Oops.