Tim Lincecum昨天接受訪問時表示，這個春訓，他一顆滑球都沒丟過，開季之後也將暫時停止丟滑球。
雖然Lincecum跟Bochy都堅持Lincecum的手臂沒問題，但這個決定相信還是為了保護Lincecum這幾年大量使用的手臂。因為滑球被認為是很傷手肘的球種。
問題在於Lincecum不用滑球到底影響多大？撇開春訓的鳥成績不看，去年Lincecum的滑球使用頻率從7.2%大幅提升至24.1%，而變速球和曲球的使用比例則從21.3%和16.4%大幅下降到14.4%和6.4%。
拿掉一項武器的Lincecum表現會如何呢？值得觀察。
Giants manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged the slider isn't so friendly on the elbow, and Lincecum is trying to pace himself this season.
"He just wanted to back off," Bochy said. "It's a long season and he has a lot of innings in him. It probably puts a little more stress on his arm. He probably wants to wait to break it out later."