Palmer on Lincecum (Among Other Things)

Scott Ostler's article from SFGate.com.

On Lincecum,

"The first time I saw him pitch, he was not particularly good," Palmer said Sunday. "Yesterday, he was brilliant. I watched two or three innings; that was enough. I saw the great changeup he threw to (Prince) Fielder, which Fielder just kind of waved at. It looks like he's got real good mound presence. He's got great stuff."

Palmer as a teenage major leaguer,

As a young major leaguer, Palmer was SpongeJim SquarePants, soaking up all the pitching knowledge he could get his ears on. He made the big leagues at 19, realized how much he didn't know and went to school.

The Orioles nicknamed him "Brash," because Palmer would sit in the bullpen and pepper Stu Miller, Harvey Haddix, Eddie Fisher and Charlie Lau with questions about pitching and hitting.

On the road, Palmer would assault roommate Robin Roberts with questions for hours on end. "Robin had 277 wins; I didn't have any," Palmer said.

A comment on Mr. Weaver,

"(Mike) Cuellar was leading the Twins 5-2 going into the ninth," Palmer said. "(Cesar) Tovar leads off with a single, then it's going to be (Rod) Carew, (Tony) Oliva and (Harmon) Killebrew. I walked down and I said, 'Mr. Weaver, that's his 135th pitch.' He said, 'Get your (fanny) back to the other end of the dugout. I'll let you know when he's tired.'

What more Oriole pitchers should take advantage of,

And if Lincecum ever wants to pick a brain that won 268 games, Mr. Palmer will be glad to take the kid's call.