AIR CONDITIONING: Pity poor Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants. If it were not for Roy Halladay's near-perfection on Wednesday, people would be saying that Lincecum yesterday turned in the greatest playoff pitching performance at least since Clemens in 2000, and possibly since Larsen's perfect game. 14 strikeouts, 2 hits, a walk, and zero runs allowed are all impressive numbers.
But consider another number: 31 swinging strikes. The point of pitching is to get people out, of course, and each out is basically the same. When swinging strikes start to accumulate, though, they indicate not just success, but dominance. I cannot recall a pitcher ever getting 31 swinging strikes in a game (it may have happened, I don't know). Halladay had a better (and unquestionably more effective) game, since he allowed only one baserunner, and Lincecum threw at least two more hittable pitches than Halladay. But other than those two pitches, Lincecum was nastier.
In conclusion, go Huskies.
