Lincecum cited for marijuana possession

VikingFan2k2 · #1 11-06-2009, 02:42 AM

Quote:

By GREGG BELL, AP Sports Writer
1 hour, 9 minutes ago

SEATTLE (AP)—San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum(notes) is facing misdemeanor marijuana charges following a traffic stop in his home state.

Washington State Patrol spokesman Steve Schatzel said Thursday that the 2008 Cy Young Award winner and former University of Washington star was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 5 in the town of Hazel Dell, about four miles north of the Oregon border, on Oct. 30.

An officer approached Lincecum’s 2006 Mercedes and smelled marijuana as the pitcher rolled down his window. Schatzel said Lincecum immediately complied with a request to hand over the drug and a marijuana pipe from the car’s center console.

The amount measured was 3.3 grams. Schatzel said police consider that a small amount for personal use, well below the maximum of 40 grams before possession is classified differently and carries a more severe penalty.

The arrest was first reported by The Columbian in Vancouver, Wash.

“It was about the size of a thumb, the whole thumb,” Schatzel said of the volume of marijuana Lincecum handed over.

Lincecum was fined a total of $622 for driving at 74 mph in a 60 mph zone, and for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Both are misdemeanors.

The 25-year-old All-Star starter entered a plea of not guilty through his attorney on Monday, according to records in Clark County District Court. A hearing that had been scheduled for Friday morning was canceled, pending a pretrial conference between Lincecum’s attorney and a county prosecutor on Nov. 23.

Lincecum is currently scheduled to appear before a judge on Dec. 22.

The Giants said they were aware of the situation but did not immediately have a comment.

The native of the Seattle suburb of Bellevue went 15-7 with a 2.48 ERA in 32 starts and 225 1-3 innings in 2009, his third season in the major leagues. He is 40-17 with a 2.90 ERA in his career, and could be getting a huge, multimillion raise from salary arbitration this offseason.

Teammates consider the smallish right-hander a quirky perfectionist. They also consider him the “Franchise,” the nickname they gave him when he broke into the big leagues only a year out of college. Others see his boyish face, shaggy dark hair, his diminutive frame—and his dominance—and call him “The Freak.”

San Francisco chose him 10th overall in the 2006 draft out of Washington, and he instantly became the organization’s top pitching prospect since Hall of Famer Juan Marichal signed with the New York Giants as an amateur free agent in 1957.

AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley is San Francisco contributed to this report.

Kind of funny, when I first saw this guy pitch in the big leagues, I'm like "when did they start letting stoners pitch in the majors?"

Obviously this isn't that big of a deal, but I have a question for Q: Didn't Swarzak get nailed for 50 games for testing positive for weed?

I understand this isn't testing positive, but wouldn't this put him on a watch list?

The Q · #2 11-06-2009, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VikingFan2k2

Kind of funny, when I first saw this guy pitch in the big leagues, I'm like "when did they start letting stoners pitch in the majors?"

Obviously this isn't that big of a deal, but I have a question for Q: Didn't Swarzak get nailed for 50 games for testing positive for weed?

I understand this isn't testing positive, but wouldn't this put him on a watch list?

Swarzak did, but it was a drug test.

But minor league drug testing is different than the big leagues because the bigs get to collectively bargain.

TheFog · #3 11-06-2009, 05:18 AM

The biggest question I have is why in the hell is Tim only buying a 40 sack?

Dude's a millionaire and buys 40 sacks? I'd be sittin' on at least a QP in case it was a long weekend.

Norman Bates · #4 11-06-2009, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFog

The biggest question I have is why in the hell is Tim only buying a 40 sack?

Dude's a millionaire and buys 40 sacks? I'd be sittin' on at least a QP in case it was a long weekend.

Ha- while I hear ya- seriously. Not all smokers are "stoners"

Nastradamus · #5 11-06-2009, 08:15 AM

Yah, people like to smoke weed. Its the first day after the WS, its a long time til the season.

CrossBones · #6 11-06-2009, 10:28 PM

Another dumbass pro athlete.

TheFog · #7 11-07-2009, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

Ha- while I hear ya- seriously. Not all smokers are "stoners"

I just think you're speaking Greek to me man. No habla, I do not understand the words that are coming out of your mouth.

VikingFan2k2 · #8 11-07-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Q

Swarzak did, but it was a drug test.

But minor league drug testing is different than the big leagues because the bigs get to collectively bargain.

I get that, but is this a situation where a guy could toke up in the dugout as he's on his off day? Or is there a recreational drug testing policy in the majors that has teeth to it?

eaglesnut · #9 11-12-2009, 03:33 PM

Perfect team for him. Those Giants fans toke up in the stands all game long.

Nastradamus · #10 11-12-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eaglesnut

Perfect team for him. Those Giants fans toke up in the stands all game long.

I can believe that.