Now’s the time to extend Lincecum some real support

In some fashion this offseason, the Giants will probably make TimLincecum the first pitcher ever to receive a multi-million-dollarpremium because he couldn't win 20 games. They owe him that much,and Matt Cain, as well. Someday, they may have to pay the samecompensatory damages to Madison Bumgarner. But for the moment, Lincecum's concerns take precedence. Thelook of resignation that briefly crossed his face late in Monday's7-0 loss to the Cubs was both unnerving and predictable. The maskworn by every member of the Giants' pitching staff had to slipeventually, especially when the lowest-scoring lineup in the gamecompounded its failures with exasperating fielding lapses.