Lincecum headed for arbitration hearing?

We admit, we don’t understand this one. San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum is a back-to-back Cy Young Award winner and only 25-years old. We really think he low-balled himself when he asked for $13 million in arbitration, while we think the Giants really low-balled him when they offered $8 million. Based on what stud ace pitchers get paid these days, how can the Giants not be willing to throw him $13 million or even $10 million? But the bottom line is that they haven’t figured this out and it looks like it’s headed for an arbitration hearing.

Lincecum’s agent Rick Thurman says there has been very little discussion between the two sides, which makes…absolutely no sense. Apparently, talks for a one-year deal have been non-existent and there has been “some very insignificant two-year conversations,” which makes him think that “it’s quite clear the case is headed to a hearing. I think that’s the direction (a hearing) they’ve wanted this to go from Day 1 simply because there’s been little or no discussions with regards to a contract.”

Player arbitration in MLB can get very ugly. One side tells everyone why he’s so good and why he deserves X amount of month. Then the team says “this is why you aren’t worth that.” Not a good situation. Well, what are the Giants going to say about Lincecum to get his figure down? He gets hurt too much? Hasn’t proven he can pitch consistently at this level? What would it be? They don’t like his hair? Nobody does? Not even his mom?