SAN FRANCISCO -- If Tim Lincecum is really angry at the Giants for the way they've handled his contract, he at least knows better than to say so publicly.
Given the opportunity to respond to a report that he was upset with the lack of a deal as he comes closer to a potential arbitration hearing, Lincecum said all the right things.
"I try not to have any ill feelings about anything," Lincecum told reporters in a media session at AT&T Park on Friday afternoon. "I just try to come out here and the whole purpose is to help the team win. It's not about a grudge match."
With February starting and little progress in contract talks with the San Francisco Giants, Tim Lincecum's agent said Tuesday that he fully expects to go to arbitration with the Giants over the reigning two-time NL Cy Young winner. The official date of the hearing isn't known yet, but it's expected to be towards the end of the 20-day window, which opened Monday, in which arbitration hearings can be scheduled.
The Giants and Lincecum were $5 million apart when they exchanged figures nearly two weeks ago, with Lincecum asking for $13 million and the Giants offering $8 million. Both numbers are records for a player with less than three full years of big-league experience
ESPN and San Francisco Giants radio broadcaster Jon Miller was named the 2010 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award by the Baseball Hall of Fame Monday. The award -- in its 33rd year -- is given out for major contributions in baseball broadcasting, and recipients typically give a speech during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown during late July.
Miller has been the voice of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball telecasts for the last 20 years and, in addition to the Giants, has worked for the Orioles, Rangers, Red Sox and A's during a career that stretches back to 1974.
"For every young broadcaster, finding out who he is and becoming that person on the air is a real key," Miller said of his broadcasting journey during a conference call with the media. "Ultimately I found out who I was.
"You're out there for three hours a night, and whoever you are is going to come out."
Making it back by the opener is "a goal for Freddy," Giants trainer Dave Groschner said on a conference call on Friday afternoon. "I know he's working his butt off right now. It's a possibility, but it may not happen either. When we get into March, we'll be able to give you a better answer on that."
Sanchez had some left shoulder discomfort during his offseason workouts, and an exploratory surgery on Dec. 23 revealed that he had a torn labrum and required some cleanup of his AC joint, Groeschner said.
Groeschner said the normal recovery time for such a procedure is 12 to 15 weeks, which makes Opening Day questionable. The Giants had not announced the surgery, at Sanchez's request, but Bochy let it slip during a radio interview on Thursday night.
There's just one player that figures to capture everyone's imagination -- two-time Cy Young Award-winner Tim Lincecum, who is in line for a record award -- but plenty of cases are worth watching.
SAN FRANCISCO -- If 
With February starting and little progress in contract talks with the 
ESPN and 
Giants' second baseman 
The figures are in. The haggling has begun. And you can rest assured 
