Here is the opening to my Monday column on Tim Lincecum who lost again.

The A’s beat the Giants 6-2 on Sunday. But there was another story, just as dramatic, certainly sadder and, from the Giants’ point of view, troubling.

Tim Lincecum pitched badly. He’s mostly pitched badly this season, Lincecum and his fat 6.04 earned-run average, Lincecum who couldn’t last more than four innings Sunday, Lincecum who fell apart in the fourth and gave up four runs to the Oakland A’s, who can’t hit themselves out of a paper bag (whatever that means), Lincecum who specializes in fall-apart, crack-up innings — everything is going well and, suddenly, he just cracks up. He did well the first time through the weak Oakland batting order. But the second time through, the A’s hitters, such as they are, adjusted and clocked him.

To read the full column, click here.