Tim Lincecum has new haircut, attitude

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A young philosophy professor? A high-tech hipster nerd?

Elvis Costello? Mr. Peabody's friend Sherman?

That was Friday's fun question: Who did Tim Lincecum look like with his new short hair and faux glasses?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Harry Potter?

But behind the fun is a serious question for the Giants: Who will Lincecum look like this season?

The two-time Cy Young winning starting pitcher? The light-outs postseason reliever? The flummoxed player they saw for much of last season?

It's the most intriguing subplot of the 2013 season, and Lincecum - who showed up the day before FanFest with his much-rumored clean-cut look - isn't shying away.

"I'm hoping to get back on that horse, be in the center of the rotation again and restake my claim as a starting pitcher," Lincecum said. "And a good one."

The hairstyle is one part of an overall makeover.

"I didn't want to go through last year again," Lincecum said. "So changing my work ethic and doing the things to take care of my job and not embarrass myself - that was my mind-set."

Tim Lincecum digs his new Joseph Gordon-Levitt/ Harry Potter look. What do you think? Tim Lincecum digs his new Joseph Gordon-Levitt/ Harry Potter look. What do you think? Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Tim Lincecum has new haircut, attitude 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

Was he embarrassed last year?

"Yes," he said. "Definitely. Not just for the jersey, but the name on the back. That's reflective of my family and their work ethic."

Lincecum's reflections match the speculation that swirled around his pitching problems. He wasn't serious enough about his training. He was stubborn about getting help. His wild fluctuations in weight undermined his strength and that, in turn, hurt his mechanics. As his problems mounted he lost confidence. And when he came out of the bullpen in the postseason, his mind was clear and he was only concerned about the immediacy of getting outs.

"Last year was tough to swallow," he said. "When you're used to things going well and all of a sudden they're not going well, you start questioning yourself and doubting yourself. You start feeding off negatives and that turns into a spiral."

Now in the final year of the high-risk two-year, $40.5 million contract he signed last offseason, Lincecum, 28, is out to prove himself.

"He's in a contract year," general manager Brian Sabean said. "And I think he understands that."

His struggles were the impetus for change. His offseason not only included a visit to the barber and his first non-baseball trip out of the country (he and his girlfriend spent a week in Cancun), but also a new training regime. Working with trainers at Impact Performance in Bellevue, Wash. - a group that the Giants directed him to - he trained five to six times a week.

"I wasn't just relying on myself," he said. "I'm kind of an independent person. Being open to help was a tough thing to do. ... Acceptance was the hardest thing."

Now 170 pounds, up about 10 pounds from last season, he's focused on dynamic movement. He also improved his diet, and the one-time king of Animal Style burgers said he "can't remember the last time (he) had In-N-Out."

The haircut is a symbol of this newfound personal maintenance.

"Usually I take six months between each haircut because I'm lazy," he said. "It's nice to have something to upkeep. To take care of yourself."

He began throwing at the same time he started his workout regime in mid-December. He feels his mechanics have improved, that his lower half is more balanced and stable and "not out of whack."

His dominant performances out of the bullpen in the playoffs helped Lincecum gain confidence heading into the offseason.

"But right now my perspective isn't to be in the bullpen," he said "I want to be a starter and get back to that elite status I once had."

Bruce Bochy said he considers Lincecum a starter. But the bullpen performance can also help forge a better relationship with Buster Posey, who rarely caught him during the regular season but was behind the plate in October. Both men insist there is no rift or issue between them. Asked if he liked Lincecum, Posey grinned and answered, "I do."

"The playoffs were a pretty good confidence boost for us both," Lincecum. "We can springboard into spring training."

Lincecum said he's not worrying about his contract right now and that he doesn't harbor ill feelings about the organization, something his father hinted at in print last year. Though he has never been a standout spring pitcher, Lincecum is taking a different attitude to Scottsdale.

"I have to get out there and prove myself," he said.

Someone told him he looked like a poet with his new haircut.

"I feel like I could write a pretty good poem or two," he said.

That's what the Giants want: the poetry back from Lincecum.