Don't assume Tim Lincecum has gone to pot

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The pot posse is on Timmy's trail.

Tim Lincecum is struggling, and some fans and armchair drug experts are blaming his slump on marijuana use.

Lincecum was cited for misdemeanor pot possession following the 2009 season. He has long hair. The pot posse believes that where there was smoke, there is smoke.

I'm not ready to unleash the sniffing hounds on Timmy.

I remember the '60s, which means I wasn't a full-fledged hippie. Battle lines were drawn. If you had longish hair, you were a degenerate, civilization-sabotaging druggie.

I found that attitude off-putting. Still do.

It amazes me that in 2012, some people are disturbed by Lincecum's hair.

A caller to a local radio show claimed a Hall of Fame pitcher told him, "Lincecum's lifestyle finally caught up to him." Apparently the old Hall of Famer has a telescope trained on Lincecum's smoke-shrouded penthouse.

MLB does not randomly test players for marijuana, because it's not performance-enhancing, unless you're in a pie-eating contest. A player can be tested for pot if the Health Policy Advisory Committee votes to do so, based on evidence of use within the past 12 months. A positive test could result in a fine or suspension.

Lincecum's slump has all of the Giants' fandom searching for a cause, and he provides some ammo to the lunatic fringe with his weight swings.

It doesn't help Lincecum that the Giants have a lousy track record of handling players who engage in performance-detracting behavior.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum smiles as he watches from the dugout during the Giants' baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, June 15, 2012, in Seattle. Six years after the Mariners bypassed Lincecum in the first round of the draft, Lincecum finally will make it to the Safeco Field mound on Saturday night for the second game of the series. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) less San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum smiles as he watches from the dugout during the Giants' baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, June 15, 2012, in Seattle. Six years after the Mariners ... more Photo: Ted S. Warren, Associated Press Photo: Ted S. Warren, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Don't assume Tim Lincecum has gone to pot 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Aubrey Huff admits he partied too hard two offseasons ago. His punishment: a starting job last season, even though he couldn't hit. The Giants talked tough about Pablo Sandoval's weight, but he's in the lineup every day.

So I can't tell the pot posse, "If Lincecum has a problem, I'm sure the Giants are all over it."

But let's see some harder evidence before we brand Lincecum a hippie freak with a substance-abuse issue.

Lincecum's pitching troubles are puzzling, but it's at least possible that his slump is merely a slump.