Tim Lincecum spoke for the first time since his Sept. 3 hip surgery.

He said he hopes he won’t be so dependent on crutches in four days, is confident he’ll be OK for spring training (but doesn’t know for sure) and isn’t thinking about a return to the Giants as much as getting himself healthy.

Lincecum is at his final game Tuesday night. Wednesday, he’s heading to Arizona to resume his rehab.

On how his rehab is going: “Good. Everything is on track. And it’s obviously tedious, but I think that’s what rehab is. But it’s a good routine I got going, and the people taking care of me are really good. (Dr. Marc) Philippon’s team is exceptional. I feel like I’m in really good hands. They’re pretty good forward thinkers, you know, they got an idea where I’m headed and where I need to go. Obviously, they’ve done these things a lot, and they’re specialists in the field so that takes a lot of stress out of my mind. Just try to listen to what they say and do it, and hopefully it’ll get me on track to where I need to be. I’m not worried about that necessarily but it’s just a long process.

On being frustrated: “Yeah definitely. I think that’s what’s different about the situation is it wasn’t like an injury that I caused. It was just kind of a structural issue I had going on that kind of came on as a bigger issue just because I’ve been pitching on it so long. With that, I’ve just been trying to work ahead and think about the future and obviously be in the moment at the same time. Being here right now with the team is pretty special for me, seeing all the guys especially. It’s coming down to the wire, and you don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s good to see these guys and see them smile, and it’s definitely fun because I get to smile, too.”

On recovering by spring training: “Right now, I’m not sure exactly. I know the window that I was given was about five to six months and I’m pretty confident I’m going to be ready for spring training, but I don’t know exactly that’s going to look like. So I just think (Phillippon) is just worried about getting me healthy day by day right now.”

On whether it’d be an advantage returning to the Giants considering they’re overseeing the rehab: “Yeah, I mean, that’d be really nice obviously, something to not to have to worry about if it comes to that. But right now, I think I’m kind of worried about myself a little bit. It sounds a little selfish. But this is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with a major injury so I’m trying to get my mind around that.”

On working out for teams before spring training: “Right now, I don’t know yet. I can’t see that far ahead. I’m just worried about what I’ve got to do on a daily basis. That feels like it’s been kind of overwhelming for me at times, too. So just trying to wrap my head around this whole rehab world. And obviously being away from the team is tough. That’s another tied-in thing. But with the offseason, I’ll just be able to focus a little bit more and think about the future and hopefully I’ll have a better answer for you then.”

On acknowledging fans: “I hope something happens. Obviously, I would like to show my appreciation one way or another just because they’ve been with me day in and day out. These fans don’t get paid to be here. It’s on the other side. It’s completely selfless, and to be able to kind of give yourself in that way I understand as a fan of sports is pretty special, and I can definitely relate to it.”

On retaining his velocity: “I think that’s what kind of made me lean more toward Philippon in the first place, just because he seems so confident the way he spoke, in a manner that was more like he knew where I’d be later as opposed to a question mark. That gave me a lot of confidence in going forward with him and gave me a lot of comfort with that. I see myself being back on track with the given program that I’m under.”

On his future role, starting or relieving: “When I can start building my endurance and stamina as a pitcher, we’ll see where that goes. Early on, when I start throwing, I’m going to have to work on my endurance more than I have in past seasons just because I’ve had so much time off. It’ll be a test for me, and I’m real happy to take it on. But I don’t really have an answer what my role will be next year.”

On the retirement of Tim Hudson: “I feel just knowing guys like him and (Barry) Zito, I’ve been real fortunate to be a part of the game. It goes without saying. A guy like Hudson, I feel he’s been on the team for much longer than he has. He’s a likable guy, he’s a team guy, and he’s a leader by nature. He’s not going to tell you necessarily but by example. You see guys want to be like him, and I even saw myself in that kind of guy. You see yourself an eight-year vet looking up to a guy who has done everything, and you see how he appreciates the game.”

John Shea is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jshea@sfchronicle.com. Twitter @JohnSheaHey



