Shea: Dad expects Tim Lincecum to rebound after surgery

DENVER — Tim Lincecum is starting over, entering the second phase of his professional life that will bring anticipation and excitement not felt since he came out of the University of Washington as the 10th overall pick in the 2006 draft.

[...] like then, his father exudes all the confidence in the world, believing his son’s hip surgery Thursday will help him return as a successful big-league pitcher.

With a surgically repaired left hip — Dr. Marc Philippon shaved bone to treat an impingement and repaired a torn labrum — Tim would be without the restrictions that got his mechanics progressively out of whack this season, mechanics his dad knows better than anyone.

When Tim feels right physically and mechanically, he ends his long stride by having his left side heading directly to the target, the foot either toward the target or even a little closed (pointing toward the third-base line).

Tim said he felt more comfortable after reuniting with his dad, who says now that when his son arrived at spring training, his mechanics were perfect.

When the season started, Tim was back in a groove, posting a 2.08 ERA through eight starts.

Tim has felt something in the area for years, as Giants trainer Dave Groeschner revealed Thursday and Chris confirmed.

While getting several opinions from doctors, one said Tim’s hips grew structurally different since he was 9, for which he has been compensating, leading to the symptoms that prompted surgery.

[...] it didn’t prevent Lincecum from earning the Golden Spikes Award in college, two Cy Young Awards and the Babe Ruth Award as the MVP of the 2010 postseason, not to mention four All-Star selections and three World Series rings.

Tim will be a free agent, and much has been speculated among media and fans that Lincecum has thrown his final pitch as a Giant.

If the Giants are paying for and overseeing his rehab and comeback bid — aside from a personal trainer Tim will hire — why not try to bring him back, especially because it would be at a reduced rate?

Lincecum has always expressed fondness for pitching in San Francisco, but if he impresses scouts in the offseason, a team in Seattle and others in California, one that dresses in blue, might be calling.