MLB 2K9 Cover Goes to Tim Lincecum

by pastapadre
Posted November 11th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

Only hours after posting up the top candidates for the baseball game covers 2K Sports revealed their selection and cover art. It is Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants. With an 18-5 record and 2.62 ERA he was dominant on a poor team. He was selected to the All-Star team and was likely to be the starter but missed the game due to an illness. Earlier today he was announced as the NL Cy Young Award winner.

I left Lincecum out of my preview thinking he wasn’t recognizable enough, especially as a starting pitcher as the companies tend to go for offensive players. Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels seemed the most likely starters if one was to be taken. But Linecum’s numbers certainly justify his choosing. The one thing not factored in that probably should’ve been is that he plays nearby the 2K offices. Visual Concepts, which is now developing the series, is based just outside San Francisco.

Given that Lincecum grew up in my area and went to Washington I like the selection even though it is somewhat of a surprise. Needless to say it is refreshing to have 2K move away from New York teams. What are your thoughts on Lincecum’s selection?

{democracy:49}

Tags:

Mark

@ Badgerboy 21:

Yeah, and Bob Uecker should be an announcer for 2K9……
Mark

@ Badgerboy 21:

Yeah, and Bob Uecker should be an announcer for 2K9……
Badgerboy 21

@ Mark:

yea if you want dead air most of the game ha
Badgerboy 21

@ Mark:

yea if you want dead air most of the game ha
Yeeaaaahh boy

Oh yeah. Bellevue Washington. represent!!!
Yeeaaaahh boy

Oh yeah. Bellevue Washington. represent!!!
Mark

@ Badgerboy 21:
@ Mark:

Uecker was pretty good in Major League…..
Mark

@ Badgerboy 21:
@ Mark:

Uecker was pretty good in Major League…..
Zach

Lincecum… possibly the best UW Husky pitcher ever… and now on the cover of a video game! I remember watching him pitch in college. This is awesome.
Go Huskies!
Zach

Lincecum… possibly the best UW Husky pitcher ever… and now on the cover of a video game! I remember watching him pitch in college. This is awesome.
Go Huskies!
adam

they should stop making this game
adam

they should stop making this game
Justin tuck

@ adam:
and make MVP baseball 2009?
Justin tuck

@ adam:
and make MVP baseball 2009?
Diablo

Strange choice. If they wanted a Pitcher on the cover, would’nt it have made more sense last year? They changed the pitching mechanic and hyped it up pretty much, so they should’ve done the Pitcher last year, like CC. Tim is a great pitcher and deserved they CY Young. Even thou I am from NY and thought Johan was great, he didnt deserve it. But who cares about 2K??? It was no contest last year, The SHow was MVP from da jump and 09 will be the same!!! Great site Pasta, but can we please get some info on Da Show.
Diablo

Strange choice. If they wanted a Pitcher on the cover, would’nt it have made more sense last year? They changed the pitching mechanic and hyped it up pretty much, so they should’ve done the Pitcher last year, like CC. Tim is a great pitcher and deserved they CY Young. Even thou I am from NY and thought Johan was great, he didnt deserve it. But who cares about 2K??? It was no contest last year, The SHow was MVP from da jump and 09 will be the same!!! Great site Pasta, but can we please get some info on Da Show.
tim daley

I think the choice is kind of ironic and a clear reflection of the MLB 2k Series. Lincicomb is a Cy Young Ace that managed to Flourish in the Cespool call the San Francisco Giants and as of Late the Great 2k sports name has entered in the cespool of MLB 2k8.
tim daley

I think the choice is kind of ironic and a clear reflection of the MLB 2k Series. Lincicomb is a Cy Young Ace that managed to Flourish in the Cespool call the San Francisco Giants and as of Late the Great 2k sports name has entered in the cespool of MLB 2k8.
Eric

As long as the game still sucks, I couldn’t care less who is on the cover. Seeing that a new developer is taking over with the shortened development cycle of a yearly sports title, I would assume 2K will still suck terribly, but might show promise.

It is simply too difficult for a new developer to take over a yearly sports franchise and do a great job on their first release.
Eric

As long as the game still sucks, I couldn’t care less who is on the cover. Seeing that a new developer is taking over with the shortened development cycle of a yearly sports title, I would assume 2K will still suck terribly, but might show promise.

It is simply too difficult for a new developer to take over a yearly sports franchise and do a great job on their first release.
http://www.pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

@ Diablo:

I hope so, but I wasn’t anticipating any baseball news to come out until December. 2K made this announcement mainly just cause their guy was winning the Cy Young. The good news is that SCEA is looking to be more open with The Show this year which means I may get an opportunity to head to the studio and check it out in advance. Haven’t been able to get any early looks at baseball games before.

@ Eric:

If NHL 2K9 is any indication (had the same studio change circumstances) we can probably look forward to a simplified, better playing game that just won’t be up to the level of the competition, but would appear to be headed in the right direction.
http://www.pastapadre.com pastapadre

@ Diablo:

I hope so, but I wasn’t anticipating any baseball news to come out until December. 2K made this announcement mainly just cause their guy was winning the Cy Young. The good news is that SCEA is looking to be more open with The Show this year which means I may get an opportunity to head to the studio and check it out in advance. Haven’t been able to get any early looks at baseball games before.

@ Eric:

If NHL 2K9 is any indication (had the same studio change circumstances) we can probably look forward to a simplified, better playing game that just won’t be up to the level of the competition, but would appear to be headed in the right direction.
Skihawks

They should put Barbaro Garbey on the cover. Never heard of him? Yeah, he pretended to be a major leaguer just as this game pretends to represent the MLB….
Skihawks

They should put Barbaro Garbey on the cover. Never heard of him? Yeah, he pretended to be a major leaguer just as this game pretends to represent the MLB….
http://youtube.com/godfire62 John Milender

This is the game i’m getting just because he is on the cover. He’s my favorite player ever since he started playing for the san francisco giants. I don’t care if i get the wrong game system for it i’m still getting the game. I’m an 11 year old kid too!!!
http://youtube.com/godfire62 John Milender

This is the game i’m getting just because he is on the cover. He’s my favorite player ever since he started playing for the san francisco giants. I don’t care if i get the wrong game system for it i’m still getting the game. I’m an 11 year old kid too!!!
tdoggy

lol lincicomb
tdoggy

lol lincicomb
Kevin

No love for my boy Dustin Pedroia
Kevin

No love for my boy Dustin Pedroia
hern

Ok, ok so I pick up this game and WOW Lincecum why did you get involved with this game, This game is the worse game ever. Who the hell tested this game before releasing it? All 2K progeammers should get axed. Never again will I buy a shitty product by a shitty company that decides to sell an underdeveloped game like this. WOW I am amazed how terrible this game is. Why can't we have MVP Baseball back; that was a great game. SOmeone should do a story on how this game sucks and how buying this game is ripping off people. That could be a great story; just a suggestion. Once again, terrible game, do not make the same mistake I made, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!!!!
hern

Ok, ok so I pick up this game and WOW Lincecum why did you get involved with this game, This game is the worse game ever. Who the hell tested this game before releasing it? All 2K progeammers should get axed. Never again will I buy a shitty product by a shitty company that decides to sell an underdeveloped game like this. WOW I am amazed how terrible this game is. Why can't we have MVP Baseball back; that was a great game. SOmeone should do a story on how this game sucks and how buying this game is ripping off people. That could be a great story; just a suggestion. Once again, terrible game, do not make the same mistake I made, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME!!!!