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After former Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum signed with the Angels and it appeared his comeback from hip surgery would result in a handful of starts for PCL affiliate Salt Lake, the telephone rang in the Bees' ticket office.

A member of the sales staff answered and spoke to someone in San Francisco — obviously a Lincecum fan after those overpowering days with the Giants.

The caller inquired about buying two season tickets because, he'd heard, Linecum would be soon be pitching at Smith's Ballpark and there wasn't any way he would miss it.

The Bees' employee dutifully told the fan that nothing had been set in stone. At the time, there was no guarantee Lincecum would be assigned to Salt Lake or, if he was, how long he'd pitch for the Angels' top minor-league team.

It didn't matter.

The fan from San Francisco wanted the two best seats available, just case Linecum EVER pitched in Salt Lake.

"That's a pretty incredible Giants fan," Bees general manager Marc Amicone said.

Problem?

The Bees leave next next Tuesday on a 12-game, 13-day road trip to Tacoma, Reno and Fresno.

If current projections of Lincecum's schedule are accurate, he will make his debut with Salt Lake on June 2 at Tacoma. He would probably pitch again on June 7 at Reno. A third start, if deemed necessary, would likely occur on June 12 at Fresno.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Lincecum would make at least two starts with the Bees before joining the Angels.

If he does pitch only twice in Triple-A, Lincecum will almost certainly be gone to the parent club by the time the Bees return to home for a game against Tacoma on June 13.

"We haven't heard anything about when he'd be ready," Amicone said. "It would be pretty exciting if we got him here. There is definitely a star quality about him. But that's part of the chair we sit in.

"At our level, we get players like that sometimes. But sometimes we get them at home and sometimes we get them on the road — especially pitchers because they don't play every day."

Lincecum, who turns 32 on June 15, is scheduled to throw a simulated game in Arizona on Saturday.

If all goes well, he will join the Bees.

Lincecum did not pitch during the final three months of last season. He underwent the surgery on his hip in September with the hope of jump-starting his career.

He signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Angels on Friday. If he meets incentives for starts and days spent on the active roster, he can earn another $1 million.

"I'm anxious, excited and a little nervous," Lincecum told reporters. "I'm pumped to see what I can do out there on the field. I know what I'm fighting for and that's to get back to a starting role."

Angels general manager Billy Eppler expects Lincecum will need 20-30 days to get ready.

"The common denominator of these star-level players is they know their body really well," Eppler said. "We're relying a lot on the player. He'll tell us when he's ready because he's earned that."

Email: luhm@sltrib.com

Twitter: @sluhm —

Tim Lincicum update

• Former Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels last week.

• Lincecum is expected to make at least two starts for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees before joining the Angels.

• Linececum might not pitch in Salt Lake, however. The Bees start a 12-game, 13-day road trip next Tuesday.