This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

All things considered, veteran pitcher Tim Lincecum would rather be with the Los Angeles Angels.

After struggling during a seven-week stay with the Angels, however, Lincecum is back in Triple-A with Salt Lake.

The former Cy Young Award winner is scheduled to start Monday night at Smith's Ballpark, when the Bees conclude a four-game series against Round Rock.

With their rotation battered by injuries, the Angels signed Lincecum to a prorated $2.5 million free-agent contract in May.

Coming off hip surgery last September, Lincecum was sent to Salt Lake. He posted a 2.65 earned run average in three solid starts — all on the road — before being called up by L.A.

Lincecum was not as successful in his return to the big leagues as he has been with the Bees.

He went 2-6 in nine starts. But after allowing six runs and nine hits in 31⁄3 innings in his final outing, his ERA ballooned to 9.16 and the Angels designated him for assignment.

To the surprise of many, Lincecum accepted a return to Salt Lake.

Before the Bees played Round Rock on Sunday night, he explained his decision.

"I just wanted to get back on the mound," Lincecum said. "One of the opportunities that was presented was to come back down, where I had a little bit of success before I got called up. … I'm going to ride that same wave — ride the mental goodness, I guess you could say."

Asked what Angels' management told him before Lincecum left, he said, "They have a lot of faith in me, that I can figure something out. They don't think it's a big adjustment and I agree with them. It's very small things but [they're magnified] on that big stage up there, when you're trying to work on things."

According to Lincecum, his hip has felt "pretty good," although at times it has impacted his delivery and mechanics. Still, the right-hander was effective at times for the Angels. He averaged 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings and had a 45.9 percent ground ball rate.

"I think that gives me the push to know that I still have it in the tank — that I still have good stuff," Lincecum said. "I've seen flashes of myself at times. … I just want to get back on the mound and see what I can do and, hopefully, find the path I'm looking for."

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