Speaking publicly Friday for the first time since he and the Giants agreed to their deal on Jan. 24, Tim Lincecum calmly rebutted the assumptions of critics. "I just try to keep my ears closed to it and not have it sway me one way or the other, or question myself," Lincecum said of the negativity he inadvertently aroused. Lincecum stated that the contract's length wasn't meant to provide a lucrative launching pad to free agency. "The reason this deal got done when it did was timing," he said. "The Giants and my agent [Rick Thurman] found common ground on a two-year deal." Lincecum pointedly added, "It doesn't eliminate any chance for future extension talks."