The Giants ace doesn't maintain many superstitions or stick to an inflexible routine, as some players do.

"There's nothing like, 'I have to do this today or else something's not right,'" Lincecum said on Friday, one day before he attempts to further his Cy Young Award candidacy against the San Diego Padres.

But there is one habit Lincecum has kept since high school: He shines his own shoes before he goes to the mound. Clubhouse attendants can skip his dressing stall when he's starting.

Lincecum recalled that he applied as much shoe polish as was necessary to make his leather cleats sparkle during high school and college.

"It makes them look newer," he said. "It was something I got into when I was younger. I just carried it on here."

Nowadays, Lincecum wears suede spikes instead of leather, so he eschews polish for other cleansing agents.

"Scrubbing bubbles," he revealed.

To spare himself extra work, Lincecum doesn't wear his game shoes when he takes batting practice. He then cleans his shoes before changing into his game jersey.