It’s not even a debate: Tim Lincecum outright deserves the 2009 National League Cy Young award.
He finished third in innings pitched at 225.1, behind Dan Haren with 229.1 and Adam Wainwright with 233. That being said, each of those pitchers started more games than Lincecum.
He finished second in ERA to Chris Carpenter. He was 2.48, Carpenter was 2.24. Lincecum started four more games than Carpenter. Anything can happen in four starts: Carpenter’s ERA might not have necessarily finished above Lincecum’s but odds are it certainly would have been higher than 2.24.
Nobody came close to Lincecum in strikeouts (261). The next closest was Javier Vazquez at 238. Lincecum, along with teammate Matt Cain, led the League in complete games (four). Batters hit just .206 off Lincecum; .226 on Carpenter.
Statistically, it’s not close: Lincecum is the winner. Moreover, he pitched for a poorer offense in the Giants than say the Cardinals, for example. He couldn’t rely on the likes of Albert Pujols or Matt Holliday to bail him out in the seventh inning; he had to do everything himself.
It will be a crime if he does not win his second Cy Young award.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter, Dan Haren, Javier Vazquez, Matt Cain, Matt Holliday, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Tim Lincecum
