Giants pitcher has won the National League Cy Young Award for the second straight year, emerging from one of the tightest votes in the history of the award to become the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson: Giants' Lincecum wins second consecutive Cy Young.
This was one of the closest Cy Young votes ever. In balloting that assigned five points for a first-place vote, three for a second-place vote and one for a third-place nod, Lincecum totaled 100 points and 11 first-place votes. He edged St. Louis right-handers Chris Carpenter (nine first-place votes, 94 points) and Adam Wainwright (12 first-place votes, 90 points): Lincecum's the one; that makes two Cys.
Lincecum, nicknamed "The Freak" for his giant stride, led the NL with 261 strikeouts and tied for the league lead with four complete games and two shutouts.
The honor is noteworthy because of Lincecum's 15 victories -- the fewest for a Cy Young starter over a non-shortened season. More here: Twice as nice: Tim Lincecum wins second straight Cy Young.
I guess the pot charges didn't really hurt his Cy Young chances. Last week, Lincecum released a statement addressing his marijuana charges from a traffic stop last month in Washington. He apologized and expressed regret for his actions: Lincecum on pot possession: "I made a mistake."
*
