Giants pitcher Lincecum wins NL Cy Young

Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images

Giants righthander and 2008 NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum was 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA and a major league-best 265 strikeouts.

The righthander was 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA and a major league-best 265 strikeouts, remarkable numbers for a fourth-place club that finished 72-90.

Associated Press

Last update: November 12, 2008 - 1:10 AM

Tim Lincecum was a big winner on a woeful team, which fit him perfectly.

Firing fastballs at 97 miles per hour from his miniature frame, the National League Cy Young Award recipient is an anomaly in almost every way.

Lincecum joined Mike McCormick (1967) as the only San Francisco Giants to win the Cy Young, taking home pitching’s highest honor by a comfortable margin Tuesday following his second major league season.

“I was definitely surprised. I thought it was going to be a lot closer,” Lincecum said.

The slender kid with the whirling windup received 23 of 32 first-place votes and 137 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks got four first-place votes and finished second with 73 points.

Listed at 5-11 and 160 pounds, tiny by today’s standards for a big league pitcher, Lincecum defied detractors — and the laws of physics — by overpowering one hulking slugger after another.

Lincecum was 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA and a major league-best 265 strikeouts, remarkable numbers for a fourth-place club that finished 72-90.

Etc.
• Trevor Hoffman’s record-setting run as San Diego Padres closer appears over after the team withdrew its contract offer for $4 million for 2009 and a $4 million club option for 2010. Hoffman, 41, is baseball’s career saves leader with 554 career saves.

• Starting pitcher Scott Olsen and outfielder Josh Willingham were traded by the Florida Marlins to the Washington Nationals in a five-player deal. The Marlins received second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor leaguers, second baseman Jake Smolinski and righthander P.J. Dean.

• Herb Score, the Cleveland Indians pitcher and former broadcaster whose promise on the mound was shattered by a line drive, died Tuesday. He was 75. Score was the 1955 AL Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star before the Yankees’ Gil McDougald lined a ball off Score’s right eye, breaking his nose and a number of bones in his face, in May of 1957.

• Joey Cora and former Twin Chip Hale interviewed to become manager of the Mariners. Cora is bench coach of the Chicago White Sox. He was the second of seven candidates to interview with new general manager Jack Zduriencik. Hale, Arizona third base coach, interviewed later Tuesday night.

• Florida righthander Henry Owens has been suspended 50 games for violating the joint drug prevention and treatment program.

Recent Twins stories

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon wants to come back, but will explore other options - November 12, 2008

Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon wants to come back, but will explore other options - Johnny Damon soaked it all in as he shared a float with first-timers Nick Swisher and Jerry Hairston Jr. for the New York Yankees' championship parade through the Canyon of Heroes on Friday. The whole scene made him a little wistful. More