Tim Lincecum has earned his second consecutive National League Cy Young Award after yet another dominating season on the mound.

The San Francisco Giants right-handed stoner became the first pitcher ever to win the Cy Young in his first two full seasons in the big leagues and the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson. He went 15-7 behind a limp offense (much like AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke) with a 2.48 ERA and NL-leading 261 strikeouts.

The 25-year-old ace’s season was highlighted by four complete games, two shutouts and eight double-digit strikeout performances, due in large part to that ridiculous curveball and near unhittable changeup. His mid-90s fastball isn’t too bad either. 

This year’s Cy Young voting goes down as one of the closest in the history of the award, as only 10 votes separated the winner from the top two losers. Lincecum received 11 first-place votes, 12 seconds and nine thirds for a total of 100 points in BBWAA balloting while Chris Carpenter (one of two St Louis Cardinals’ favorites to win it) had nine firsts, 14 seconds and seven thirds to finish second with 94. Carpenter’s teammate Adam Wainwright, who led the league with 19 wins in 233 innings, tallied 12 first-place votes, five seconds and 15 thirds for 90 points and a third place finish.

Sadly, Lincecum’s contract did not have a Cy Young clause, so he doesn’t get a sweet bonus. Meanwhile, Carpenter and Wainwright will each get $100,000 for winding up second and third and even Atlanta’s Javier Vazquez gets $70,000 for being voted fourth.

But with arbitration just around the corner, there’s no doubt The Freak is gonna get the big bucks.

Related posts:

1. Tim Lincecum Gets the Big Bucks
2. Lincecum Pays Fine, Awaits Huge Raise
3. Joe Mauer Wins AL MVP
4. Coghlan, Bailey Rookies of the Year
5. Monday Night Football Recap: Titans 4-0 with Young this season