National League Cy Young

If anyone has doubts about Lincecum being the National League winner, then I don't understand. Sure, he didn't have the most wins, but on a better team that scores him more runs, he wins 20 or more easily. He had 11 starts in which he allowed three earned runs or less and lasted six innings or more and was saddled with a no-decision or a loss. In 10 of those outings, he went seven innings or more and in nine of them allowed two earned or less.

He was third in the league in innings pitched (225 1/3), fourth in WHIP (1.05) and a clear cut first in strikeouts with 261.

He has the filthiest stuff in either league and has turned himself into a Rock Star in San Francisco and there are no other pitchers in baseball that take the mound with the hype, fanfare and expectations than when he does.

2. Chris Carpenter

The ERA leader with 17 wins also had the second-lowest WHIP. He made 28 starts, and pitched nearly 200 innings, and that is great that he came back healthy, but the starters that made 30+ starts with 200+ innings have an edge. Having 117 less strikeouts than Lincecum is probably the deal breaker.

3. Adam Wainwright

Wainwright led the National League in wins with 19, innings pitched with 233 and was fourth in ERA. He also had 212 strikeouts. This is one of the closest Cy Young races I have ever seen.

Honorable Mention: Javier Vazquez, Matt Cain, Dan Haren, Jair Jurrjens. These four pitchers (in this order) would round out my list of legit candidates. Vazquez had a sub-three ERA, a ton of strikeouts and 15 wins, Cain had 14 wins, a sub-three ERA and nearly 200 K's and Haren is probably the winner of the first half Cy Young, as usual. He won 14 times, led the league in WHIP, was second in IP, struck out over 200 and an ERA just over three. Jurrjens is the least heralded of the group, but 14 wins an ERA of 2.60 (third best in the league) means he could have had many more with more run support.