Tim Lincecum

3) Tim Lincecum’s pursuit of a third straight Cy Young Award.  The young Giants pitcher has amazed the baseball world by winning 40 of his first 57 decisions, surrendering less than half a home run per nine innings of work, and leading the league in strikeouts in 2008 and 2009 on his way to being named the NL’s top pitcher each of the last two seasons.

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took off the hands of the Atlanta Braves.  Vazquez’s 238 strikeouts were second only to Tim Lincecum’s 261 among National League pitchers.  GM Brian Cashman and the rest of the front office are making a strong statement as they attempt to defend their first World Series championship since 2000.

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ward voting?  The top three candidates gave each other a run for their money, with 2008 winner Tim Lincecum of the Giants barely edging Cardinal teammates Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.  Not only did each receive at least nine first-place votes (out of a possible 32), but only two other pitchers got a vote of any kind – Javier Vazquez (one 2nd) and Dan Haren (one 3rd).  The third-place finisher, Wainwright, actually received more first-place votes (12) than the guys ahead of him, but his low total of second-place votes (5) kept him from claiming his first Cy Young Award.

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Pity Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum and the other pitchers that no matter how well they do, it still probably won’t be enough.

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