I've been writing a lot about the 2010 National League Cy Young race. I started writing in April when it became clear this was going to be a special year, pitching wise.I wrote about it as recently as yesterday and I will probably be writing about it through the end of the season.
And I've always mentioned Tim Lincecum in the conversation out of respect for the two time defending Cy Young winner and also because I knew he was always a dominant month from reclaiming the lead.
Well, I don't think it is happening. Not after today. The stats don't match up with Adam Wainwright, Roy Halladay, Josh Johnson or Ubaldo Jimenez (who was robbed of win #18 today.)
And the Giants needed him. They were 2-8 against the Padres for the season, but after yesterday's come from behind thriller, the Giants were on the verge of winning a critical series, pulling to with 1 1/2 games and serving notice that they are as formidable as any team in the National League.
Instead he got thumped. The Giants have only won 2 of 11 games against the Padres.
Can you imagine if the Giants were merely mediocre against the Padres?
Let's say they were 5-6 instead of 2-9. Still allowing a losing record to San Diego.
If that were the case, the Giants would be 70-49... the best record in the National League.
The Padres would be 66-50, 2 1/2 back, 1 in the loss column.
Instead the Giants are 5 back in the loss column and have the Phillies only one back in the loss column for the Wild Card.
A win would have been big today, but Lincecum didn't come up big.
A few years ago, Brandon Webb looked like a lock to win his second Cy Young Award. But a pair of terrible starts against the Dodgers that helped knock Arizona out of the pennant race cost him dearly.
The pitcher who won in his place?
Tim Lincecum.
It comes full circle.
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