NL CY Young preview

NL Cy Young

Contenders

Tim Lincecum: San Francisco Giants

225.1 IP in 32 starts

15-7, 2.48 era, 1.05 WHIP, 261 K, .206 BAA

Lincecum is fresh off a CY Young award last season and has pitched himself into contention again this year. Tiny Tim finished in the top five in the NL’s top five pitching categories: Wins, ERA, WHIP, Strikeouts, and batting average against. He actually improved in era, WHIP, and BAA from a year ago and seems poised to take another pitching crown. He really only receives demerits for his record but that can be attributed to playing for the offensively challenged Giants. Despite being only 25 years old, he is the most feared hill topper in the Senior Circuit. All this should help him claim his second straight CY Young but the cards may not fall in his favor this year with two competitors who are equally as deserving.

Chris Carpenter: St. Louis Cardinals

192.2 IP in 28 starts

17-4, 2.24 era, 1.01 WHIP, 144 K, .226 BAA

What a comeback year for the former Cy Young winner. After making only five starts over the last two seasons, Carpenter came back with a vengeance in 2009, forming one half of baseball’s best 1-2 tandem. Carpenter finished with the NL’s best era and winning percentage (.810), while finishing in second in wins and WHIP. Already the recipient of the NL Comeback player of the Year award, Carpenter may be a sentimental choice for the award. Every time he took the mound this season he gave the Cardinals a chance to win and that is crucial to winning this award. His detractors will point to his low strikeout total, 144, but blissfully ignore is staggeringly low walk total, 38, which was the least per inning of any pitcher in baseball. He has the vitals to take this award but there is fierce competition this year, even from his own team.

Adam Wainwright: St. Louis Cardinals

233.0 IP in 34 starts

19-8, 2.63 era, 1.21 WHIP, 212 K, .237 BAA

The National League’s wins leader has made a smooth transition from bullpen to dominant major league starter. While his vitals may not match up to the supremacy of Lincecum and Carpenter’s, he led the NL in two of the most overlooked stats, games started and innings pitched. Being reliable all season long may give him the boost he needs to upset for this award. Ultimately, being the second best pitcher on his own team will leave him on the outside looking in this year.

Should Win: Tim Lincecum

Will Win: Tim Lincecum

Despite his recent charge for pot possession, the National League has a history of awarding the same pitcher multiple years in a row, Greg Maddox 92-95 and Randy Johnson 99-02. Lincecum has the dominating stuff to win this award every year for next decade, look for him to collect Cy Young #2 for 2009.