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Lincecum Wins NL Cy Young

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A Tribune staff, wire report

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

NEW YORK - Tim Lincecum was a big winner on a woeful team, which fit him perfectly. Firing 97-mph fastballs from his miniature frame, the National League Cy Young Award recipient is an anomaly in almost every way.

Lincecum joined Mike McCormick (1967) as the only San Francisco Giants to win the award, taking home pitching's highest honor by a comfortable margin Tuesday following his second major-league season.

"I was definitely surprised. I thought it was going to be a lot closer," Lincecum said.

The slender kid with the whirling windup received 23 of 32 first-place votes and 137 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Arizona's Brandon Webb got four first-place votes and finished second with 73 points.

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds - tiny by today's standards for a big-league pitcher - Lincecum defied detractors and the laws of physics by overpowering one hulking slugger after another. Lincecum was 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA and a major league-best 265 strikeouts, remarkable numbers for a fourth-place club that finished 72-90.

"People have been doubting me my whole life," he said. "I don't let them bring me down."

Rays Boost Local Charities

ST. PETERSBURG - The Rays Baseball Foundation, the team's official charity, awarded $150,000 to three local nonprofit organizations through the club's All-Star Grant on Tuesday.

Receiving $50,000 each were the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay for its Sports Buddies program; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas, Hernando and Citrus counties for its Sports Buddies program; and Community Tampa Bay for its Anytown program. Representatives for each nonprofit organization accepted checks at an announcement ceremony at Tropicana Field.

Through grants and fundraisers, the Rays Baseball Foundation has invested $600,000 into the local community this year.

BREWERS: Pitcher Salomon Torres, 36, retired after 12 seasons, saying he wants to spent more time with his family and faith.

MARLINS: Pitcher Henry Owens was suspended for the first 50 games of next season after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

PADRES: Trevor Hoffman's record-setting run as San Diego's closer is almost certainly over after the team withdrew its contract offer for 2009. Hoffman, 41, baseball's career saves leader with 554, was upset with the abrupt, impersonal way the club ended contract talks, agent Rick Thurman said Tuesday.

TWINS: Reliever Pat Neshek will have ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow and is expected to miss next season.

Staff writer Tony Fabrizio contributed to this report.

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