Lincecum led the NL with 261 strikeouts and tied for the league lead with four complete games and two shutouts. The wiry pitcher, nicknamed “The Freak” for his giant stride, went 15-7 with a 2.48 ERA.Only 10 points separated the top three vote-getters in one of the tightest votes in history. Chris Carpenter was second and St. Louis Cardinals teammate Adam Wainwright was third, despite getting the most first-place votes. Lincecum received 11 first-place votes, 12 seconds and nine thirds for 100 points in balloting released by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Carpenter had nine firsts, 14 seconds and seven thirds to finish second with 94.
Wainwright, who led the NL with 19 wins and 233 innings, had 12 first-place votes, five seconds and 15 thirds for 90 points. Closer Trevor Hoffman, who finished behind Atlanta Braves starter Tom Glavine in 1998, is the only other player to finish with the most firsts and not win the award.