SAN FRANCISCO—Fil-Am Major League Baseball pitcher Tim Lincecum won the Cy Young Award, an honor given annually to the best pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB).

"I was more shocked than anything as far as the [tough] competition. I was hoping to be in the mix [for the award]," said Lincecum, whose mother is Filipino, during a press conference announcing the award on Tuesday, November 11.

Lincecum said he was shocked when he found out he won the prestigious award.

"I really said ‘Really?’ I was more shocked than anything. ‘Whoo-hoo!’ I literally yelled a couple of times," he said.

The Giants’ right-handed pitcher Lincecum has a record of 18-5 with a 2.62 earned run average and led the National league in strikeouts with 265.

The 24-year-old received 23 or 32 first place votes, seven second-place votes and one third-place vote for 137 points. He won the award over former Cy Young award winner Arizona Diamondback pitcher Brandon Webb, another former Cy Young award winnder the New York Mets’ Johan Santana and the Philadelphia Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge, who did not blow a save the entire year.

"It’s great," said Lincecum. "It’s a definite honor for me. It’s a tremendous honor to be honest with you."

According to MLB.com, Lincecum compiled a league-best .783 winning percentage with his 18-5 record and amassed 265 strikeouts to become the first Giant in baseball’s modern era (since 1900) to earn that distinction. Against Lincecum, opponents hit .221 overall and .167 with runners in scoring position while averaging 7.22 hits per nine innings—all league lows. And his 2.62 ERA was the NL’s second best.

At 24 years old, he is the youngest pitcher to win the Cy Young, joining teammate Barry Zito, when he won it for the Oakland Athletics’ in 2002.

Standing 5’11" and weighing just 160 pounds, Lincecum is not the prototypical strikeout pitcher. Many had criticized his awkward delivery, thought he was too small and did not believe he would be an effective Major League pitcher.

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

The Giants did believe and drafted Lincecum No. 10 overall from the University of Washington in the 2006 MLB draft. In just his second year, Lincecum won the 2008 National League Cy Young Award.

"On behalf of the entire Giants organization, and our wonderful fans, we congratulate Tim Lincecum on his outstanding achievement," said Giants managing general partner Bill Neukom. "By winning the Cy Young award, Tim has been recognized as the National League’s premier pitcher in 2008. This is a great day for Tim, for the Giants and for our fans everywhere. Tim is an exceptionally talented baseball player who has earned this high honor through his hard work, dedication and competitive spirit.

"It is a proud day for Tim and his family, the Giants organization and for our fans everywhere."

(www.asianjournal.com)

(Published November 14, 2008 p.A1 NC)