Is Tim Lincecum the best pitcher in the league?

Yes, after tonight, the Cy Young award is Lincecum’s to lose. Lincecum is the best pitcher in the league. His ERA is .28 runs lower than any pitcher in the league. Lincecum’s ERA is .85 runs better than Webb’s, which is huge. Lincecum leads the league in strikeouts; he has more than 20% more than the pitcher in second. Lincecum’s winning percentage 85% is more than 10% better than Webb’s (74%). Lincecum’s team has scored 70 runs less than Webb’s, that is about half a run a game, yet Lincecum has a higher winning percentage. Lincecum leads the league in batting average against, slugging percentage against and winning percent. Lincecum’s WHIP is better than Webb’s, along with K/9 and K/BB. Lincecum leads the league in Sabermetric statistics ERC (component ERA) and DIPS ERA (A pitcher's ERA, independent of the defense behind him).

What are the most important stats for determining the best pitcher? Wins are overrated because they depend on team offense, defense and relief pitching. Most would say the most important stats are ERA, batting average against, WHIP and slugging percentage against. Lincecum is better than Webb in all four stats and leads the league in best ERA, batting average against and slugging percentage against. His slugging percentage against is 25 points better than anyone in the league. His batting average against is 15 points bettter than Webb's. If you want to talk about winning percentage, Lincecum's is 9 percent better than anyone's.

Like others have mentioned, the Giant's relief pitchers have blown six wins for Lincecum. If they were just average in those six games and won four, Lincecum would have 21 wins so far.

Lincecum has the best winning percentage in the league on a team that has been way below .500 the whole season. The Giants are dead last in HRs in all of MLB and in the bottom three teams in all baseball in runs scored, TB and slugging percent (usually only Washington and Oakland are worse).

When the same pitcher leads the league in winning percentage, ERA, strikeouts, batting average against, slugging percentage against, ERC and DIPS ERA, he is the best pitcher in the league.

Yes, Lincecum is the best pitcher in the league.

Lincecum should win the CY Young award this sesason. He has been nothing but phenomenal pretty much in all his starts and its still amazing. This kid does not disappoint. His pitch count is high but he will learn to be more efficient.

Killzone: Really? He may not be the best in MLB just yet but even a idiot knows he is a top 5 pitcher at worst in the league if they have seen him pitch at his best. EDIT: EVERY one of those pitchers have better run support than Lincecum except maybe for Peavy but he isnt as close as having the success year as Lincecum is having. Also leading the NL in strikeouts and ERA. Dominance wise, Lincecum is not below any of those pitchers. *Cough....try keeping your account from being deleted for a week...Cough*

These clowns claiming Webb don't realize Lincecum is beating him in every statistical category, along with every other pitcher..on one of the worst teams in baseball. Let us not mention Webb's MELTDOWN in the stretch.

Sabathia or Lee may have a claim but given that Lincecum is still learning how to pitch, nobody is going to be better.

Currently, the only thing Sabathia and Lee have over Lincecum is the ability to pitch complete games. As Lincecum learns to not throw 130 pitches in 8 innings he will easily be able to throw complete games. Tonight Lincecum got his first complete game while throwing 138 pitches. He does not ever ice his elbow and do any of the other routing after start things a pitcher needs to do.

He is a FREAK OF NATURE. It only gets better for The Franchise.

Another thing to think about.

He has 3 losses.

--1 loss was off of a disputed balk call (only 2 balks all year) that allowed the winning run of the game to score

--1 loss was a tough luck loss.

When facing Webb he outpitched him (bullpen blew lead) on July 26.

Tortuga- Lincecum now has a season and a half in the big leagues. Players normally have sophmore slumps because of the videos getting around and guess what...NO slump, the kid is 20 times better than his rookie season. Also think about this, you play the Giants....who do you watch video on? Possibly Cain if you have to face him...but you concentrate on Lincecum because he is your toughest challenge.

killzone- if so...why not name them? Are they no longer alive?

Theresno doubt he is one of the top 2 pitchers in all of baseball. He has out pitched almost every pitcher in the league except once. He is on a bad team yet still has 17 wins. Look at other top pitchers who have great offensive teams and dont have 17 wins. He leads the league in almost every category K's, era, quality starts. He is an exciting pitcher to watch, and rightly so should win the CY award. If he does not, i will not watch baseball anymore.

It all depends on time frame - right this minute, yes, I think he is.

But he is also in the same league as Greg Maddux who is probably one of the five best pitchers of all time - and Lincecum is fifteen to twenty years away from being able to say that if he can avoid injury and stay at this level.

When you can give a team that sucks as much as the Giants almost an assured win every 5th day, you deserve the Cy Young AND the MVP award.

17-3, league leader in ERA, league leader in Ks, dominant all season

Meanwhile, Webb has choked when the D-backs needed him most and Sabathia has only been here half a season

He's the best in the National League hands down, but in the Major Leagues as a whole he may not be #1 right now, maybe #2. But in the following years he will be the best in all of baseball

AL- Cliff Lee

NL- Tim Lincecum

if he was on a team that had more run support, his win total would probably be 22 (atleast) by now. His bullpen has given up 6 leads he had, and im sure there were plenty games where he gave up 2 or less runs and still got a loss. He's an amazing pitcher, his future looks good.

He is. Lincecum is an awesome guy and he is doing well with a team that is having a bad year and who doesn't have a good offense.