There will be a new Cy Young winner in the National League

I've been writing a lot about the 2010 National League Cy Young race. I started writing in April when it became clear this was going to be a special year, pitching wise.

I wrote about it as recently as yesterday and I will probably be writing about it through the end of the season.

And I've always mentioned Tim Lincecum in the conversation out of respect for the two time defending Cy Young winner and also because I knew he was always a dominant month from reclaiming the lead.

Well, I don't think it is happening. Not after today. The stats don't match up with Adam Wainwright, Roy Halladay, Josh Johnson or Ubaldo Jimenez (who was robbed of win #18 today.)

And the Giants needed him. They were 2-8 against the Padres for the season, but after yesterday's come from behind thriller, the Giants were on the verge of winning a critical series, pulling to with 1 1/2 games and serving notice that they are as formidable as any team in the National League.

Instead he got thumped. The Giants have only won 2 of 11 games against the Padres.
Can you imagine if the Giants were merely mediocre against the Padres?

Let's say they were 5-6 instead of 2-9. Still allowing a losing record to San Diego.

If that were the case, the Giants would be 70-49... the best record in the National League.
The Padres would be 66-50, 2 1/2 back, 1 in the loss column.

Instead the Giants are 5 back in the loss column and have the Phillies only one back in the loss column for the Wild Card.

A win would have been big today, but Lincecum didn't come up big.

A few years ago, Brandon Webb looked like a lock to win his second Cy Young Award. But a pair of terrible starts against the Dodgers that helped knock Arizona out of the pennant race cost him dearly.

The pitcher who won in his place?
Tim Lincecum.

It comes full circle.

Stay focused, Giants

The Giants won their biggest game of the year yesterday.



They were just a few innings from going 1-9 against the Padres and falling 4 1/2 games out.



They were a few innings from losing a series at home against the very team they should be chasing down.



But they came back, played smart baseball, Posey took an extra base and AT&T Park went nuts.



Congratulations. Now dust yourself off and do it again today.



This is what makes baseball the greatest sport of all and the most pressure packed in some ways. If a team wins a football game like this, there's a whole week to get ready for the next game. Basketball and hockey usually have a rest game.



In baseball? Yesterday's extra innings thriller is already in the "What have you done for me lately?" file.



Lincecum is on the mound. A loss today and it will still be a series loss at home to the team the Giants are trying to catch.



A win and suddenly the Giants will be 1 1/2 games out...3 back in the loss column and tied with the most wins in the NL.



Focus... focus..