Consecutive Cy Young Awards Shortlist
Tim Lincecum (2008-09)
Like Denny McLain, Tim Lincecum‘s career is something of an enigma. In all, Lincecum’s career only spanned 10-seasons, only four of which were absolutely stellar. From 2008-2011, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better starting pitcher.
Whether it was the odd pitching motion, I don’t know, but in that time span, Lincecum pitched to a 62-36 record with a 2.81 ERA. Though he only won two Cy Young Awards in his career, during that four-year span, he placed in the top-10 in Cy Young Award votes.
What’s more, he also appeared in four consecutive All-Star games in that time. He even went on to win three titles with the San Francisco Giants, the first of which occurred in that final season of dominance in 2010.
In 2018, two years after leaving the game, Lincecum attempted a comeback. Unfortunately, that comeback hit the skids when the Texas Rangers, who took a chance on him, released him early on in the season. As a reliever in the Pacific Coast League that year, Lincecum appeared in 10 games posting a 1-1 record with a 5.68 ERA.