Neither the Giants or Indians reached the playoffs this season, but it’s not because of Tim Lincecum and Cliff Lee. They are Sporting News’ Pitchers of the Year, voted by a panel of 314 major league players.

In just his second season in the majors, the 24-year-old Lincecum was dominant. He was 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA and led the majors with 265 strikeouts in 227 innings.

“You don’t see many guys his size throwing that hard, but it’s not so much his size and deception. It’s his stuff. He has ‘A’ stuff,” Phillies second baseman Chase Utley said.

Cliff Lee tied for the major league lead with 22 wins — he finished 22-3 — and his 2.54 ERA was best in the American League. In 223-1/3 innings, the left-hander allowed just 34 walks and struck out 170.

“He’s always had the stuff, but this year he coupled that stuff with the ability to locate and trust his pitches,” Cleveland catcher Kelly Shoppach said. “He had zero fear of throwing to either side of the plate no matter who the hitter was.”

The complete Sporting News MLB Awards package will be available in this week’s magazine, where you also will find Sporting News’ Player of the Year, Managers of the Year, Comeback Players of the Year, Rookies of the Year, Closers of the Year as well as the magazine’s National League and American League all-star teams.

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