Matt Cain

Why He's Worth Every Cent
By: Brian Sanchez
April 2, 2012

Matt Cain is the longest tenured Giant and he was rewarded for his loyalty and outstanding performance with a 6 year $127.5 million contract.  He is the most dependable pitcher on the Giants staff.  He may not have the awards that Tim Lincecum has but that does not make him a better pitcher.  Cain is a rare combination of size, strength, accuracy, stamina, and durability.  Here is why he is worth every cent.

Matt Cain Notes

• He is younger than Lincecum.  Sure it is less than a year, but still, the more mature and steady Cain is actually younger than Lincecum.
• He is sturdy, with 203 career starts already under his belt and over 30 starts per year for the last 6 years.
• A career record of 69-73 does not matter much because we all know it would be completely different if he were playing for a team that could give him constant run support.
• He has 13 complete games in his career 4 of them being shut outs.
• He's logged 1317.1 innings in his career already and has gone at least 200 innings in the last 5 years.  the last year he did not throw 200 innings he still through 190.  
• He has never walked 100 batters in a year
• He has only given up over 200 hits once, and that was in 2008 when he gave up 206.
• He has a career ERA of 3.35 WHIP of 1.20 and Opponent Batting Average of .227
• He has only made 9 errors in 7 big league seasons
• He is a career .117 hitter with 5 HR.  Not to shabby.
• And of course, he has a World Series Ring.  The next run he gives up in the playoffs will be his first.

Matt Cain is a silent leader on this team.  He leads by example and is the perfect role model for the guy who is up next for his big extension, Madison Bumgarner.  Cain is worth every cent.  You see his career numbers and the last three years he has been getting better, and better.   There is a good outlook on this deal for Cain.  He should be healthy for most of his contract.  He should always at least be an effective pitcher.  And that is at the very worst.  I see no Zito problem with Cain.  

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