Post-game thread: Cain

On May 18th, the Giants scored eight runs for Matt Cain. Well, they didn't score them for Cain -- they scored five for Cain, but the bullpen blew the save, and they won it with three in the ninth -- but they scored eight runs in a game pitched by Matt Cain. Physicists are still trying to resolve the paradox.

Cain's run support since then:

5/24: 1 run
5/29: 0
6/3: 3
6/8: 3
6/14: 6
6/19: 1
6/25: 1
6/30: 2
7/5: 3
7/10: 4
7/17: 4
7/22: 2
7/27: 2
8/1: 2
8/6: 1
8/12: 1

I don't remember the Giants playing series in Colorado on July 10 and July 17, but I'm pretty sure the numbers are right. I looked this up when Cain gave up a run that allowed the Braves to tie the game at 1-1. I was 88% sure that the Giants wouldn't score another run, so I thought it would be a good idea to cover my bases.

Staring at that list makes a fella testy. That is just game after game of frustration. Then I realized that's not that different from any other random 16-game stretch of Giants baseball. Heck, it's even a little better considering that there's only one shutout. In the past, the Giants would do their best not to score for Matt Cain. Now, they just do their best not to score.

Progress!

No must-wins in August, blah blah blah, but losing this in any fashion would have been brutal. Scoreboard watchers don't get match-up treats like Joe Saunders/Cliff Lee too often, and while it's not exactly the last week of the season, there isn't as much baseball left as you might think.

Though if they were going to lose, blowing a six-run lead with the help of an Orlando Cabrera error would have been pretty spectacular. And have some perspective: in 26 years, we would have just laaaughed and laaaaaaughed about this game.

Winning now is better, of course. And there are tiny little slivers of hope if you squint. Nice to see Fontenot back in a groove -- for a while, he looked as lost any Giants hitter this season. Even though Ross and Belt didn't have a hit, they each had nice at-bats. Pablo is Pablo. And don't forget that Carlos Beltran might be back for the last couple of games of the season!

Last night was the apocalypse. Tonight was society starting to rebuild. Seeds are a form of currency, and antibiotics are worth their weight in gold, but there's no need to cry yourself to sleep any more. Kind of. Gained a game in the standings. Only one player had to leave the game because he was hurt. Baby steps.

Baby steps.

Also, I've run out of words to describe my affinity for Matt Cain. I ordered some more, but they're being sent media mail. Could take a while.