Cain sharp in 90- pitch minor- league start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Matt Cain threw 90 pitches in a minor- league game Monday, so his health and endurance are fine. He also threw an array of off- speed pitches good enough to get big- league hitters out.
The only remaining questions are his fastball and whether the Giants will have him start once more in minor- league camp or let him pitch in Oakland on Saturday ahead of his first regular- season start April 8.
Cain’s fastball was at 89 to 90 mph with an occasional 91. He has not stressed over the gun readings, saying, “If there’s another mile or two when the arm strength gets going, that’s great. If not, it’s fine.”
The Giants would like to see that extra 1 to 2 mph to create more separation with his changeup, and it could come with the adrenaline of pitching in a game that counts.
Cain mostly stayed away from his fastball Monday, throwing off- speed stuff to thwart swing- happy Class A Cubs prospects who attacked the fastball early.
Cain went 51⁄ innings and allowed four hits and one run, striking out five and walking one, his final hitter. He also outraced Shawon Dunston Jr. to first base on a grounder to the right side.
Given that he had cyst- removal surgery only five weeks ago, Cain was pleased to reach 90 pitches with one spring start remaining.
“I think we got everything we wanted to do out of it,” Cain said. Asked if he would be confident throwing all his pitches in a regular- season game, he said, “I wouldn’t have a problem with that. No.”
Cain also revealed that after he allowed six runs over four innings in his last Cactus League game against Arizona, he and the coaching staff worked on some mechanical changes with his hand position before throwing, with good results. Williamson gone: Outfielder Mac Williamson could not have been more gracious about his demotion to Triple- A Sacramento despite hitting five home runs this spring ( and striking out 17 times in 57 at- bats through Sunday).
Williamson might be the Opening Day left or right fielder on a second- division team, but he understands that the Giants want him to play regularly in the minors because they view him as an everyday prospect.
“It’s a blessing and a curse,” he said. “They seem to think very highly of me, which I’m appreciative of. It’s more beneficial for me to play every day in Sacramento instead of getting 40 at- bats in two months in San Francisco. Everything happens for a reason, and I’m happy where I am right now.” Two flights: The Giants who are going to Sacramento for Wednesday night’s exhibition against the Triple- A RiverCats will leave Arizona on Tuesday morning. The rest of the squad will fly to San Francisco on Wednesday morning after Tuesday night’s Cactus finale against the Royals at Surprise.
Joe Panik and Matt Duffy are the starters expected to play in Surprise and miss Sacramento, where the rest of the regulars will play, including Johnny Cueto.
Madison Bumgarner’s final spring tuneup will come Tuesday in a minor- league game against the Diamondbacks. Susac optioned: Andrew Susac was optioned to Triple- A so he can get consistent at- bats in the wake of a wrist injury that sidelined him for two weeks. Susac returned to game action Monday, catching Cain, and said the wrist felt great as he hit two long flyball outs.
The move left the Giants with 25 players who likely will comprise the Opening Day roster, but manager Bruce Bochy stressed that the club is still scouring the waiver wire and looking at players released by other teams.