Cain’s outing pleasing to Posey
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After Matt Cain’s spring training debut, catcher Buster Posey was not at all conservative when assessing what the pitcher means to the 2016 Giants.
“I think we’re counting on him big- time,” Posey said. “I don’t think there’s any other way to put it. I think he really has the opportunity to win a lot of games this year.”
Cain lasted 22⁄ innings and 3 threw 52 pitches Friday night in a 15- 6 victory over the Padres. Considering manager Bruce Bochy wants Cain to come out of spring training reaching between 60 and 80 pitches, the Giants were satisfied with the outing despite the three runs Cain surrendered on seven hits and three walks.
Cain, whose only strikeout came when pitcher Brandon Maurer tried to sacrifice, got a good workout after his training camp got detoured when he had a cyst removed from his arm. Because he’s the fifth starter and isn’t slotted until April 8 against the Dodgers, Cain could get as many as three starts before the season.
“Starting on the DL is not fun,” said Cain, recalling how he opened last season. “It’s not something you want to do as an athlete, seeing the guys take the field the first week and not being a part of it. I’m definitely determined to get out there, but we’ve got to play it out as well and do the right thing so we don’t have any situations where we sit around a long time like last year.”
Cain threw 19 pitches in the first inning, which included two four- pitch walks, and 18 in the second. He walked to the mound after extended rests, thanks to long rallies by the Giants, who scored four runs in the first and six in the second. “I don’t say it lightly. I thought his stuff was really good,” Posey said. “His breaking ball had good depth on it. The changeup in the pen was probably better than it was in the game. I was really happy. I hope he feels the same.” Cain hits eighth: A day after Bochy suggested he could bat his pitcher eighth, that’s exactly where he put Cain, and Cain responded with two hits. In one inning.
Bochy didn’t used to like the concept of moving the pitcher up a spot, but he likes speedy Angel Pagan and Denard Span hitting back to back. Is Bochy changing? “I’m doing it tonight,” he said, “so I guess that’s part of the changing.”
As it turned out, Cain singled to open the second inning. Pagan doubled, and Span hit a two- run homer. The Giants led 10- 2 through two innings, and Brandon Crawford and Posey also homered.
So, yeah, Bochy might try this again.
“I’ll take a look at this,” he said, hinting he could try something similar on Opening Day when Madison Bumgarner pitches. Susac’s wrist: Catcher Andrew Susac will miss a few days with inflammation in his surgically repaired right wrist. He felt it on a check swing Monday and had an MRI exam Tuesday. He could return to playing as early as Monday.