Matt Cain going for Perfection

**SNEDDS3** · 06-14-2012, 12:23 AM

Originally Posted by gocubs2118

That really has nothing to do with it.

It was a coincidence that it was Koufax's perfect game against Cubs. Just had to say it.

**DistrictCyclone** · 06-14-2012, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by HiltonMagic

You mean after he turned a blind eye to it for so many years?

I guess, for me, it's "better late than never". It took some goading, but when he finally did take action it was stricter than expected and effective. All I really care about now is that the game is better than it was 5 years ago.

**Buster28** · 06-14-2012, 12:25 AM

Got to watch innings 3-9 at B-dubs tonight. What a game! Congrats to Matty on doing something no other Giant has done before (since the franchise has been in San Francisco)!!

I had been looking into going to SF this week a while back to see this series with Houston and I'm kinda irritated that Southwest Airlines had their return flight to Omaha priced at nearly $400. I coulda been there... still fun to see on tv. AT&T Park must have been absolutely electric tonight.

Gotta say listening to the post-game on KNBR right now is pretty great also.

A quote from Matt Cain in the post-game interview (from SFGiants.com): "I can't thank [catcher] Buster [Posey] enough," said Cain. "I didn't even question him once. What he was calling, I was going to throw whatever he wanted and I was going to let him go. Buster did an unbelievable job back there. That was tremendous."

**cycloneworld** · 06-14-2012, 07:32 AM

Thought steriods didn't help hand-eye coordination or hitting a baseball...sure looks like it over the past few years.

**cybsball20** · 06-14-2012, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by cycloneworld

Thought steriods didn't help hand-eye coordination or hitting a baseball...sure looks like it over the past few years.

No, pitching is just SOOO much better. Over the last ten years the number of guys that throw 93 plus has doubled and the number of guys able to throw 95 has gone up 10 fold, from 5 to over 50. The main difference, these guys are able to control it and actually pitch at 93+ 95+ 97+. Not too long ago, the only really hard throwers were just that, throwers. There were a few exceptions, like Smoltz and Clemens, but thats about it. Now you have guys like David Price and Verlander who are able to throw near 100mph, with movement and control, plus other plus pitches. It's just another case of baseball evolutioning back to the pitcher, but it won't be long until the hitters catch back up.

**Clones85'** · 06-14-2012, 09:38 AM

Anyone that said steroids don't help somebody hit a ball needs their head examined. Brady Anderson. Javy Lopez. Brett Boone, etc.

**TruClone** · 06-14-2012, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by cybsball20

No, pitching is just SOOO much better. Over the last ten years the number of guys that throw 93 plus has doubled and the number of guys able to throw 95 has gone up 10 fold, from 5 to over 50. The main difference, these guys are able to control it and actually pitch at 93+ 95+ 97+. Not too long ago, the only really hard throwers were just that, throwers. There were a few exceptions, like Smoltz and Clemens, but thats about it. Now you have guys like David Price and Verlander who are able to throw near 100mph, with movement and control, plus other plus pitches. It's just another case of baseball evolutioning back to the pitcher, but it won't be long until the hitters catch back up.

I was at the Quad Cities River Bandits/Kane County Cougars game last night. I was sitting right by fence at the Cougars bullpen. They had a guy warming up by the name of Angel Baez. He was throwing so hard that the catcher had to get a thicker mitt as his hand was getting killed. Seeing that kind of heat from 5 feet away was pretty impressive. The guy came into the game and was throwing mid 90's consistently.

**jwrussel** · 06-14-2012, 10:28 AM

Most dominate pitching performance in my lifetime of watching baseball still belongs to Wood's 20 K one-hitter in 98 v. a much better lineup. I know it wasn't a perfect game, but a perfect game requires a dominance and luck.
Still, according to Bill James' game score (a statistical analysis of pitching dominance), Cain's performance was the best since Wood and tied for the best in a perfect game.

**TruClone** · 06-14-2012, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by jwrussel

Most dominate pitching performance in my lifetime of watching baseball still belongs to Wood's 20 K one-hitter in 98 v. a much better lineup. I know it wasn't a perfect game, but a perfect game requires a dominance and luck.
Still, according to Bill James' game score (a statistical analysis of pitching dominance), Cain's performance was the best since Wood and tied for the best in a perfect game.

Also against the Astros.

**CYdTracked** · 06-14-2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Buster28

A quote from Matt Cain in the post-game interview (from SFGiants.com): "I can't thank [catcher] Buster [Posey] enough," said Cain. "I didn't even question him once. What he was calling, I was going to throw whatever he wanted and I was going to let him go. Buster did an unbelievable job back there. That was tremendous."

Smart guy. Reminds me of this scene in Bull Durham when Nuke was shaking off the signs so the catcher tells the hitter what was coming. Last guy you want to disagree with when throwing a great game is the catcher that helped you get to that point.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBUS3vQtDCA]Bull Durham | "Man, that ball got outta here in a hurry" - YouTube[/ame]