Durango53
09-11-2006, 01:04 PM
21-year-old San Francisco starter Matt Cain. And he, in many people's eyes, should be high on the ballot for the National League's Rookie of the Year award.
Since a July 21 start against San Diego, the right-hander has gone 6-3, and has watched his ERA drop from 4.67 to 3.94, after Friday night's seven-inning, one-hit outing.
While those numbers may not wow the average fan, consider this. In his four starts prior to Friday night's win, Cain's ERA was a stodgy 0.33. Also, the game marked the fifth time this season that the rookie has limited teams to no more than one hit.
The right-hander, who has only allowed one run in his last four starts, said he hasn't given much thought to the significance of his numbers, outside the fact that they are helping his team win right now.
Cain admitted that he may not be receiving the attention he may need to be an upper-echelon Rookie of the Year candidate because of a rough 1-5 start to the season, when he also suffered through a 7.04 ERA.
Since a July 21 start against San Diego, the right-hander has gone 6-3, and has watched his ERA drop from 4.67 to 3.94, after Friday night's seven-inning, one-hit outing.
While those numbers may not wow the average fan, consider this. In his four starts prior to Friday night's win, Cain's ERA was a stodgy 0.33. Also, the game marked the fifth time this season that the rookie has limited teams to no more than one hit.
The right-hander, who has only allowed one run in his last four starts, said he hasn't given much thought to the significance of his numbers, outside the fact that they are helping his team win right now.
Cain admitted that he may not be receiving the attention he may need to be an upper-echelon Rookie of the Year candidate because of a rough 1-5 start to the season, when he also suffered through a 7.04 ERA.