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Matt Cain

Posted by Andy on December 2, 2009

For two years, Matt Cain has pitched in the shadow of teammate Tim Lincecum. It's a shame because he's done some extraordinary things in 2007-2009.

Check out all the pitchers since 1901 to have a season Age 24 or younger with at least 200 IP and an ERA+ of 150 or better:

Rk Player Year IP ERA+ Age Tm GS CG SHO W L H ER BB SO ERA
1 Jair Jurrjens 2009 215.0 158 23 ATL 34 0 0 14 10 186 62 75 152 2.60
2 Felix Hernandez 2009 238.2 174 23 SEA 34 2 1 19 5 200 66 71 217 2.49
3 Matt Cain 2009 217.2 151 24 SFG 33 4 0 14 8 184 70 73 171 2.89
4 Tim Lincecum 2008 227.0 169 24 SFG 33 2 1 18 5 182 66 84 265 2.62
5 Dontrelle Willis 2005 236.1 151 23 FLA 34 7 5 22 10 213 69 55 170 2.63
6 Carlos Zambrano 2004 209.2 160 23 CHC 31 1 1 16 8 174 64 81 188 2.75
7 Mark Prior 2003 211.1 178 22 CHC 30 3 1 18 6 183 57 50 245 2.43
8 Barry Zito 2002 229.1 158 24 OAK 35 1 0 23 5 182 70 78 182 2.75
9 Kevin Millwood 1999 228.0 167 24 ATL 33 2 0 18 7 168 68 59 205 2.68
10 Justin Thompson 1997 223.1 151 24 DET 32 4 0 15 11 188 75 66 151 3.02
11 Kevin Appier 1992 208.1 165 24 KCR 30 3 0 15 8 167 57 68 150 2.46
12 Mike Mussina 1992 241.0 157 23 BAL 32 8 4 18 5 212 68 48 130 2.54
13 Allan Anderson 1988 202.1 166 24 MIN 30 3 1 16 9 199 55 37 83 2.45
14 Roger Clemens 1987 281.2 154 24 BOS 36 18 7 20 9 248 93 83 256 2.97
15 Roger Clemens 1986 254.0 169 23 BOS 33 10 1 24 4 179 70 67 238 2.48
16 Dwight Gooden 1985 276.2 228 20 NYM 35 16 8 24 4 198 47 69 268 1.53
17 Dennis Eckersley 1979 246.2 150 24 BOS 33 17 2 17 10 234 82 59 150 2.99
18 Frank Tanana 1977 241.1 154 23 CAL 31 20 7 15 9 201 68 61 205 2.54
19 John Candelaria 1977 230.2 169 23 PIT 33 6 1 20 5 197 60 50 133 2.34
20 Mark Fidrych 1976 250.1 158 21 DET 29 24 4 19 9 217 65 53 97 2.34
21 Bert Blyleven 1973 325.0 158 22 MIN 40 25 9 20 17 296 91 67 258 2.52
22 Vida Blue 1971 312.0 185 21 OAK 39 24 8 24 8 209 63 88 301 1.82
23 Tom Seaver 1969 273.1 165 24 NYM 35 18 5 25 7 202 67 82 208 2.21
24 Steve Carlton 1969 236.1 164 24 STL 31 12 2 17 11 185 57 93 210 2.17
25 Larry Dierker 1969 305.1 151 22 HOU 37 20 4 20 13 240 79 72 232 2.33
Rk Player Year IP ERA+ Age Tm GS CG SHO W L H ER BB SO ERA
26 Denny McLain 1968 336.0 154 24 DET 41 28 6 31 6 241 73 63 280 1.96
27 Sam McDowell 1965 273.0 161 22 CLE 35 14 3 17 11 178 66 132 325 2.18
28 Dean Chance 1964 278.1 198 23 LAA 35 15 11 20 9 194 51 86 207 1.65
29 Dick Ellsworth 1963 290.2 167 23 CHC 37 19 4 22 10 223 68 75 185 2.11
30 Don Drysdale 1957 221.0 154 20 BRO 29 9 4 17 9 197 66 61 148 2.69
31 Herb Score 1956 249.1 166 23 CLE 33 16 5 20 9 162 70 129 263 2.53
32 Johnny Antonelli 1954 258.2 177 24 NYG 37 18 6 21 7 209 66 94 152 2.30
33 Ralph Branca 1947 280.0 155 21 BRO 36 15 4 21 12 251 83 98 148 2.67
34 Ewell Blackwell 1947 273.0 166 24 CIN 33 23 6 22 8 227 75 95 193 2.47
35 Hal Newhouser 1945 313.1 195 24 DET 36 29 8 25 9 239 63 110 212 1.81
36 Hal Newhouser 1944 312.1 161 23 DET 34 25 6 29 9 264 77 102 187 2.22
37 Johnny Beazley 1942 215.1 162 24 STL 23 13 3 21 6 181 51 73 91 2.13
38 Ernie White 1941 210.0 157 24 STL 25 12 3 17 7 169 56 70 117 2.40
39 Bob Feller 1940 320.1 161 21 CLE 37 31 4 27 11 245 93 118 261 2.61
40 Bob Feller 1939 296.2 154 20 CLE 35 24 4 24 9 227 94 142 246 2.85
41 Mel Harder 1934 255.1 171 24 CLE 29 17 6 20 12 246 74 81 91 2.61
42 Dizzy Dean 1934 311.2 159 24 STL 33 24 7 30 7 288 92 75 195 2.66
43 Mel Harder 1933 253.0 152 23 CLE 31 14 2 15 17 254 83 67 81 2.95
44 Lon Warneke 1933 287.1 163 24 CHC 34 26 4 18 13 262 64 75 133 2.00
45 Lon Warneke 1932 277.0 159 23 CHC 32 25 4 22 6 247 73 64 106 2.37
46 Babe Ruth 1916 323.2 158 21 BOS 41 23 9 23 12 230 63 118 170 1.75
47 Ernie Shore 1915 247.0 170 24 BOS 32 17 4 19 8 207 45 66 102 1.64
48 Bill James 1914 332.1 150 22 BSN 37 30 4 26 7 261 70 118 156 1.90
49 Dutch Leonard 1914 224.2 279 22 BOS 25 17 7 19 5 139 24 60 176 0.96
50 Bill Doak 1914 256.0 162 23 STL 33 16 7 19 6 193 49 87 118 1.72
Rk Player Year IP ERA+ Age Tm GS CG SHO W L H ER BB SO ERA
51 Willie Mitchell 1913 217.0 158 23 CLE 22 14 4 14 8 153 46 88 141 1.91
52 Reb Russell 1913 316.2 154 24 CHW 36 26 8 22 16 250 67 79 122 1.90
53 Joe Wood 1912 344.0 178 22 BOS 38 35 10 34 5 267 73 82 258 1.91
54 Walter Johnson 1912 369.0 242 24 WSH 37 34 7 33 12 259 57 76 303 1.39
55 Jeff Tesreau 1912 243.0 173 24 NYG 28 19 3 17 7 177 53 106 119 1.96
56 Walter Johnson 1911 322.1 172 23 WSH 37 36 6 25 13 292 68 70 207 1.90
57 Joe Wood 1911 275.2 162 21 BOS 33 25 5 23 17 226 62 76 231 2.02
58 King Cole 1910 239.2 159 24 CHC 29 21 4 20 4 174 48 130 114 1.80
59 Ray Collins 1910 244.2 157 23 BOS 26 18 4 13 11 205 44 41 109 1.62
60 Walter Johnson 1910 370.0 183 22 WSH 42 38 8 25 17 262 56 76 313 1.36
61 Harry Krause 1909 213.0 172 20 PHA 21 16 7 18 8 151 33 49 139 1.39
62 George McQuillan 1908 359.2 157 23 PHI 42 32 7 23 17 263 61 91 114 1.53
63 Ed Reulbach 1906 218.0 159 23 CHC 24 20 6 19 4 129 40 92 94 1.65
64 Christy Mathewson 1905 338.2 230 24 NYG 37 32 8 31 9 252 48 64 206 1.28
65 Ed Reulbach 1905 291.2 209 22 CHC 29 28 5 18 14 208 46 73 152 1.42
66 Earl Moore 1903 247.2 163 23 CLE 27 27 3 19 9 196 48 62 148 1.74
67 Noodles Hahn 1902 321.0 170 23 CIN 36 35 6 23 12 282 63 58 142 1.77
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 12/1/2009.

Firstly, this list is bookended by Jair Jurrjens and Noodles Hahn. Interesting set of names there. Did you know that Hahn's real first name was Jair? Just kidding. It was Frank.

Anyway, Cain slides onto this list just ahead of his teammate Timmy, who turned the trick two seasons ago. The rest of this list is quite mixed including some of the very best pitchers of all time (such as Clemens, Seaver, Carlton, Drysdale, Feller, Johnson, Mathewson, and some guy named Ruth) as well as a number of pitchers who didn't have much success in later years (Willis so far, Prior, Zito to a large extent, Thompson, Anderson, Ellsworth, Antonelli, and numerous others.)

Incidentally, here are the guys from the list above with multiple such seasons:

Rk Yrs To From Age
1 Walter Johnson 3 1910 1912 22-24
2 Roger Clemens 2 1986 1987 23-24
3 Hal Newhouser 2 1944 1945 23-24
4 Bob Feller 2 1939 1940 20-21
5 Mel Harder 2 1933 1934 23-24
6 Lon Warneke 2 1932 1933 23-24
7 Joe Wood 2 1911 1912 21-22
8 Ed Reulbach 2 1905 1906 22-23
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 12/1/2009.

There are a few guys, such as Jurrjens, with a chance to add another season by the age of 24.

Anyway, two years ago I wrote about Matt Cain's bizarre season in terms of how well he pitched with so few wins to show for it. Check out what I mean:

Since 1901, Cain is the only pitcher with 2 seasons of 200 IP, an ERA+ of at least 118, and a W-L% of .364 or less.

Rk Yrs To From Age
1 Matt Cain 2 2007 2008 22-23
2 Brandon Webb 1 2004 2004 25-25
3 Jim Abbott 1 1992 1992 24-24
4 Greg Swindell 1 1991 1991 26-26
5 Nolan Ryan 1 1987 1987 40-40
6 Dennis Lamp 1 1978 1978 25-25
7 Turk Farrell 1 1962 1962 28-28
8 Al Benton 1 1942 1942 31-31
9 Howard Ehmke 1 1925 1925 31-31
10 Dolf Luque 1 1922 1922 31-31
11 Jack Warhop 1 1912 1912 27-27
12 Buster Brown 1 1910 1910 28-28
13 Andy Coakley 1 1908 1908 25-25
14 Dummy Taylor 1 1902 1902 27-27
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 12/1/2009.

Even relaxing the criteria to an ERA+ of 110 and a W-L% of .400 or less, Cain is still one of just 9 pitchers with multiple such seasons:

Rk Yrs To From Age
1 Matt Cain 2 2007 2008 22-23
2 Murry Dickson 2 1950 1952 33-35
3 Milt Gaston 2 1929 1930 33-34
4 Larry Benton 2 1929 1931 31-33
5 Dolf Luque 2 1922 1924 31-33
6 Lee Meadows 2 1919 1922 24-27
7 Joe Bush 2 1916 1917 23-24
8 Red Ames 2 1914 1918 31-35
9 Jack Warhop 2 1912 1914 27-29
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 12/1/2009.

Note that he's the only guy to be saddled with such bad luck in the last 50+ years.

As for 2009, Cain is one of 155 pitchers since 1901 to have a season with 200 IP, an ERA+ of at least 151, and a W-L% of .636 or better. There have been 239 such seasons and here are the 200 most recent. Incidentally, there have been another 90 seasons where the pitcher met the innings and ERA+ requirement but not on W-L%. So Cain had a little bit of luck this year, but mostly he just pitched extremely well.

Related posts:

    Matt Cain
    This Cain Is More Than Able
    Matt Williams hit 62 HR
    Matt Garza’s no-hitter
    Matt Lawton’s Walk-Off 2/3B

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 9:14 am and is filed under Season Finders. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

5 Responses to “Matt Cain”

  1. Andy Says:
    December 2nd, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Here are the 52 pitchers since 1901 who, over their 3rd to 5th seasons, totaled at least 635 innings and a 129 ERA+. If you're too lazy to click, the last 5 guys to do it are Webb, Zambrano, Hudson, Appier, and Clemens. Also been done by Blyleven, Seaver, Ford, Feller, Dean, Hubbell, Grove, Mays, Ruth, Alexander, Johnson, Walsh, Brown, Joss, and Mathewson.

    Oh, and Matt Cain.

  2. SpastikMooss Says:
    December 2nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    Not an unknown in my house! My little brother rostered Cain in a fantasy league last year, and was pissed all year when all those strikeouts and 1-2 ER games never turned into wins. Fast forward to this past spring - I picked Cain up because I had heard my brother preach his great peripherals unlike most of my fellow managers. Cain won a lot more games this year, and I won the championship of my league. Happy ending for me, notsomuch for my brother, who finished 7th.

    If Zito ever reverted back to his Cy Young days, can you imagine how scary good the Giants 1-2-3 would be? Then you throw Sanchez in there too, and man, the Giants really wouldn't need a whole lot more than Kung Fu Panda to get them by. Two solo shots a game oughta do it.

  3. ollie1000 Says:
    December 2nd, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    fyi: lincecum's missing from 2009 with an era+ of 176

  4. Andy Says:
    December 2nd, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    Nope, Timmy was 25 in 2009 so he doesn't qualify for that first list for this past season.

  5. TheGoofyOne Says:
    December 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 pm

    I guess it is safe to say Walter Johnson was one of the greatest young pitchers...oh, and he was pretty good when he was old, too, anchoring a pair of pennant winners. Hard to argue he isn't the greatest of all time.

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