Perfection

     Matt Cain (8-2) of the San Francisco Giants threw the franchises first perfect game Wednesday night against the Houston Astros.  Cain became the 22nd pitcher to ever accomplish such a feat; matching Sandy Koufax's 14k performance.  ESPN writer, David Schoenfield, writes:


"You can make the argument that this was the greatest game ever pitched. Of the 22 perfect games in MLB history, only Sandy Koufax matched Cain's 14 strikeouts. Using the Bill James Game Score method, this ties Koufax and Nolan Ryan's 16-strikeout, two-walk no-hitter for the second-highest nine-inning score at 101, behind only Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout, one-hitter that scores 105."


     In front of a packed house at AT&T ball park, those fans and the millions watching in their living rooms were once again reminded of the purity in baseball.  A total team effort was made to accomplish this.  Reading articles, watching highlights and listening to radio stations people ask, "Is this the greatest moment in SF Giant History?" The San Francisco Giants were crowned World Champions in 2010, Barry Bonds 500th home run in 2001, the 2007 All-Star Game, or David Bell's go-ahead RBI single to tie the World Series 2-2 against the Anaheim Angels in 2002.  There are so many other wonderful moments, but this is the GREATEST.  Matt Cain said in his press conference, "It felt like the World Series...but it almost felt a little bit louder, a little crazier.  Every strike [the spectators] were going nuts for.  It was really amazing.  I've never had that much excitement, every pitch, every strike, every swing."
     Buster Posey after the game told reporters that this was the most nervous he had been catching.  Giants first baseman Brandon Belt reiterated how hard he had to focus on not making that "one" mistake.  The amazing diving catch made by Gregor Blanco will be talked about forever, but let's not forget the moves made by manager Bruce Botchy.  To strengthen his defense in the late innings, Bochy  replaced Ryan Theriot with Emmanuel Burriss at second base and moved Joaquin Arias to third base.  Pablo Sandoval came out of the game and Brandon Crawford went into to shortstop. Arias could of had the toughest out ever recorded in a perfect game.  Catching a ground ball to his right from a left handed hitter, then making a throw across the diamond flat-footed.  All this after sitting on a bench for two hours with a sweatshirt on.
     Everybody contributed to the magic on Wednesday night.  Amazing plays needed to be made.  Pitches had to be executed.  Full-count calls had to go the Giants way against the Astros hitters.  Buster Posey had put down the right fingers.  Substitutes had to come in and make plays in the most tense moments.  All this said, Cain and the San Francisco Giants conquered it all.  A record in sports so scarce reminds us of the beauty of the game and the wonder of perfection.