Reports of Cain's Demise Premature

It strikes me that the potential years-long battle for the title of ace will be a fun sub-plot for this franchise. On a day where the wondrous Tim Lincecum was featured in Sports Illustrated and Jon Sanchez was named NL Player of the Week, Matt Cain reminded us why he was once the lone young stud in the Giants rotation.

In what was easily his best start of the year, Cain shut down the league-leading Cubs offense (albeit without Aramis Ramirez), hurling 8 innings of 2 hit ball while racking up 10 Ks.  And, in a shocking twist, he gets the win in a 2-1 triumph by the Giants.

Jose Castillo closed out Cain's night with perhaps the best defensive play of the year (after two ugly errors in two days).  Buy MLB.TV, watch Baseball Tonight, or find a time machine and go back in time to watch his snag of a Mark DeRosa grounder - a full extension pick to his left on a high bounce, an immediate pop up to the point of no balance, and a wing and a prayer one hopper to John Bowker.

Mere amateur blogger prose could not accurately describe the poetry of that play.  Cain was shaking his head in disbelief as he walked off the field.

Brian Wilson gives up a run in a terribly sloppy save.  The 100 MPH fastballs were fun, but I'll take 95 with location and a couple of less ulcers.

Alfonzo Back, Holm Down: Evidently, Eliezer Alfonzo's PED-ban did nothing to diminish his stature among the higher-ups, as he gets called up nine days after his reinstatement to replace Steve Holm.

Love the Holm, but his defense has left something to be desired, and it will be nice to have Alfonzo's ML experience, both in calling games and with the bat, behind Big Money.  Still, I'll miss the improbable winner of the Giants backup spot out of spring training.

Happy trails, Steve.

Comment-Starter: Who do you see having the most successful career as a Giant - Cain, Lincecum or Sanchez?