There have been several topics concerning the Giants I’ve been waiting to discuss on this site, and today seems like a perfect day to do so.

Umpiring, instant replay and a need for change

The first topic is a hot one around the league – umpiring and the use of instant replay in Major League Baseball. Let me start off by saying I used to be a big supporter of pure umpiring and not using the latest and greatest technology to make high accuracy baseball games.

"Mumble mumble!!!"-Bruce Bochy

Yeah, read that again. I said I used to be a big supporter. I thought it made the game unique from football, hockey, basketball, tennis and any other sport using some sort of instant replay to make judgement calls within the game. It’s old fashioned, tracing back to the roots of baseball.

But lately I’ve had a change in heart. Almost every game there is a missed call at first base or down the foul lines, and absolutely every game there are missed calls in the strike zone. I understand they are human and it’s nearly impossible to make every call perfectly accurate, but the reason why umpiring is “old fashioned” is because they didn’t have the technology we have today.

Back when the game began, umpiring was their only option of making calls within a game. They made mostly right calls, but every so often bad calls were made and arguments arose.

Today, we have instant video, graphics and even holograms for heck sake in the palm of our hand and baseball chooses not to use them.

My opinion on this topic: use what you have to make the right calls. Everyone knows how frustrating it is when an honest call was misjudged, it happens to everyone. That is a problem. The game should be played fairly, not whatever the human eye can see (which, with such a fast paced game, isn’t much).

I don’t know how baseball can use different review processes. Will they throw in a challenge flag in each dugout much like football? Or perhaps, much like hockey, the umpires would call in a review headquarters to review each play as they happen?

Either way, something needs to be done because I cannot imagine another 100 years from now fans, players and coaches being content with more bad calls made by umpires without a way to review/reverse them.

Matt Cain wins?

Another topic I thought was worth mentioning, is the amount of wins Matt Cain has thus far. After today’s win, Cain now has six wins in 11 games with a 6-2 record.

“So what?” some of you naysayers may be asking.

His ERA as of now is 2.62 – his lowest out of any season total (minus his seven games his rookie year). His average ERA throughout his career is 3.33 and he owned a 69-73 record before this season.

His wins per season are 2 (rookie), 13, 7, 8, 14, 13 and 12 averaging about 10 wins per year. For a guy who holds a career ERA of 3.33, averaging that amount of wins is ridiculously low.

During those years, he was a cursed pitcher receiving some of the lowest run support in the majors. Because of his notorious poor luck, his outings of no-decisions or losses turned into him being “cain’d.” The man couldn’t buy a win.

This year, however, he has six wins in 11 outings – on pace for about 18+ wins on the season. The Giants offense is providing him with an average of 3.97 runs per game. Compare that with the 3.33 ERA and Cain has a good chance of winning most of his outings.

This is just something to keep an eye on, but so far this season the curse of Cain appears to be lifted.

Pablo Sandoval a suspect of sexual harassment

Andrew Baggarly broke the news today that Pablo Sandoval is being questioned and suspected of sexual assault on Friday after a woman submitted a report to the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Department.

The events leading up to the report began at Seascape beach and resort Friday morning and he was absent from AT&T Park due to being questioned by police about the alleged assault. Sandoval refused to comment, but his attorney Eric Geffon released a statement to CSN Bay Area.

“On Friday, June 1, Pablo Sandoval voluntarily met with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department related to a consensual, personal relationship of a sexual nature that took place on that day. Pablo fully cooperated with the Sheriff’s Department out of respect for the process. We have no further comment at this time.”

So there you have it, nothing much can be said except if he is found guilty, its a shame and will put a damper on his otherwise positive career. On the other hand, Sandoval is innocent until proven guilty so I’m not going to be the guy assuming he did this or that.

We will see how this case develops, but I’m hoping its all a fluke and will become forgotten.