Bad news for Giants regarding Matt Cain

San Francisco Giants starter Matt Cain has gotten the news that has been the downfall of pitchers all season long. He is scheduled to meet with Tommy John surgery specialist Dr. James Andrews this week for a second opinion on his ailing elbow.

Pitchers are always seeking second opinions with Dr. Andrews and the result is always the same. They end up going under the knife. Of course there is always a chance Cain could choose the six week rehabilitation program that the New York Yankees’ Masahiro Tanaka took. We have yet to see how it turns out for Tanaka but rehabbing what could be a torn ulnar collateral ligament hardly ever works and the pitcher usually ends up going with surgery.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that surgery had not yet been considered by Cain but I beg to differ. The trends show that a second opinion with Dr. Andrews always ends the same.

It was smart of the Giants to trade with the Boston Red Sox for Jake Peavy. Even though Peavy hasn’t had an ERA under four except for one season out of the last five, he is still a proven starter who can take place of Cain.

Cain, once the Giants ace, has struggled all season going 2-7 with a 4.18 ERA. He has not pitched since July 9. With those statistics, inflammation in his elbow and getting a second opinion from Dr. Andrews, it appears that Tommy John surgery is in Cain’s future.

It’s unfortunate almost every pitcher this season besides Tanaka, who I do not believe ever consulted with Dr. Andrews, has opted for surgery. However, saying that Cain will end up getting surgery is just speculation at this point. Hopefully that will not end up being the case for the Giants right-hander.