i remember nolan ryan led the league in era and strikouts i believe in 87 or so, and finished like 8-16 as well for the astros.
3.22 runs per game of support, 4th lowest in the league this year. fwiw zito is 6th lowest. basically the giants offense is a complete joke.
He's top ten in the NL in innings pitched and in strikeouts. The ERA isn't phenomenal, but he's still in the top twenty in that. He's had some problems with his control, and he never gets any run support. The team isn't one player away from being great, so if they trade him, it had better be for an all star middle of the lineup hitter. Pitching wins championships. The Giants have good pitching right now, but if they trade Cain, it's going to hurt their depth in the rotation A LOT.
Right now I just hope the Giants let their free agents walk and stand pat. I'd offer a package centered around Jonathon Sanchez for Robinson Cano to the Yanks and see how much they want for him. If they don't take it, fine, walk away. Cain or Sanchez straight up for someone like Prince Fielder wouldn't be a good move. There's no reason to do something drastic this offseason b/c they aren't going to the playoffs next year, either.