2016: COMPLETE GAME #5

Johnny Cueto: so hard to hit because he doesn't actually
throw the ball...

CG #5 for 2016 goes to Johnny Cueto, now with the Giants after his wild and woolly post-season run with the Royals, who scattered seven hits in a 1-0 win over the Padres.

(Those who may read the "official" stats or use the Play Index at Forman et fils to monitor the CG total will note that the stats say there are six CGs this year. That's because they are counting Phil Hughes' 6 IP game from 4/18, in a contest that was halted due to rain, as a "complete game." There are a few of these games every year--last season there were a total of four--and, frankly, baseball ought to simply get rid of this "official game" rule and dictate that every game get played out to nine innings.)

At any rate, CGs are currently on pace to top out at just 40 for the season. That's clearly going to change, as April is always the slowest month for CGs. What is interesting right now is the fact that all of the CGs that involve full games have produced shutouts. That will change, too, but it will be fun to see how long this shutout streak might go...