Injured Matt Cain is Series spectator for Giants

SAN FRANCISCO - Well after the rest of his teammates put on their uniforms, Matt Cain wandered into the San Francisco clubhouse and changed clothes for a recent World Series practice.

The workhorse of the rotation for years, Cain isn't pitching for the Giants this October. His season ended in August when he had surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.

Playing spectator as his team takes on Kansas City is hardly the ideal way to spend the postseason. Especially after Cain helped the Giants win championships in 2010 and 2012.

But Cain, who threw a perfect game two years ago, seems to be handling it all quite well.

''This is great,'' Cain said. ''Nobody wants to be hurt, but what the team has done the last half of the season and what they've done throughout the playoffs, it's been spectacular to watch.''

He's had ample time to get accustomed to this new role. He's been a regular at the ballpark throughout his rehab.

''He's definitely one of the biggest leaders on this team,'' right fielder Hunter Pence said. ''It's tough with the injuries and playing this game, it's tough on the body. It's part of the thing when you pitch as many innings as they do. He's an absolute horse.''

Tim Hudson, the Giants starter for Game 3 on Friday night, can relate. His season ended prematurely last year in Atlanta because of a broken right ankle that required surgery.

Now, the 39-year-old Hudson will make his World Series debut against Jeremy Guthrie and the Royals after a 16-year wait.

''The only thing you can do is come out here and be around and make sure you're available for anybody if they have something to ask you,'' Hudson said.

Cain didn't pitch again after July 9 after his elbow trouble began with inflammation.

Even during the rigors of rehabilitation, Cain can be seen in a pitchers' corner of the clubhouse, chatting up locker mates Madison Bumgarner, Jake Peavy and Hudson.

''It's a whole different perspective being able to watch the game this way,'' the 30-year-old Cain said. ''You get just as nervous, you're just as stressed out about what guys are doing.''

It was an uncharacteristic year for Cain. He had a pair of three-start skids and went 2-7 with a career-worst 4.18 ERA in 15 starts and just 90 1-3 innings.

In his two postseasons, Cain is 4-2 with a 2.10 ERA in eight starts.

He went unbeaten to help lead San Francisco to the city's first World Series crown in 2010 against Texas, then was a big part of a surprising four-game Series sweep of the Tigers in `12.