SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- First impressions are everything to baseball scouts. They watch and evaluate thousands of players every year. They are always looking for something that stands out.
But scouts can make their own strong initial impressions on players, too. And Matt Cain has a clear recollection of the first time Giants scout Lee Elder walked into his suburban Memphis home."I remember staring at that big-ass Yankee World Series ring on your hand," Cain often tells him."Now I own a couple more of those big-ass World Series rings, thanks to you," Elder shoots back.Cain and Elder are a rare pair.