Milwaukee Brewers: Who Deserves Team MVP, Cain or Yelich?

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The Milwaukee Brewers have two outstanding outfielders with Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich. Yelich might be the NL MVP, but Cain deserves the team MVP.

Milwaukee Brewers General Manager David Stearns acquired Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich during the 2017-18 offseason despite already having a loaded outfield. Many fans questioned his decision at the time.

The Brewers already had OF Ryan Braun who was unlikely to be traded.

They also had OF Domingo Santana who hit 30 home runs and amassed a 2.9 WAR in 2017. His slash line was .371/.505/.875 (OBP/SLG/OPS).

And, talented defensive fielders Keon Broxton and Brett Philips struck out too often, but they flashed big league talent. Broxton even went 20/20 despite his high strikeout rate.

All that being said, it is hard to imagine where the 2018 Milwaukee Brewers would be without Cain and Yelich.

Phillips got traded while Santana and Broxton spent most of 2018 in the minor leagues after slow starts. Without the presence of Cain and Yelich, Brewers General Manager David Stearns could not have made those moves.

On offense, with all due respect to 1B Jesus Aguilar, Cain and Yelich have led the charge. On defense, with all due respect to C Manny Pina and SS Orlando Arcia, Cain and Yelich have dazzled most.

LHP Josh Hader is he team’s most valuable pitcher, but he is not considered in this discussion for team MVP. Call him the team’s Cy Young.

On the surface, Yelich has more power than Cain, but Cain has more speed.

Deeper analysis of these players along with discussion of what can be seen by fans on a day-to-day basis will explain why Yelich might be a better NL MVP candidate even though Lorenzo Cain is the Milwaukee Brewers MVP.

MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 08: Christian Yelich (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Christian Yelich Best Stats, Not Milwaukee Brewers Team MVP

As of this writing, the 2018 season is not quite over. Yelich, however, currently has over 30 home runs and 100 runs scored. His OPS is well over .900 and he even has 19 SB.

Depending on who he plays with, Yelich can cover any of the three outfield positions. He has 79 games defended in right field, 68 in left field, and 17 in center field as of mid-September.

Yelich won a NL Gold Glove with the Miami Marlins in 2014 and still plays elite defense with a strong, accurate arm.

When he played in Miami, he hit in a more pitcher’s friendly ballpark. Common sense figured Yelich’s power numbers would rise in Milwaukee at Miller Park, and they have.

For the first time in his career, Yelich is posting a SLG over .500 and his ISO is almost .60 higher than his previous high.

This uptick in power has come at a small expense, however. Christian Yelich’s strikeout rate is up and walk rate is down this season with the Brewers compared to last year with the Marlins.

The biggest reason for Yelich’s legitimate consideration for NL MVP consideration is his play down the stretch as the Brewers make a run for the playoffs.

Yelich has been a good player all year for Milwaukee, however he turned it up recently. In July, Yelich reached base at a .438 OBP clip. In August, he raked 11 home runs, which is his most in any month by 6.

The NL MVP race is wide open with some even considering pitchers.

St. Louis Cardinals Matt Carpenter, Arizona Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt, Atlanta Braves Freddie Freeman, and Chicago Cubs Javier Baez are the position players with a WAR near Yelich.

Despite Yeich’s tremendous season and impact on Milwaukee Brewers as they make a playoff run, why is Lorenzo Cain the team MVP?

MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 14: Lorenzo Cain (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Milwaukee Brewers Team MVP – Lorenzo Cain

Do not get me wrong, Lorenzo Cain has MVP-caliber stats, but that is not the main reason he is the Milwaukee Brewers Team MVP. First, the stats.

Like Yelich, Cain has turned it on late in the year during the tense games the Brewers face as they compete for a Playoff spot. Cain’s OBP, SLG, and OPS is better in August than any other month this season.

Other than losing some games in June and July, Cain has stayed healthy.

Cain often hit in the middle of the order with his former team, the Royals. In 2018, however, the Milwaukee Brewers have mostly used him as a leadoff hitter.

Cain did not take this change lightly and decided to work on his game to become a better table-setter.

“We have a lot of good hitters,” he said. “I’m just trying to be more of an on-base guy.”

Cain lowered his strikeout rate to the lowest of his career this season. Furthermore, he increased his walk-rate by 3 percent from his previous high. These stats show Cain’s work has paid off.

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Cain does not prefer hitting leadoff. He prefers hitting in the middle of the order. But, he will do whatever it takes to help the Milwaukee Brewers.

“I’m not a big leadoff guy but […] I’m all about the team. Whatever improves our club.”

When it comes to stats, Yelich and Cain have very similar WAR for a reason. They both do their jobs very well and 2018 might be their most accomplished years.

The reason Cain is the Milwaukee Brewers team MVP goes beyond stats.

Brewers fans love Cain and Yelich. Cain just feels more like he is a Milwaukee guy.

The Brewers originally drafted Cain and raised him through their organization. Yelich is a California kid who came through the Miami organization. Yelich, five years younger than Cain, looks more like the blue chipper.

Cain hobbles around center field like Fred Sanford between pitches.

Then, when the ball is hit, he flashes to it with the kind of efficiency that might win him his first Gold Glove in 2018.

Statistically, Cain has not just improved his game like Yelich. Cain has improved and changed his game for the Milwaukee Brewers.

dark. Next. Who won the Schoop-Villar trade?

That, and the aforementioned intangibles, make Lorenzo Cain the 2018 Milwaukee Brewers Team MVP.

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