Milwaukee Brewers: Who Deserves Team MVP, Cain or Yelich?
By Max Neibaur
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.