Chicago Cubs: Previewing this weekend’s series with Reviewing the Brew

Chicago Cubs: Cain a quality defender, above-average offensive threat

Everyone and their mother knows what Christian Yelich did last season. He leapt past Javier Baez, claiming National League MVP honors. But Milwaukee featured another Top-10 MVP finalist in center fielder Lorenzo Cain, as well.

Cain compiled an .813 OPS last season, earning the second All-Star selection of his career and providing Gold Glove-caliber defense alongside his fellow Brewers outfielders. This year, he’s already ended a ballgame by robbing a home run – and is off to a scorching start at the plate. Yet, somehow, he’s still a pretty underrated guy.

Q: How is it that Lorenzo Cain is still underrated in the game today?

A: I think the only reason why is that he doesn’t hit home runs very often. Cain only had 10 long balls last season and homers and slugging percentage are two big stats people look at nowadays. As a leadoff hitter, Cain doesn’t need to hit home runs, we have our 2-7 hitters that can do that just fine. But he draws a lot of walks and gets on base a lot ahead of Christian Yelich, which is exactly what the team needs from him.

Cain’s defense is criminally undervalued in my opinion. He should’ve won the Gold Glove last year over Ender Inciarte and it’s ridiculous that he hasn’t won one yet in his career. His home run robbery on Opening Day kickstarted his Gold Glove campaign for this year. He tracks baseballs so well and there are few better at it than Cain. I don’t understand how that part of his game is so underappreciated.