Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Rowdy Tellez Hits Two Home Runs to Power Brewers over Rays 5-3

    June 29, 2022

    Bobby Portis Declines Player Option with the Milwaukee; Bucks Can Offer Him Most Money

    June 29, 2022
    Packers Bucs 2022-23

    7 NFL Predictions for the 2022-23 Season

    June 29, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Rowdy Tellez Hits Two Home Runs to Power Brewers over Rays 5-3
    • Bobby Portis Declines Player Option with the Milwaukee; Bucks Can Offer Him Most Money
    • 7 NFL Predictions for the 2022-23 Season
    • Five Realistic 2022 Free Agent Target for the Milwaukee Bucks
    • Sleeper, Underappreciated, and Underrated Packer Players On The Roster
    • Matt Lafleur’s Connection With All-Pro Free Agent Could Lure Him to Green Bay
    • Brandon Woodruff Returns from IL and to Form in Brewers 5-3 Win Over Rays
    • Three High-Profile Packers Players Who May Be Playing Their Last Season in Green Bay
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest VKontakte
    WI Sports Heroics
    • About
      • Privacy Policy
    • Sports
      • Packers
        • Green Bay Packers News
        • Green Bay Packers Rumors
      • Bucks
        • Milwaukee Bucks News
        • Milwaukee Bucks Rumors
      • Brewers
        • Milwaukee Brewers News
        • Milwaukee Brewers Rumors
      • Milkmen
        • Milwaukee Milkmen News
        • Milwaukee Milkmen Rumors
      • Badgers
        • Badgers Basketball
        • Badgers Football
      • Marquette
        • Marquette News
        • Marquette Rumors
      • Fantasy Sports
      • Outdoor Sports
    • Podcasts
      • Wickett On Wisconsin
      • Packers Podcast
      • Bucks Podcast
      • Brewers Podcast
      • Badgers Podcast
    • Local Reviews
    • Sponsors
    • Mark Mayfield Booking
    • Shop
    • Contact
    WI Sports Heroics
    Home»Sports»Brewers»Stop Forgetting Lorenzo Cain is Back for the Brewers
    Brewers

    Stop Forgetting Lorenzo Cain is Back for the Brewers

    John EganBy John EganFebruary 19, 2021No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Brewers' outfielder Lorenzo Cain tracks down a flyball during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
    Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    It’s easy to forget how crazy of a season 2020 was. A week after the shortened season started, the Milwaukee Brewers’ home opening series with the St. Louis Cardinals was postponed due to multiple positive tests of Covid-19 from the Cardinals team.

    Shortly after that, Lorenzo Cain opted out for the season.

    He became the second player to opt out, and joined over a dozen players who sat out for the season. Not a lot of other players did, and Cain was arguably the biggest name. It was a devastating blow to the team and fans.

    Cain’s Return

    2021 will be the fourth year of Cain’s five-year, $80MM contract. It was the largest free agent contract in Milwaukee Brewers history. He will make around $17MM this year, and will be the highest paid player on the roster.

    His return is a huge boost for the Milwaukee Brewers. Not only he is a clubhouse leader, but you still have one of the best center fielders in baseball out there almost every game. Cain will turn 35 years old during the first month of the season, but his presence and talent are essential to Milwaukee’s success.

    Lorenzo had a short 2020 season, but he was off to a great start after a disappointing 2019. Over 18 at-bats, he had a .333 batting average, .817 OPS and two RBIs. He also had four runs. Who knows how much his bat would have helped the Brewers during basically an entire season of below average hitting.

    Despite having a below-average 2019 and short 2020, the Brewers still made the playoffs both years. Now imagine how good they can be this year with him healthy and playing well again.

    A lot of the focus recently has been on free agent signings, who will be there back-end starting pitchers, who will end up at third base and plenty of other things. A bigger focus should be on Cain returning and what he had to deal with last season.

    The Backlash of Opting-Out

    The backlash against Cain I saw on social media was quite frankly disgusting. And I know what you are thinking: “I never said anything”. I am not talking to you. I am talking to the fair weather fans or the ones who will read headlines but not articles (like this one) and just comment without using their brains.

    Lorenzo Cain didn’t quit on his team. He wasn’t being dumb or selfish. He shouldn’t have been released because of the decision. Major League Baseball allowed their players to opt out if they wanted. The Brewers organization supported his decision. I could afford box seats for life at American Family Field the amount of times I saw the “I don’t get to opt out of my job” comments. Did your boss offer you the chance? No? Ok then, not the same thing.

    Cain chose his family, and had the support of his team and the Brewers faithful behind him. 2020 was a year and season we will never see again. 60 games. Zero fans. There were no Sausage Races; no bobblehead giveaways; no tailgating even allowed. Players wearing masks and not encouraged to touch or celebrate the same.

    Players like Justin Turner, who had finally won a World Series, had to decide at a moment’s notice if he could celebrate or not because he got news of a positive Covid test during the game. We can talk about whether he should have been out there or not until we are dizzy. My point is that it was a strange season with strange things happening around every corner.

    Cain got to avoid all of that. He got to spend time with his family, including this viral moment of him playing baseball with his kids. It was right after the season, but still an amazing moment recorded.

    Brewers' Lorenzo Cain is out here hitting tanks off kids, talking smack, and making them cry 😂

    "Yeah, we can't play anymore because I hit all the balls out there…Is he crying?"

    (via CainCrew6/IG) pic.twitter.com/uhShGxONam

    — Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) November 13, 2020

     

    A lot of parents had their kids home with them the past year while they were trying to work. Lorenzo got to choose to go home to them and spend quality time. Imagine being a person that would attack a player on your own favorite baseball team because they picked their family when given the choice.

    Cain’s Importance to Milwaukee

    Cain returning is not being discussed enough. It was basically gaining a high profile free agent again. You have a gold glove outfielder and a consistant hitter back in your line up. The Brewers starting outfield is now Christian Yelich, Avisail Garcia and Cain. That is a solid three. It will be a solid four when Ryan Braun returns halfway through the season. I’m calling it.

    [pickup_prop id=”3929″]

    Will Cain be a .300 hitter this year and fooling the Chicago Cubs on the base paths again? Who knows? He will be 35 and his spring speed ranking has declined the last three seasons. But he will still make amazing plays out in the field and take away home runs from opposing teams at American Family Field. He will still be a great lead off option until Wong or Urias take over that spot. I am calling that one too. He will still be smiling and celebrating victories with Yelich after every game. He will still remind us he has three kids way too much. And we will love him for it.

    Lorenzo Cain started his career as a Milwaukee Brewer, and will probably end his career as one. He has nothing left to prove except play baseball for the Crew. He earned his contract, his World Series and our respect. Cain also earned his right to be with his family during a difficult year.

    Lorenzo Cain is a Brewers legend who is still playing, and everyone needs to remember that.

    For more great content:

    Make sure to follow me on Twitter @BrewersRaptor and follow us @WiscoHeroics1 for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin Sports, click here.

    2020 2020 season Lorenzo Cain Milwaukee Brewers MLB opt out
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    John Egan

    Related Posts

    Rowdy Tellez Hits Two Home Runs to Power Brewers over Rays 5-3

    June 29, 2022

    Brandon Woodruff Returns from IL and to Form in Brewers 5-3 Win Over Rays

    June 28, 2022

    Brewers: Two Key Pieces Set for Tuesday Return

    June 27, 2022

    Rowdy Tellez Mashes Against Former Club, Leads Brewers to 10-3 Victory over Blue Jays

    June 26, 2022
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Editors Picks

    Brewers: The Ideal Playoff Roster

    September 20, 2021

    MVP Spotlight: Christian Yelich

    April 10, 2020
    Top Reviews
    Advertisement
    Demo
    WI Sports Heroics
    Facebook Twitter
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy
    • Advertisement
    • Contact us
    © 2022 WISportsHeroics All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.