Lorenzo Cain Could Be Carl Crawford

Yeah, I said it. And I believe it, but I'm not saying it will happen for sure. But Lorenzo Cain could be a Carl Crawford type talent. This first hit me the other night watching Crawford play in the Rays vs Rangers ALDS game. I am actually surprised I did not make the connection earlier, like during the regular season watching Cain play. There are just so many similarities between Cain and Crawford that it is hard to deny. Okay, here me out.

Both Cain and Crawford started playing baseball at a late age. Most guys that end up playing in the major league's started off playing baseball at age 5 or 6 in tee ball. But Lorenzo and Carl first picked up a bat and glove in their high school years. They both have pure, raw athleticism. This is what allowed two guys who didn't play baseball before high school to pick the game up so quickly and make it to the show. Maybe the current skills that most draws in comparison between the two is speed and defense. Both have tremendous speed that help them cover a lot of ground in the OF. Cain in CF, Crawford in LF although I am sure Crawford could more than handle himself in CF. Their speed also allows them to steal a lot of bases. Crawford is always amongst the lead leaders in steals, Cain stole 124 bases over parts of 6 seasons in the minor leagues and 7 in 43 games for the Brewers in 10'. I would expect in a full big league season for Cain to steal 40+ bases, hopefully the next Manager of the Brewers will be someone who will run a bit more than Ken Macha did.

Finally, both players hit for average and get on base at a good clip to bat in that #2 or #3 spot in the order. And with the speed they have that is what they need to do. Crawford has developed power over time, hitting a career high 19 HR in 2010. Many scouts and teammates of Cain's think he to will develop power and be a guy who can hit 15-20 HR a season. Might take a few years but he should get to that mark like Crawford did. So as you can see, if you compare the skill sets of Lorenzo Cain and Carl Crawford through the eye test as well as look at their minor league stats, they are similar players. Crawford however has proved it at the big league level is a perennial All-Star and is about to cash in big time this offseason as the best position player on the market. Cain got his first taste of big league action and should play his first full season in 2011, for him it could be and hopefully will be the start of a Carl Crawford like career. Stay tuned.

Reader Poll Results

"Who do you want starting in CF in 2010?"

Mike Cameron: 100% (9 Votes)

Corey Hart: 0% (o Votes)

Lorenzo Cain: 0% (0 Votes)

Sign a Free Agent: 0% (0 Votes)

Lorenzo Cain Possibly Done For Season

Talk about shitty news a day after a fantastic Brewers game. This comes from down on the farm as Cain a CF who is the Brewers #6 rated prospect tore his MCL in a game last night for AA Huntsville diving for a ball. According to the blog post at JSonline by Haudricourt, Assistant GM Gord Ash says Cain will probably miss the rest of the season but could be ready to play in the Arizona Fall League. This news just sucks as Cain had a real chance to become the starting CF for the Brewers in 2010. With this injury that could be pushed back to 2011. Best wishes to Lorenzo, hopefully he can rehab and come back the way he was before the injury. He was in a bit of slump at Huntsville but this kid has shown a lot of promise.

Weeks/Kendall Leadoff Problem, Solved In 2010

Well I have seen a lot of discussion on various sites, blogs and message boards about the Brewers batting order and specifically leadoff with Rickie Weeks and now potentially, at least sometimes Jason Kendall batting leadoff. I don't have a huge problem with Kendall doing it for certain match ups, I mean the guy has batted leadoff more then any other spot in his career and he is good at working the count. But with his best offensive days behind him I would hate to see him batting anywhere but 8th to often. As for Weeks, yeah he probably shouldn't be batting leadoff but he is the closest thing we have to a leadoff hitter so he kind of gets put there by default almost. What I'm getting at here is that next season I don't think we will have to have these kind of debates. Why you ask? Well Lorenzo Cain should be the starting CF in 2010 and he would seem to me to be a clear cut choice to bat leadoff, this would allow Weeks to move down to 2nd or around 6th or 7th. This is assuming Cain progresses enough at AAA Nashville this season to take the step up in 2010, which many feel he will. And it would be perfect timing as I don't see Mike Cameron retained after this season.