Cain comparison: Darryl Hamilton

[NYChez]

Darryl Hamilton started for 10 years as a major leaguer, primarily in center field. He was one of the most consistent players in Brewer history, with a batting average around .290-.300 and OBP around .360 just about every year of his career. He was an above average fielder and baserunner.

His game was very good in the mid '90's, where you didn't expect every position to produce 20 HR's. If we're indeed past the steroid/HGH era, then I see Cain as a Hamilton type who you can just plug into CF for the next 10 years.

Of course this is my view after seeing only with minor league stats and his handful of major league appearances. Can somebody who has seen him play more often and was a Brewer fan in the '90's confirm or negate this comparison?

[pitchleague]

hmm, that's an interesting comparison. Hamilton was one of my favorite players from those early 90s teams. Good enough to qualify as a good hitter brought up in casual conversation outside of Milwaukee but not good enough to be all-star caliber.

 

I can see the speed comparison and batting eye. Not sure about the power in the majors, though. I could see equivalent numbers in doubles and triples.

 

Yeah, I can agree with this. I don't believe the hype that he'll be a multi-all-star player but I don't think he'll be a disappointment like I feel Glenn Braggs was.

[joshua502000]

This is awesome. I just finished looking up the box score for today and was wondering how or better yet who Cain might compare too. I would love it if he is a Hamilton clone, would certainly solve our CF ?'s for the next few years.

[DHonks]

he's already looking far better than Gomez just because he puts the ball in play. His attitude also is much better

[BrewCrewForever]

If he has a career like Hamilton I would be pretty happy with that. But I think Cain could be a little better.

[JJHardy7]

Yeah, I can agree with this. I don't believe the hype that he'll be a multi-all-star player but I don't think he'll be a disappointment like I feel Glenn Braggs was.

 

Is there hype about him being a multiple all-star? I'm not saying he can't do it. He just seems to fit more in the mold of being a solid everyday player who maybe could get an all-star appearance or two. I don't think there is much hype of him being a Braun or Fielder type. Can someone fill me in?

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

Hamilton was definitely one of my favorite players of the Yount & Molitor era

[HiAndTight]

he's already looking far better than Gomez just because he puts the ball in play. His attitude also is much better

I agree he looks better than Gomez, but I don't see the slightest issue with Gomez's attitude. He needs to adjust HOW he plays the game, but he plays the game harder than just about anyone on the team. He's always going 100 MPH.

 

 

He needs actually slow down. Just take some pitches, relax up there. But unless he busts out, his time being just handed a starting job has all but evaporated IMO.

[Never Outhustled]

Yeah, I can agree with this. I don't believe the hype that he'll be a multi-all-star player but I don't think he'll be a disappointment like I feel Glenn Braggs was.

 

Is there hype about him being a multiple all-star? I'm not saying he can't do it. He just seems to fit more in the mold of being a solid everyday player who maybe could get an all-star appearance or two. I don't think there is much hype of him being a Braun or Fielder type. Can someone fill me in?

 

I agree. I guess part of him being hyped like a savior is that he'll be about 3 WAR better than the guy he replaces, which is a monster improvement you rarely see. However, thats just because he's replacing a useless player in Gomez.

 

If the Brewers need to open some 40 man spots for September call-ups, they could easily release Gomez, as he'll likely be non-tendered in the offseason.

[JohnBriggs12]

I don't see much too similarity other than the position they play and that both possess speed.. First there's the obvious. Cain hits righthanded. Hamilton hit lefthanded. Cain is taller, and really impressive physically. I remember seeing him a few years ago playing in the Hawaiian Fall League. I remember thinking he sure looked the part. Hamilton was a fairly thin, wiry guy, not the guy who impressed you much physically. Not that Hamilton wasn't a very solid player, he was. But Cain has the physical attributes to surpass Hamilton. But he's got a ways to go.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

If the Brewers need to open some 40 man spots for September call-ups, they could easily release Gomez, as he'll likely be non-tendered in the offseason.

I sure hope so. He was a waste of a roster spot in Minnesota, and a waste of a roster spot this year in Milwaukee. I'd say its pretty safe to say that the Gomez + Escobar + Wolf for Cameron and Hardy swap was pretty much a disaster. Hardy was having a lousy year (really has come on lately), but about the only good thing that you can say about having Escobar and Gomez on the field was that we were saving money. Cain is cheap as well, and as many have noted, a huge upgrade from Gomez.

[TooLiveBrew]

Made me smile to think of Hamilton again. I loved him when he was with the Brewers. And like others have said, if Cain can match Darryl's career, we should be thrilled.

[JohnBriggs12]

TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

If the Brewers need to open some 40 man spots for September call-ups, they could easily release Gomez, as he'll likely be non-tendered in the offseason.

I sure hope so. He was a waste of a roster spot in Minnesota, and a waste of a roster spot this year in Milwaukee. I'd say its pretty safe to say that the Gomez + Escobar + Wolf for Cameron and Hardy swap was pretty much a disaster. Hardy was having a lousy year (really has come on lately), but about the only good thing that you can say about having Escobar and Gomez on the field was that we were saving money. Cain is cheap as well, and as many have noted, a huge upgrade from Gomez.

Cameron and Hardy have 38 RBI between them. Neither has been able to stay healthy. Wolf hasn't been as good as hoped but he's not been a total disaster. Brewers are .500 (12-12) in his starts. Escobar has 31 RBI, and has hit the ball better than his .255 average would indicate. His line drive percentage (22%) is higher than Braun (19%), Fielder (20%), Weeks (17%), Hart (20%), and McGehee (19%) and way better than Hardy's 15%. I think it's safe to say nobody on the Brewer roster has hit into more bad luck than Escobar.

[Diskono]

HiAndTight]I agree he looks better than Gomez, but I don't see the slightest issue with Gomez's attitude. He needs to adjust HOW he plays the game, but he plays the game harder than just about anyone on the team. He's always going 100 MPH.

I think there have been a few quotes from Gomez suggesting that he thinks he's doing well, and that he doesn't feel his game needs improvement. While I do like the confidence, that's obviously not true.

[YoungGeezy]

If the Brewers need to open some 40 man spots for September call-ups, they could easily release Gomez, as he'll likely be non-tendered in the offseason.

I sure hope so. He was a waste of a roster spot in Minnesota, and a waste of a roster spot this year in Milwaukee. I'd say its pretty safe to say that the Gomez + Escobar + Wolf for Cameron and Hardy swap was pretty much a disaster. Hardy was having a lousy year (really has come on lately), but about the only good thing that you can say about having Escobar and Gomez on the field was that we were saving money. Cain is cheap as well, and as many have noted, a huge upgrade from Gomez.

On top Gomez Comment--- Bottom is on the thread topic which it should be.

 

I hate to do this and get off on a tangent but I have to address this and call this just flat out crazy. Who in there right mind releases a 24 year old player outright who still has options? Not to mention an insanily high ceiling? The only possible answer is someone who thinks MLB The Show's Franchise mode is reality because no GM in there right mind would do that. Where your Twins and the Brewers have fail miserably is that instead of sending Gomez to the minors to develop these unbelievable god given talents they have took away all his playing time or platooned him thinking that somehow he will manage to get better and develop. Beside for a rehab assignment has not been in the minors since he was 21 in 2007. He has never been ready for the majors but because of his abilities they have forced him to have to be and it hasn't worked out. Everyone hates on him and that is fine, he has struggled this season with the bat but people treat him with an insane double standard because he was brought in during a trade for JJ Hardy and not home grown. If Mat Gamel struggled I doubt people would treat him like this or if next season the Brewers decide to call-up Lawrie, he struggles and the Brewers decide to platoon him for the next two season instead of send him back down to work on his game and play regularly everyone would go insane (difference is that Gomez was given one full season as a full-time starter in 2008). So really, Gomez who is merely 5 months older than Cain is the most worthless piece of crap to wear a Brewers uniform that at 24 he needs to be cut! That is just a joke.

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Now back to Cain who has been really exciting to watch, I can see where you are coming from with the comparison. If he was to have that kind of career and perform like Hamilton did throughout his career I would be thrilled. Of course I'd like to see Cain have a higher ceiling than 9 homers a season but the doubles, triples, average, stolen bases and etc I'd be extremely happy with.

 

The best part about Cain is I do not see him even close right now to reaching his peak potential. He has only played the game for nine years! After I had just finished my first nine years of baseball I wasn't even in high school yet, it is crazy to see that his natural talent has taken him this far this quick. He has the dream make-up and if you look at him he still has plenty of room to grow and fill out. So the power still may be a few years away but he could be a potential 20 HR guy I think. To me because I believe that he is still growing as a player so much it is hard for really compare what I feel his potential may be.

[TooLiveBrew]

What about a Mike Cameron comp.? Not sure if Cain could ever be as good defensively, but he's built similarly to Mike.

[sbrylski]

TooLiveBrew]What about a Mike Cameron comp.? Not sure if Cain could ever be as good defensively, but he's built similarly to Mike.

Cain strikes out at about two-thirds the rate of Cameron, and should hold a higher batting average. But I'd love to see Cameron's 25-30 HR power out of Cain in his prime.

[Never Outhustled]

Cain reminds me of Willie McGee and Eric Davis, though those 2 guys aren't similar.

[Boy Jeenius]

I watched the Astro's feed this weekend and they said Cain reminds them of Gary Maddox. Tall, with long strides, covering a lot of ground in the OF, and fewer strides between bags when running the bases. They replayed his double a couple of times because they enjoyed watching him chew up the dirt.

Nice player to be compared to.

[logan82]

If Mat Gamel struggled I doubt people would treat him like this

 

Many people were unhappy with a league average batting line out of Gamel last year. They would flip out if he couldn't keep his OBP above .300.

 

I hope Cain gets most of the starts in CF from here out. Leave Gomez on the DL until September. I have a hard time completely giving up on Gomez on this point but I don't want him on the team either. Send him to AAA.