NL DIVISION SERIES: BREWERS VS BRAVES

October 11, 2021

Lorenzo Cain

Truist Park

Milwaukee Brewers

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. How would you describe your season? You had a couple of stints on the IL. I'm sure your numbers probably aren't where you expect them to be. How would you kind of encapsulate the way the year's gone for you?

LORENZO CAIN: This year has been a tough year for me. A lot of injuries, starting spring training, quad injury and a hamstring injury. So, yeah, it's been a tough season for me.

But I worked my butt off to get back on the field, just in time for the playoffs, I guess. And, yeah, just going out there, grinding with the boys and just trying to produce and contribute to this team.

Q. You had talked about some of the benefits of staying away last year and focusing on yourself and your family. How did the things that you may have learned during that experience last year help with you the challenges this year, if that makes sense?

LORENZO CAIN: I wouldn't say it helped me as far as baseball-wise. It was more just focusing on myself, my family, more than anything. Just spending time together, growing with each other. That was the main focus for me.

And baseball is baseball. You're going to have good days; going to have bad days. Just take it as it goes. So, yeah, last year was just about myself, my family. Keeping my son safe as well, because didn't know what to expect with the COVID at first. My oldest son has asthma.

Didn't really know much about it early on. Now we have a lot more info on it. And this year's been great. Keeping my family safe as well. Yeah, it's been a good year for me.

Q. We talked to Craig and Andy about the offense the first two games. And both of them said there just weren't many mistakes or many pitches that you guys left out there. I'm wondering what you have seen in the first two games and are you still happy with the approaches that you guys are putting together as a group?

LORENZO CAIN: Yeah, kind of just gotta take what the pitcher gives you. If they're spotting up, if they're locked in, definitely makes it a lot tougher to hit.

You definitely like it when pitchers miss over the middle of the plate. So that's always nice. But, yeah, those two guys were locked in the first few games. I think Morton might have missed one or two spots the entire game.

So, yeah, they've been locked in. We just gotta kind of match their intensity, go out there, hopefully swing the bats a lot better today. And try to score as many runs as possible. And try to find a way to get a win today.

Q. You've been blessed in your career to play lots of postseason baseball. Not all players get to do that. Do you ever reflect on that? And what to you is the best part of these games?

LORENZO CAIN: For me, this is the best time. It's a lot more fun. During the regular season it's definitely a grind. You're playing a lot more games, every day. This is the fun time. That's why you grind out, the 162-game season to get to this point. And we're here.

I've been in this position a lot over my career. I've definitely been fortunate.

But at the same time, we've got to find a way to go out and get a win today. I know it's going to be tough. Playing these guys in their home park. So definitely doesn't get any easier. So just gotta find a way to go out and get a win today. So we'll see what happens. But hopefully we can go out there and get a win.

Q. You've probably been batting lower in the lineup than ever before. Does that change anything for you, especially batting in front of the pitcher sometimes? Does that change your approach in any way?

LORENZO CAIN: I wouldn't say it changed my approach. Definitely not a big fan of batting in front of the pitcher, but I guess whatever helps this team, I'm always willing to do. But, yeah, the situation is what it is. I try to take my same approach. I'm a line-drive hitter. I try to get on base in front of the pitcher so hopefully he can bunt me over.

Nothing changed for me. I know the type of hitter I am and I have been my entire career. And it's about just going out there getting on base in any way possible and that definitely hasn't changed up to this point for sure.

Q. Your manager was in here praising your base-running instincts a little while ago, and it's five years since probably your most famous base-running play. Are those just instincts or do you feel like your base running is a learned skill throughout your baseball life?

LORENZO CAIN: I take pride in running the bases. I take pride in being a great baserunner, finding ways to steal a bag or score a run, go first to third or first to home. It's just something I've learned over just the many coaches that have taught me different ways to do things.

I feel like I've grown in that area, continue to get better and better at it. So, yeah, it's just a want-to to be aggressive, to focus on what you're doing while you're out there, take an extra base at all times, because every little thing helps, every little thing matters, especially during this time.

So I really focus on it. I work on it. Not only that, defense as well. Definitely take pride in that as well. So just being an overall contributor to this team is something I've always prided myself on.

Q. That defensive thing that you just talked about, I was looking the other day, and the Brewers led the majors in defensive run saves in center field. And that's you and Jackie. What does that mean to you? You guys put so much emphasis on run prevention.

LORENZO CAIN: Like I said, that's something I love to do. Our pitching staff is really good. So if I can go out there and steal a few runs, it always helps.

We know how good Jackie is. He's the real deal. He can run them down, throw them out. Has a great arm as well. We both worked really hard saving runs. And going to try to go out and do it here again today.

Q. Can you tell us as a teammate what's Freddy Peralta like? And also just playing behind him and just being around him for a season?

LORENZO CAIN: He's a lot of fun. He's always smiling, having a good time. The teammates love him. Just a great dude in general. Definitely lights up the clubhouse for sure. And he's electric on the mound.

So it's always a lot of fun playing behind him. And he's just another guy I just love playing behind and taking away hits, taking away runs, just going all out for.