Milwaukee Brewers: Picking the All-Decade Team of the 2010s

Bench Players

Outfield: 2018 Lorenzo Cain (5.7 fWAR)

The first two bench spots were easy. Cain earns the lead spot off the bench as the first representative from the 2018 playoff team. The smooth-fielding center fielder was second to Yelich in fWAR, was seventh to him in the MVP voting, and earned an All-Star bid.

“LoCain” led the Brewers in 2018 with 30 steals and was second on the team behind Yelich in runs scored (90), doubles (25), batting average (.308), and OBP (.395) while also placing second on the team in walks (71). Defensively, Cain was outstanding as well. His 18 defensive runs saved were third in the NL and most of any MLB outfielder, though he would have to wait one more year for his first career Gold Glove.

Catcher: 2019 Yasmani Grandal (5.2 fWAR)

Our All-Decade team needs a backup catcher and Grandal gets the position easily due to the single season he spent in Milwaukee. The backstop was second on the team in fWAR last year behind just Yelich and was one of five Brewers named to the All-Star game in 2019.

Grandal had one of the better eyes at the plate for the Brewers last season, easily pacing the team in walks with 109 and finishing second in the NL in the category. He also finished second on the team in OBP (.380) and third in homers (28), RBI (77), and runs scored (79).

Outfield: 2011 Corey Hart (3.7 fWAR)

The third bench spot, which goes to another outfielder due to lack of infielders with high fWARs, was a tough choice between Hart and 2011 Nyjer Morgan, both of which had great seasons with each finishing with a 3.7 fWAR.

Morgan did give Brewers fans one of the greatest moments in Brewer history that year. But, it’s hard to overlook the fact that Hart led him in OPS (.866 to .778), HR (26 to 4), RBI (63 to 37), and runs scored (80 to 61), thus Hart gets the nod.

Infield: 2018 Travis Shaw (3.6 fWAR)

We still need a backup infielder on our All-Decade team, so how about someone who played first, second, and third base in 2018? The final bench honor goes to Shaw, whose 2018 season just barely edged out his 2017 season for inclusion.

Shaw led the 2018 team in walks with 78 and was third on the team in a number of other categories including slugging percentage (.480), OPS (.825), homers (32), and RBI (86). This all while having a small disruption to his season, switching primarily to second base for the first time in his career after the team acquired third baseman Mike Moustakas at the trade deadline.