Maddon salutes versatile Contreras
Willson Contreras will be under the microscope in the second half after an offensive meltdown last summer.
The Cubs catcher hit .286 in the first half this season with 18 home runs and 52 RBIs, compiling a .937 OPS while being voted the starter for the National League in the All-Star Game. Last year he hit .200 in the second half with three homers, 20 RBIs and a .585 OPS in 56 games.
It was a significant drop-off from his first-half numbers, and many attributed it to fatigue. But manager Joe Maddon said Saturday it was not because of overuse.
“I know last year there was a lot made of that,” Maddon said. “The fact that Willson is so good, if he was on any other team they would’ve played him at least that much if not more. So he’s a very strong young man. More than anything he just got out of his ways offensively. But right now he’s in a pretty good spot.”
Contreras got his second half off to a good start Saturday with a three-run, opposite-field home run in a seven-run first, the biggest first inning for the Cubs since Sept. 8, 2009, when they also scored seven in Pittsburgh.
Maddon isn’t planning to start Contreras in the outfield. Contreras started one game in right July 3 in Pittsburgh when Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant were out — and dropped a fly on the run in the ninth inning to help ignite the Pirates’ walk-off win.
“Will we play him there? I don’t know,” Maddon said. “That’s not part of the plan. Would I run away from it? No, if it’s necessary. He’s very amenable. But you do have the All-Star catcher, a guy that’s been really good. A guy that does a great job behind the plate and also controls the running game to the extent he does.
“He is versatile, there’s no question, but we have not discussed that specifically yet.”
Walking and talking: Kyle Schwarber reached base four times Saturday with two firstinning walks, becoming the first Cub with two walks in an inning since Bill Mueller on May 5, 2001, against the Dodgers.
“We came out and we were ready to play,” Maddon said. “Just sensing from the guys, the looks on their face, we’re right here, right now.”
The Cubs desperately need to beat up on their Central Division rivals. They play host to the Reds after the Pirates series, which ends Sunday.
“We can really separate ourselves in this division,” Schwarber said. “For all of us in general, we’re all ready to go and really focused.”
Schwarber also made a diving catch that was ruled a single because the umpire lost sight of the ball in Shwarber’s glove when he rolled over on it.
“I know I caught it,” he said. “They couldn’t tell, but I pinned it to my body and closed the glove. They said ‘no catch,’ so…”
Extra Innings: The Cubs announced after the game that Alec Mills would start Tuesday against the Reds. Mills was 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in seven appearances last season and has a lifetime 5.48 ERA. … Reliever Xavier Cedeno is expected to begin his minor-league rehab stint Sunday with Triple-A Iowa. … Jason Heyward is hitting .393 in his last 15 games with five doubles, four homers and a triple.