Contreras catches Arrieta for full game for first time
The Chicago Cubs continued their transitioning of rookie catcher Willson Contreras in Thursday's 9-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.
Manager Joe Maddon paired Contreras with staff ace Jake Arrieta for the first time this season to begin a game. Miguel Montero had been Arrieta's catcher until this point.
Contreras didn't come up from the minor leagues until the middle of June, but Maddon began introducing him to the veteran pitchers in spring training.
"I got to know Willson a little bit," Maddon said. "I could see he was very eager. He was definitely not afraid. With all respect to everybody he may have to catch, he was not going to be intimidated by them, which I love that.
"When he finally came up here and watching him work and watching him study with Mike (catching coach Borzello), really bright. He retains things really well and has a good feel and understanding of what's going on in the game. His mound trips have been great. Even with some of the more veteran pitchers, he's walked out to the mound at the appropriate time, has the discussion and then he goes back and plays catcher. That's what I've been really focused on with him."
Contreras was charged with a pair of passed balls Thursday, giving him four for the season.
It's been a rough year for Montero, but Maddon praised his attitude.
"I have been so impressed with him," Maddon said. "He has been a mentor to these guys. He understands what we're doing and why we're doing it. He is a positive force on the bench every day. Obviously, he's not happy with the season that he's had so far on a personal level, but he's ecstatic about what we're doing. My perception and my lens of view has done nothing but become greater and greater in a positive way, and I told him that yesterday. I relayed all that stuff to him yesterday."
Standing by Heyward:
For the second time this week, Jason Heyward did not start in right field. Heyward has struggled mightily at the plate this season, with a line of .225/.304/.313 with 5 homers and 32 RBI.
He has played outstanding defense, and Joe Maddon doesn't seem ready to give up on him. Last off-season, Heyward signed an eight-year, $184 million free-agent deal with the Cubs.
"He'll be the first one to tell you he's not happy with his offensive output," Maddon said. "But if you're standing in the dugout and you don't know anything else about batting average, you look at our record and you look at him in right field, and I can't be more comfortable with this guy in the field while we're playing baseball. He's such a good baseball player. He's such a great teammate.
"All the things he does I believe are really important to victory, to winning attitude, to winning team. When you have conversations with him, he doesn't just say the right things to say the right things. He really believes. We'll continue to work through all these moments. I do believe there's going to be a tremendous reward at the end of all this for him and for us. It's difficult on the outside looking in, but our record's pretty good, and he's been on the field for most of those games. He's a winner. He's an absolute winner, this fellow."