Even Cubs leaders bask in historic Wrigley moment

You didn't have to be a fan to be caught up in the excitement that is the Cubs in the World Series at Wrigley for the first time since 1945.

Team president Theo Epstein likened the jammed streets outside the park to Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Manager Joe Maddon said: "Driving down Clark (Street) today was quite an adventure, too. You can make a video game out of that, what I just had to go through. I think it's just wonderful."

General manager Jed Hoyer described the vibe as "awesome" and also likened it to New Year's Eve.

"We were walking around, it's a perfect night," he said. "I feel like at noon, there was a million people out there. This is it. It's fun to see that. It is neat to see how excited people are to finally get to see a World Series game here. The weather cooperated. This is an awesome vibe. It was cool to walk around."

Maddon always preaches "staying in the moment," but the huge nature of the day wasn't lost on him at all.

"I do stay in the moment, but my goodness, you can't help but recognize the Ferris wheel (at Navy Pier) being in Cubs colors with the Cubs logo in the middle of it," he said.

"Everywhere you go, I saw some huge 'W' flags at the top of buildings yesterday. We went to eat near where my kids are staying, and there's 'Ws' and colors, Cubs stuff and banners. Where I live, there's a Cubs flag. I was walking to get my coffee today, and a couple workers came by. It's just above and beyond.

"Again, the altruistic component, everybody is benefiting, everybody, through this experience, the entire city. I think the game is benefiting from it, really. The industry is benefiting from it. If you want to put your altruistic cap on, it's about the best thing that could happen for baseball right now."

Contreras coming on:

Willson Contreras started at catcher for Game 3 of the World Series. Contreras' development could change the narrative of Kyle Schwarber catching. Schwarber has been rehabbing a knee injury for the past sixth months, and he is able to DH in the World Series.

"A little bit," said Jed Hoyer. "He (Contreras) has been so good quicker than we thought."

Hoyer noted that the other young players on the Cubs have had playoff experience, but it was new to Contreras.

"I think the one guy you had to have questions on going into the postseason was Willson, and he hit a homer and caught a shutout in Game 6 (of the NLCS)," Hoyer said. "So I think those questions are behind us, but I think it's pretty cool to see that he's had that pretty easy transition to the playoffs."

As for Schwarber, Hoyer said he likely would not go back to the Arizona Fall League but that he might get some at-bats somewhere in the winter. However, Hoyer said it will be important for Schwarber to get some rest after an exhaustive rehab.

"He's at six months right now," Hoyer said. "He's sort of ahead of schedule. So I think after (the World Series), he'll take a little bit of a break to kind of go back to the rehab he had been doing between six and eight months."

More honors for defense:

One day after the Cubs placed four finalists for Gold Gloves, the Fielding Bible Awards came out Friday. Anthony Rizzo was named baseball's best first baseman, and infielder Javier Baez was honored as the best multi-position fielder.

"Really? Congratulations, Javy," Joe Maddon said. "That's outstanding. He absolutely deserves it. That's great that they're creating that kind of recognition. That's very forward thinking and I love it."

Maddon has said he'd like to see super-utility or multi-position players honored in the Gold Glove awards.