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Chicago Cubs: Get ready for the Willson Contreras power surge
If the last week is any indication, we may be seeing a Willson Contreras power surge similar to the one that powered the Chicago Cubs late last season.
If not for a late season injury last year, Willson Contreras could have made a serious run at the National League MVP. But, despite missing time, the Chicago Cubs catcher put together an outstanding offensive performance down the stretch.
He finished the year with career-highs in home runs, RBI, OPS, slugging percentage and hits. And his abilities to stop a running game dead in its tracks are well-documented, despite some less-than-stellar pitch framing. All told, there’s a ton to love about Contreras’ game.
The Venezuelan native wears his heart on his sleeve (well, not literally anymore because of the league’s ridiculous rules on gear) – but you get the idea. The fire and passion he has for the game is clear every time he steps on the field.
With the Cubs carrying a six-game win streak into this weekend’s series against the Reds, Contreras is heating up again. All season, he’s hit well – but lacked the power we saw in 2017. Now, he’s putting it all together, just in time for the team to close out the first half on a high note.
Chicago Cubs: Team rolled as Contreras got hot
One year ago today, the Chicago Cubs sat at 42-42, 3 1/2 games out in the Central. By the time the Midsummer Classic rolled around, that deficit grew to 5 1/2 games with the Cubs two games under .500.
Panic ensued.
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That’s largely because during the 2016 championship run, the Cubs steamrolled pretty much everyone they played. For a good chunk of the season, talk of breaking the all-time win record permeated Wrigleyville bars. Instead, Chicago ‘settled’ for 103 wins, a division title and, eventually, a World Series crown.
But from the All-Star Break on last season, the Cubs got hot – and I mean hot. Chicago went 49-25 in the second half. After posting an even run differential in the first half, the club put up a +126 after the break en route to a second consecutive division crown, holding off the pesky Brewers.
And as the Cubs go, so goes Willson Contreras.
In June and July, the Chicago catcher tore the cover off the ball. For both months, he wound up with an OPS north of 1.000. He continued to hit in August, as well, but then fell victim to injury. All told, he hit around .320 for two months with an OBP pushing .380. No matter what opposing pitchers threw at him, Contreras excelled.
Chicago Cubs: Contreras finding his power stroke
Two weeks ago, I penned a piece defending Contreras. Too many fans evaluate the offensive performance of players solely on slugging percentage and other power metrics. Home runs aside, the Cubs catcher was performing well at the dish.
But over the last seven days, he flipped that switch. During the past week, he’s slashing .440/.483/.840 with two home runs, five runs and nine RBI. He led the team to a series finale win on Wednesday, driving in three with a homer and, later, a clutch double in the seventh.
With Kris Bryant still sidelined with a shoulder injury and Anthony Rizzo swinging a potent, albeit inconsistent bat this year, Contreras is a big piece of the offense. Javier Baez and Albert Almora continue to lead the charge at the plate, but a power-hitting Contreras to protect these guys changes the dynamic of this lineup.
Next: Theo, Cubs give Mozeliak, Cards a lesson in class
As I said in that piece in late June, even if he’s not hitting for power, this guy is clearly an above-average catcher. But when he swings a hot bat and stays locked in, he goes from above average to elite in a hurry.