Willson Contreras Was a Star Rookie, Award or No and Other Bullets

willson-contrera-batBack from the Chicago wedding, and now it’s a stretch of no travel and relative normalcy for me. It’s been a fantastic couple months, there is no doubt about that. But I’m very ready to not be away from the family for a few days every week, driving 12+ hours for each trip, etc.

  • It’s awards week, with Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP results coming out today through Thursday. The Cubs have at least one finalist in each category, except for tonight’s installment. Even though this year’s NL rookie crop was so loaded at the top that no one named Corey Seager has a chance at this award, and even getting into the final three would have been tough sledding, I do hope to see Willson Contreras receiving some down-the-ballot votes. He deserves it. The awards show is tonight on MLB Network at 5pm CT, and the full results of the vote should probably be available in the second half of that hour.
  • [adinserter block=”1″]

  • In a season of other stories, you don’t want what Contreras did to be lost in the shuffle: the 24-year-old rookie was summoned to the middle of a big league pennant race after less than a half-year of experience at AAA, then was asked to play in the outfield, where he hadn’t in years. Then he was asked to move back behind the plate and gear up for the playoffs, where he started back there more than any other Cubs catcher. On the year, Contreras played excellent defense, though his receiving skills are obviously still developing – understandable especially when you consider he’s barely worked with any of these pitchers before, and converted to catching full-time only a few years ago. He hit .282/.357/.488 (126 wRC+), and posted a 2.2 WAR in just 283 plate appearances. In a full big league season, he probably would have eclipsed the 4.0 WAR mark as a rookie. That’s truly incredible, and deserves a lot of love, even if he will not be in the top three tonight.
  • I’ll say it again: long-term, it is not at all crazy to think that Contreras has MVP-caliber potential in his future when you consider the whole package of value he could provide. Also: he does things like this.
  • Speaking of the awards, Jayson Stark goes through all of them with a “who should win” and “who will win” view, and I almost uniformly agree with his takes. The only one I question is whether Kyle Hendricks will win the Cy Young. I can absolutely make the argument that he’s deserving (obviously), but I still question whether the voters will pick him over his bigger name teammate in Jon Lester, or if the two of them (and the Cubs’ stellar (but not award-winning) defense) will pull down the hype a bit, and leave the door open for an also-very-deserving Max Scherzer.
  • David Laurila’s Sunday Notes are always a good read, and often provide “whoa, seriously?” moments like this one: former Cub Kosuke Fukudome is not only still playing in Japan, he raked this year. The 39-year-old outfielder, whose big signing with the Cubs in 2008 came with mixed results, and who last appeared in the big leagues with the White Sox in 2012, hit .311/.392/.453 this year in the NPB.
  • [adinserter block=”2″]

  • The Mannequin Challenge stuff has been fun, but this is by far the best one I’ve seen, and it’s baseball, too.
  • I had been planning to share the NES Classic on here from Amazon, because I have a feeling a lot of you are going to want to get it (like me), but the rush this weekend was so strong, even Amazon is basically saying they have no idea when they’ll have more. You’ll see the same at other retailers’ pages. It’s like this year’s Tickle Me Elmo, but for nostalgic adults. I will be patient.
  • Today is the deadline for players to accept or reject qualifying offers.
  • It was a busy weekend of rumors and analysis, so if you checked out, leaf through the posts here that you may have missed.
  • If you like your Cubs World Series gear to be a little subtle:
  • [adinserter block=”3″]

    written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    You’ll Be Even More Impressed with Hayden Wesneski, When You Hear What it Took to Get Him to Arizona

    Hayden Wesneski was the hero of yesterday's finale and series-win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, coming in to clean up Jordan Wicks' (little) mess in the 5th ... and then tossing 4 shutout innings to save an over-used bullpen and help...

    Offseason Cubs Target Robert Stephenson Now Out for the Year

    Hand up, I really wanted the Cubs to sign reliever Robert Stephenson this offseason. I felt like they could use one more impact arm (accurate), and I felt like Stephenson was one of the best available (about that ... )....

    Rays Closer Pete Fairbanks With a Wonderful and Brutally Honest Line About His Performance

    Rays closer Pete Fairbanks has been an extremely effective reliever the last four years, posting a 2.66 ERA from 2020 through 2023, with a 34.8% K rate and worth 4.1 WAR. But things have started out much more rough for...

    Still Thinking About That Incredible Christopher Morel Play

    I don't want to overreact to a relatively brief stretch of success, and I certainly don't want to jinx anything. But Christopher Morel has looked pretty darn solid at third base the last couple weeks, hasn't he? Maybe some of...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Diamondbacks 3 – April 17, 2024

    UNCLENCH. They did it. There was 9th inning drama, because of course there was, but Drew Smyly was able to get the job done, pitching for the third consecutive day. Cubs win the game, Cubs win the series. Cubs win...

    Cody Bellinger’s Third Homer of the Year Breaks the Tie in Arizona!

    Thank god. I was starting to think Brandon Pfaadt was Cy Young in disguise or something. I can't stand (or understand, for that matter) how this guy carves up the Cubs while getting destroyed by almost everybody else. But at...

    Watch Owen Caissie Launch His First Triple-A Home Run (Off a Lefty, Too!)

    Owen Caissie is just one of several Cubs top prospects at Triple-A Iowa this season, but after a monster Spring Training performance (following an equally impressive Double-A debut last season), he's got a lot of eyes on him this summer....

    Cubs Call Up a Couple of Fresh Arms from Iowa

    In discussing the potential for a Cubs move today for a fresh arm, I wondered if they'd go down and grab someone already on the 40-man roster or if they'd shift Julian Merryweather over to the 60-day IL to make...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs vs Diamondbacks – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — How many rubber matches can one team have? After two wild games to start the series, the Cubs are looking to win their second-consecutive series this afternoon in Arizona. Jordan Wicks is on the mound for Chicago....

    MLBits: Orioles Can’t Stop Hitting Home Runs, Learn Jac Caglianone’s Name, More

    If you have an MLB.TV subscription: I suggest you try to catch a Baltimore Orioles game soon. The Orioles lineup is chock-full of young talent, and they're absolutely mashing the baseball right now. They're fun to watch if you can...

    Latest News

    Cubs vs. Marlins Probable Starting Pitchers – April 18

    The Chicago Cubs (11-7) and the Miami Marlins (4-15) face off at Wrigley Field on Thursday at 7:40 PM ET, beginning a four-game series.The Cubs will give the nod to Jameson Taillon against the Marlins and Andrew Jacob Puk (0-3).Cubs...

    Cincinnati Bengals Draft Picks: Full List of NFL Draft Selections

    The Bengals missed the playoffs in 2023 and QB Joe Burrow played just 10 games. The team is now moving forward and focusing on the 2024 NFL Draft. Check out the Bengals list of draft picks for 2024. Cincinnati Bengals...

    DraftKings Promo Code: Unlock $200 New User Bonus for Thursday!

    Are you ready to experience the thrill of sports betting? The new DraftKings promo code is here to get you started. DraftKings, one of the leading online sportsbooks in the United States, is offering a fantastic opportunity for new users...

    You’ll Be Even More Impressed with Hayden Wesneski, When You Hear What it Took to Get Him to Arizona

    Hayden Wesneski was the hero of yesterday's finale and series-win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, coming in to clean up Jordan Wicks' (little) mess in the 5th ... and then tossing 4 shutout innings to save an over-used bullpen and help...

    Bedard’s Expectations, Dickinson’s Selke Case, Farewell Arizona, Records Made & Missed, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

    Welcome to the final day of the 2023-24 NHL season, hockey fans! The Blackhawks visit the LA Kings to close the books on their campaign tonight. Gotta love a 9:30 puck drop against a team that's beat the Hawks soundly...

    Check Out BetMGM Bonus Code, MLB Odds, and NBA Futures for 4/18

    New users can score a BetMGM bonus code right now for a $1,500 first bet offer in legal states. Check out today's MLB odds, NBA futures, and more as you look to make your first bet. BetMGM Sportsbook Promo Code...

    Los Angeles Rams Draft Picks: Full List of NFL Draft Selections

    The Los Angeles Rams got hot to end the 2023 season to reach the playoffs before being knocked out in the Wild Card Round. Now, they focus on the 2024 NFL Draft. Check out the team's selections for this year's...

    Offseason Cubs Target Robert Stephenson Now Out for the Year

    Hand up, I really wanted the Cubs to sign reliever Robert Stephenson this offseason. I felt like they could use one more impact arm (accurate), and I felt like Stephenson was one of the best available (about that ... )....

    Rays Closer Pete Fairbanks With a Wonderful and Brutally Honest Line About His Performance

    Rays closer Pete Fairbanks has been an extremely effective reliever the last four years, posting a 2.66 ERA from 2020 through 2023, with a 34.8% K rate and worth 4.1 WAR. But things have started out much more rough for...

    Houston Texans Draft Picks: Full List of NFL Draft Selections

    The Houston Texans were one of the huge surprises of the 2023 season as they reached the playoffs and now they look to build on their success in the 2024 NFL Draft. Check out the Texans' full list of draft...

    more cubs news