It's Willson's turn

[David]

Is this the last legit prospect acquired during the Hendry administration?

 

Candelario

 

Vogelbach?

[Omar]

Can someone make a montage of Federowicz highlights?

[sneakypower]

he caught 4 full innings since May 12th

[Flames24Rulz]

Can someone make a montage of Federowicz highlights?

 

Who?

[BCVM22]

Train hard, Willson.

 

[BigSlick]

Federowicz had...uh...I think one bloop RBI hit in the home series against the Nationals. So he wasn't completely useless, but very very close to it.

 

This is fun and exciting news, and its nice to get it on an off day. I hope this helps give Miggy more rest so he gets back to doing his regular thang.

[Gmoney08]

Was Federowicz the guy with the game winning hit against Chapman last year or a similar no name guy?

[CyHawk_Cub]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[UMFan83]

Was Federowicz the guy with the game winning hit against Chapman last year or a similar no name guy?

 

No, that guy is suspended for PEDs currently.

[Schwarber Fan]

Federowicz had...uh...I think one bloop RBI hit in the home series against the Nationals. So he wasn't completely useless, but very very close to it.

 

This is fun and exciting news, and its nice to get it on an off day. I hope this helps give Miggy more rest so he gets back to doing his regular thang.

 

He also had an RBI double in the first game of that awful DH against San Diego.

 

But yeah, he sucked.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Almora and Contreras. 2nd wave accomplished, Theo.

started

[davell]

Almora and Contreras. 2nd wave accomplished, Theo.

started

 

Our prospects don't fail.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

this team is so awesome. we have so many guys that can play so many positions (and play them well) that we just say horsefeathers it and add a young stud to a catching core that has a guy who graduated high school before most of these guys started kindergarten and a guy who doesn't have a back. It's amazing how many of these promotions are becoming "just fit in and find yourself" rather than "we really need you to excel or we're screwed"

[Sammy Sofa]

Almora and Contreras. 2nd wave accomplished, Theo.

started

 

Our prospects don't fail.

 

They just disappear from David's sig pic like tears in the rain.

[Vinestal]

I tried to tweet it to Vinestal but evidently he blocked me.

 

Pretend you're Jesus.

Sorry but I probably found out bout the same time you did. Been working all day though so no time to revel in it. :yahoo:

[Sammy Sofa]

Nobody cares except about why did you block Agony & Ivy?

[Vinestal]

Nobody cares except about why did you block Agony & Ivy?

There's no telling, I block a lot of people on Twitter for all kinds of reasons. It's mostly just a news source for me.

[Sammy Sofa]

Booooooooooooo this story.

[BillyBuck]

Willson Contreras has been with the organization longer than anyone on the 40 man roster. If anyone cares. Which they probably don't.

I care ... it points to a farm system that works

[minnesotacubsfan]

this team is so awesome. we have so many guys that can play so many positions (and play them well) that we just say [expletive] it and add a young stud to a catching core that has a guy who graduated high school before most of these guys started kindergarten and a guy who doesn't have a back. It's amazing how many of these promotions are becoming "just fit in and find yourself" rather than "we really need you to excel or we're screwed"

 

 

I'd like to like to "find myself" in this line up too

[TruffleShuffle]

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/6/16/11955946/mlb-rookie-report-willson-contreras-c-chicago-cubs

 

Contreras has remained hot, hitting .350/.439/.531 for Triple-A Iowa. Yes, that's the Pacific Coast League, but even adjusting for context it is a terrific season, even better than last year, his wRC+ increasing from 156 (already excellent) to 176. Both his walk rate and isolated power numbers continue to improve, without any serious increase in strikeouts. This fits scouting reports from Iowa sources that Contreras is truly locked in, maintaining the improved approach he developed last year, handling both fastballs and breaking stuff well and showing power to all fields.

 

What about defense? Well, that's gotten better, too. He's always shown strong pop times but his actual ability to cut down runners was less than stellar. That's improved a bit this year, with 31% of runners caught, not excellent but playable. His other defensive skills have sharpened up; a former third baseman, he's steadily lowered his error rates. He'll still make some occasional receiving miscues, but all the tools are there and the skills have improved.

 

At age 24, Contreras has nothing left to prove in the minors as a hitter and his glove is not far behind. Triple-A is no challenge for him at this point; he is ready to move up.

 

Bottom line: people who were enthusiastic over the winter were correct and my report from the book was too skeptical. I'd rate Contreras as a Grade B+ at this point and one of the top catching prospects in baseball.

 

 

"one of the top catching prospects in baseball"? i didn't know there was anybody else even in the discussion.

[Omar]

31% of runners caught ? That's 4x better than Montero.

[Gilby]

Jesse Rogers wrote in his article that Contreras would start maybe once a week. He has become a really good, trustworthy beat writer, but I'm sorry, they ain't calling him up in mid June to play once a week; maybe if this were later on in the season, but it's a little too early to make him a primary pinch hitter. I assume he'll be catching pretty much every non Arrieta/Lester start, maybe working his way toward handling Jake later on in the season.

 

Also, aside from being fun news, this is a relief to me. The front office's desire to keep T-Fed around made me pretty uneasy that there was something they didn't like in Contreras. I know the line was it gave Maddon more flexibility to sub for his catchers in-game, but he really didn't do that; Fed just sat there and did nothing. But the fact that they called up Willson so early means they have faith in him, so yay!

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Jesse Rogers wrote in his article that Contreras would start maybe once a week. He has become a really good, trustworthy beat writer, but I'm sorry, they ain't calling him up in mid June to play once a week; maybe if this were later on in the season, but it's a little too early to make him a primary pinch hitter. I assume he'll be catching pretty much every non Arrieta/Lester start, maybe working his way toward handling Jake later on in the season.

 

Also, aside from being fun news, this is a relief to me. The front office's desire to keep T-Fed around made me pretty uneasy that there was something they didn't like in Contreras. I know the line was it gave Maddon more flexibility to sub for his catchers in-game, but he really didn't do that; Fed just sat there and did nothing. But the fact that they called up Willson so early means they have faith in him, so yay!

 

I would be pretty surprised to see Contreras getting 60% of the starts. I'm guessing we'll see a roughly equal split among the three, with Miggy & Willson getting a little bit more reps to give Ross extra rest.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/6/16/11955946/mlb-rookie-report-willson-contreras-c-chicago-cubs

 

Contreras has remained hot, hitting .350/.439/.531 for Triple-A Iowa. Yes, that's the Pacific Coast League, but even adjusting for context it is a terrific season, even better than last year, his wRC+ increasing from 156 (already excellent) to 176. Both his walk rate and isolated power numbers continue to improve, without any serious increase in strikeouts. This fits scouting reports from Iowa sources that Contreras is truly locked in, maintaining the improved approach he developed last year, handling both fastballs and breaking stuff well and showing power to all fields.

 

What about defense? Well, that's gotten better, too. He's always shown strong pop times but his actual ability to cut down runners was less than stellar. That's improved a bit this year, with 31% of runners caught, not excellent but playable. His other defensive skills have sharpened up; a former third baseman, he's steadily lowered his error rates. He'll still make some occasional receiving miscues, but all the tools are there and the skills have improved.

 

At age 24, Contreras has nothing left to prove in the minors as a hitter and his glove is not far behind. Triple-A is no challenge for him at this point; he is ready to move up.

 

Bottom line: people who were enthusiastic over the winter were correct and my report from the book was too skeptical. I'd rate Contreras as a Grade B+ at this point and one of the top catching prospects in baseball.

 

 

"one of the top catching prospects in baseball"? i didn't know there was anybody else even in the discussion.

 

lol yeah he didn't want to go all in on admitting he was wrong. Contreras was the best catching prospect in baseball after 2015, and this season he's just run and his from all other contenders for that title.