Willson Contreras, decked out in St. Louis Cardinals crimson, admitted to experiencing nerves Monday inside the visitors dugout at Wrigley Discipline.
These feelings had nothing to do with the Cardinals’ dedication to make him their full-time designated hitter for the foreseeable future in an effort to overhaul the catcher’s behind-the-scenes work with the pitching staff.
Contreras wasn’t optimistic what kind of reception he would get hold of from Chicago Cubs followers on a damp, cool night at Wrigley Discipline in his first recreation once more since signing a five-year, $87.5 million contract with the Cardinals inside the offseason. Contreras, 30, hoped for the simplest, nonetheless the three-time All-Star acknowledged not all followers might be succesful to look earlier his new allegiance no matter serving to the Cubs win a World Collection title in 2016.
“The welcome again might be going to be 50-50: 50% goes to be pleased and 50% goes to boo me, which is appropriate,” Contreras talked about. “I’m not mad concerning the fan base in Chicago as a result of I’m all the time going to be pleased about them. They all the time supported me from Day 1.”
As for whether or not or not he consider to embrace a villainous perform inside the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry now that he has switched sides, Contreras grinned.
“There’s an excellent probability, for positive,” he replied.
Contreras didn’t wait prolonged for the first on-field second in his heel flip. He tipped his helmet in acknowledgement to his former crew when he stepped to the plate for an extended second sooner than his first at-bat to information off the second inning. Some boos blended in with the loud ovation for among the many best offensive catchers in Cubs historic previous.
Two pitches into the at-bat, Contreras took a Marcus Stroman sinker once more up the middle for a single. He gestured to the gang on his choice to first base, waving his arms above his head to egg on the gang for boos. Cubs followers obliged.
Contreras soaked it in and felt he acquired a carry from the gang’s vitality.
“I find it irresistible,” Contreras instructed reporters after the Cardinals’ 3-1 victory. “Whenever you get booed, you’re doing one thing proper. … That was enjoyable and I’m going to maintain doing it.”
The boos turned the soundtrack for the rest of Contreras’ night.
His leadoff single led to the game’s first run. He superior to third on a Brendan Donovan single and scored two batters shortly Dylan Carlson’s single.
Boos drowned out any Cubs followers’ assist of Contreras when he was launched for each of his at-bats the rest of the night. He provided a great deal of options to harass followers.
Within the sixth, Contreras smacked a go-ahead RBI double off the center-field wall. Boos rained down as soon as extra. Ever the showman, Contreras stood at second base and repeated his gesture to followers, smiling on the response.
“Sure, I play with an edge, generally an excessive amount of, which is ok,” Contreras talked about postgame. “I’m getting higher about it and attempting to manage it. Typically I’ve to close it off a bit bit extra so we are able to get again on monitor, nevertheless it’s one thing that’s in my blood and received’t go away.”
He beat out a double-play ball in his remaining at-bat by way of the eighth, allowing the Cardinals to take a 3-1 lead that held up as the last word score. Contreras accomplished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
“Although I’m carrying a special uniform … I’m actually grateful for the fan base,” Contreras talked about. “Having assist from them means rather a lot to me. If there’s something prior to now that acquired in some individuals’s emotions, I actually apologize. I’d by no means say one thing in opposition to the Chicago Cubs or something in opposition to the fan base.”
Contreras’ showmanship supplies some much-needed juice to the rivalry.
“With the Cardinals, I’m going to attempt to do my finest to win the ballgames, and that must be half it, being a bit little bit of a villain — in a great way,” Contreras talked about. “Respecting the opposite crew, respecting the Chicago Cubs, wishing them nothing however the most effective and hopefully they maintain going they usually have a very good system. However a part of my job is to do my finest for my crew now and assist them to win.”
Earlier than the game, supervisor David Ross complimented Contreras’ passion for worthwhile and the best way he has been wired that method since he first stepped foot on the sphere. After watching a fired-up Contreras work together the gang all 3 occasions he reached base Monday, Ross wasn’t desirous about reacting to the spectacle.
“Each crew has a special celebration — that may very well be to his teammates,” Ross talked about. “I don’t know who that’s for, in order that’d be silly to touch upon.”
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