With Cards’ confidence, Contreras to return to catcher
BOSTON — Willson Contreras, the prized free-agent to whom St. Louis paid $87.5 million within the offseason to be its catcher for the following 5 years, can be again behind the plate when the Cardinals face the rival Brewers at Busch Stadium on Monday evening.
Manager Oliver Marmol revealed on Saturday morning that the Cards determined Contreras was able to resume regular catching actions after spending a lot of the previous week working to get extra in sync with the fashion of sport plan the group desires to make use of when attacking hitters. Marmol mentioned that Monday’s beginning pitcher, Jack Flaherty, additionally pushed for Contreras to be behind the plate to open the sequence in opposition to the Brewers.
Contreras final began at catcher on May 4 within the Cardinals’ 11-7 loss to the Angels, through which Flaherty surrendered a career-high 10 earned runs and tied a profession excessive with 9 hits allowed. Contreras caught the ninth inning of a 5-4 loss to the Tigers on May 5 when the group pinch-hit for beginning catcher Andrew Knizner and forfeited the designated hitter. St. Louis then introduced on May 6 that Contreras can be used solely in a DH function whereas working with coaches and the pitching employees to raised assimilate to the Cardinals’ fashion of sport plans for catchers.
“We felt really good about the progress that we’ve made, and it lines up really well for him to catch on Monday with Jack on the mound,” Marmol mentioned of the choice for Contreras to return to a catching function. “This is what [Flaherty and Contreras] wanted. They both wanted it, and Willson wanted to be behind the plate on Monday. And we felt really good about lining it up that way with all the progress that we’ve made.”
Contreras, who turned 31 years outdated on Saturday, will probably proceed to serve in a DH function by the weekend. The veteran catcher, who spent the primary seven years of his MLB profession with the Cubs earlier than signing with the Cardinals in December, homered in Friday’s 8-6 win and was within the beginning lineup at DH on Saturday. He entered Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Red Sox hitting .263 with three residence runs, 10 doubles and 18 RBIs.
While working strictly as a DH, Contreras has hung out throughout video games chatting with Marmol, pitching coach Dusty Blake and lots of the pitchers on the employees. That time of bonding will in the end show helpful, Flaherty predicted.
“Since the start of spring, that dude has done nothing but work,” Flaherty mentioned of Contreras. “That’s all he’s done. Him and I talked all spring, and I was actually one of the guys who worked with him while the other guys were at the [World Baseball Classic]. I was able to work with him and talk to him, and I had a lot of starts with him — some good and some bad. And if they were bad, it was on me not executing pitches. It’s been fun watching him work, talking to him on the bench and hanging out with him while he’s been DHing. It’s been really good.”
With Contreras serving because the group’s major catcher early within the season, the Cardinals’ employees principally struggled, posting a 5.27 ERA with Contreras behind the plate. Comparatively, St. Louis pitchers put up a 4.21 ERA with Knizner at catcher. No starter lasted greater than 5 1/3 innings for the reason that catching change was made, together with veteran Adam Wainwright who acquired his second no-decision on Friday after permitting 4 runs and two residence runs over 5 innings pitched.
Two days after Contreras was faraway from the beginning catching function, Marmol organized two conferences with the catcher, a number of members of the teaching employees and Wainwright and Flaherty. Wainwright mentioned earlier this week that he used the session to remind Contreras that he was revered and beloved by his new teammates. Flaherty mentioned on Saturday that the assembly was essential when it comes to serving to Contreras know that nobody was blaming him for the group’s early-season struggles, particularly relating to the troubles the pitching employees has had with longevity and effectiveness.
“What was said a few weeks ago was out of frustration and was more about myself in terms of executing pitches and making pitches, and that’s something I haven’t done,” Flaherty mentioned. “Whoever is behind the plate isn’t going to vary that. I imply, that’s on me to execute.
“With Willson, I love having him back there, and he gives you that confidence with that competitiveness he has,” Flaherty added. “I’m wanting ahead to it. It can be enjoyable, and he and I attacked Milwaukee earlier than, and we’ll include a sport plan to do it once more.”
