Willson Contreras sends message to Cubs fans: 'They know that I love them'

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Rahimi & Grote Show 14 min 3 speakers 5 chapters transcribed 2 months ago

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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

Marshall Harris 0:01

I'm not a fan of any team.

Unknown 0:04

I'm just a fan of being right. He's got four swings left. He needs three homers to tie. This is tight. It is absolutely coming down to the wire here, folks.

Vinny Rotino 0:24

That was courtesy of Netflix. And man, if there is one thing Philadelphia sports fans know how to do, it is mass organize. You heard the coordinated booze over on Wilson Contreras and then cheering whenever he missed during the home run derby. This is Rahimi Harrison-Grody on 104.3 The Score. And there was a great moment in that home run derby when Wilson Contreras went head-to-head with Kyle Schwarber, both part of the 2016 World Series team. The Cubs are getting ready to honor the 2016 team and the 10-year anniversary this weekend. And we're seeing a lovable reunion podcast go live tomorrow night. There's a lot that's happening surrounding that team. So it is safe to say, years removed from it all, you might look at things a little differently.

Vinny Rotino 1:10

And I still am very forlorn that the Cubs did not keep Kyle Schwarber when they had the chance financially. I feel like all roads for me in some sort of way offensively still lead back to him. And in the meantime, there is now a discussion surrounding Wilson Contreras. Megan Montemaro had this quote, which I think you should hear. She posted it yesterday at about 630 last night. After Wilson Contreras embraced the booze and took on a villain role in the home run derby last night, I asked him today if he thought about what it would be like to participate in it again next year at Wrigley Field. And here's the quote. And the most important thing, we were champions. And it makes me wonder, after everything that had been said, after him embracing the villain role, once he went over to the Cardinals, when he got to emulate somebody who was clearly an inspiration for him in Yadier Molina to go to that franchise, where he got the opportunity to be the catcher that he may have wanted to fully be.

What happened during Willson Contreras' home run derby moment that sparked controversy?

Vinny Rotino 2:38

I feel like you're not going to get an apology, but this might be the closest thing we get.

Marshall Harris 2:45

I thought it was an honest and seemingly genuine explanation of how he felt about his time not only in Chicago and how it came to an end, but what's happened since then. And obviously he's in a good place because this man is no longer even catching. He's a full-time first baseman slash, I guess, DH. And he's having his best power season of his career at the age of 34.

3:09

Yeah.

Vinny Rotino 3:09

And again, maybe you'd like to see that slug come back here. But I think at the time, we all knew... It had come to an end, his time in Chicago. It had soured. He had a different manager. He was under David Ross, also a former catcher, versus Joe Maddon, a former teammate of his. And he was frustrated. It was pretty clear, I think, at the time that he was hurt. I know, Ray, you and I were talking about it a bit in our pre-show meeting. The impression was the relationship had run its course. And it did seem terse on both sides. How many times on the midday show were we examining something that either Wilson Contreras said or reportedly said or did in the season where it was his last one with the team?

Mark Grody 3:51

Yeah, no doubt. I mean, there was a little period there where Wilson Contreras was a little bit of a villain. And for me personally, you know, every Cubs fan could feel the way they feel, but me as a Cubs fan, I never could look at Wilson Contreras in that way because I just have that sweet spot in my heart for him, for him being a part of that World Series core.

Vinny Rotino 4:11

Because I remember when he got called up, I was like, oh, crap. Except I didn't say that. I was like, here we go. They are serious about this thing. That was one of those solidifying moments, similar with Schwarber, where they were like, okay, all those prospects, bring them up. Let's go. And it really was one of the defining factors and moments in that journey as to how they ended up ultimately winning the World Series.