He may not be the biggest name on the Cubs roster, but David Ross is incredibly important to any success the team could have this year. He’s been called a “manager on the field” and is thought of as an extension of Joe Maddon.
Ross hadn’t talked much about any future as manager, focusing instead on his playing career. But when asked directly about it earlier this month, Ross finally said he would like to one day become a manager.
An informal survey done by Fangraphs’ David Laurila showed Ross to be the current player most-likely to manage. Both former and current teammates, as well as a few current coaches, picked Ross without direction as the player they believe could do the job.
Laurila reached out to Ross and asked the Cubs catcher if he’d be interested in being a manager one day. The answer – a resounding yes.
I love the game — I’m passionate about the game — and I enjoy trying to figure out a way to beat the other team. That’s the aspect that’s the most fun for me. If someday I’m given an opportunity to do that, to manage a team and help them win, hopefully I’ll be good at it.
Ross spoke about nearly every decision a manager has to make, giving a pretty clear idea of what kind of a manager he would be. The catcher talked about everything from pitch counts, to the hit-and-run, to defensive shifts and even bunting.
During his time in the big leagues, Ross has played for some of the best managers in the game. Ross has played for Bobby Cox, Dusty Baker, Jim Tracy, Terry Francona and Joe Maddon, all of which have won at least one Manager of the Year award.
The catcher is headed into the final year of his contract with the Cubs. He has said he plans on retiring at the end of the season.
H/T Bleacher Nation
