If you saw him before Sunday’s game and didn’t know better, you’d think David Ross was just another journalist working at Wrigley Field. Wearing a pale blue shirt, a credential around his neck and carrying a notebook, Ross chatted with players on the Cubs and Cardinals and didn’t look much different from the people in the press box, albeit a little taller and more physically imposing than the stereotypical scribe.
But unlike the reporters, Ross once drew thunderous cheers as the beloved veteran on the 2016 champions. His success and reputation as a player set him up to manage the Cubs, which he did for four seasons.
And then unceremoniously, Ross’ tenure in the Cubs dugout ended. He was fired in Nov. 2023 so the Cubs could hire Craig Counsell. Ross hasn’t managed since, and as part of his duties as an analyst for Sunday’s ABC broadcast, he walked in the same areas where he was the boss and a celebrity player not too long ago.
This time, however, he was a visitor calling a game at Wrigley for the first time after the dismissal.
“I like walking into the locker room and seeing the guys that played for me, like Nico [Hoerner],” Ross told the Sun-Times inside the St. Louis locker room. “I don’t feel any awkwardness. I had a lot of good memories in that locker room. It’s a great spot.”
Moving things around
To make room for Edward Cabrera, the Cubs optioned Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa. Moving Assad and his 2.35 ERA since May 5 to Iowa wasn’t a reflection of his performance.
“The decision we made was just to preserve every pitcher we could,” Counsell said. “Certainly, from Javy’s shoes, that doesn’t feel fair, but from a depth perspective this was a way to preserve everybody and keep maximum depth and move forward.”
Assad’s next appearance will be as a starter for Iowa.
Meanwhile, David Peterson is heading to the Cubs’ bullpen. And like Assad, the decision with Peterson probably wasn’t based on stats. Over his last six starts, Peterson had a 2.14 ERA over 33 2/3 innings, but was squeezed out of the rotation by the arrivals of Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes.
First things first
Pedro Ramirez started at first base to give Michael Busch a day off. Busch has started 122 of the Cubs’ 125 games, while Sunday was Ramirez’s inaugural start at first.
Though the Cubs were glad to give Busch a breather, there was more to the decision.
If Busch goes down, the Cubs don’t have much experience at first base. Other than Ramirez, Carson Kelly, James Triantos and Matt Shaw would also be candidates to step in, but none of those options are perfect. Kelly’s only played at first four times, Shaw is still on the injured list and Triantos has never played the position professionally.
“We need to get somebody that’s, at a certain point of the season, is comfortable playing there should a need arise,” Counsell said. “We need to get someone at first base.”
Counsell said he “fully anticipates” Shaw being back from the sprained left hand that’s sidelined him since June 28.