Since he didn’t get to do the usual Winter Meetings thing, Cubs manager David Ross hit up a Zoom session today.
First, and most notably, is what MLB managers are hearing from the league right now on the plans for next season. Despite the chatter about the league wanting to delay and shrink the season, last Ross heard, the Commissioner has said they still hope for 162:
David Ross said that Rob Manfred told all 30 managers that they hope to start the season on time and play 162
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 16, 2020
To be fair, that’s what everyone would say as we sit here right now, so maybe that’s a nothing. But at least Manfred wasn’t telling managers that they should expect a delayed/shortened season.
Of course, Ross had to be asked about his friend Jon Lester, who is now a free agent, and the possibility of a reunion:
Ross said he's "keeping his fingers crossed" and optimistic Cubs will work something out to bring Jon Lester back for 2021.
Ross has been mostly talking to guys (Lester, Javy, etc.) as a friend this offseason vs. reaching out as a manager.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) December 16, 2020
Ross has expressed optimism before about the sides reuniting, and the Cubs/Lester have said all the right things, too. It’ll be a process this offseason, but we’ll see what happens.
It had to be tough for Ross to think about Kyle Schwarber being non-tendered, given the closeness of their relationship over the years:
Ross said he talked to Schwarber after the Cubs non-tendered him. "Sometimes that smack in the face is a real game-changer for you as a player, and I can speak from experience — it happened to me a lot, and I ended up in some really good positions." https://t.co/hXoObg2hQ9
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) December 16, 2020
This made me chuckle, not so much because of anything Kris-Bryant-related, but because of Boras:
Ross says he does not have any idea what Scott Boras was talking about in regards to Kris Bryant and the Cubs “big plan”
— Crawly’s Cubs Kingdom (@crawlyscubs) December 16, 2020
The Cubs’ plans for Bryant, as far as Ross is concerned, are probably limited to, “If he’s here, he’s the third baseman and a middle-of-the-order hitter, and that’s swell and important. The end.”
Speaking of Bryant, while I loved the idea of him hitting leadoff last year before the pandemic hit and then the season got all mucked up for him, I’m fine with just letting Ian Happ stick in the spot and roll with it, since it worked well for him:
David Ross plans on Ian Happ beginning 2021 as Cubs' leadoff hitter, but comfortable hitting Happ wherever throughout the lineup if there's an acquisition this winter of a more proven leadoff guy.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) December 16, 2020
It’s interesting that Ross was on board with all the rules changes except the expanded postseason (which he was pretty open about not liking last year, especially with it being 16 teams (which is too many)):
Didn’t think he would like the extra inning rule, but he enjoyed it. Says it put excitement and intensity to extra inning games. Likes the strategy involved
— Crawly's Cubs Kingdom (@crawlyscubs) December 16, 2020
So there’s an NL manager on board with all the rules. Just sayin’. Personally, I think they’re all fine.