In his last game as a Major League Baseball player, David Ross hit a home run in the sixth inning of Game 7 of the World Series, an unforgettable, thrilling contest Ross and his Cubs eventually won, 8-7, in the 10th inning.
Not a bad way to go out, eh?
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Ross has retired as a player, but his schedule never really slowed down after the champagne finally stopped flowing in the Cubs’ clubhouse after the historic victory. He’s been on ABC’s "Dancing With the Stars," he’s appeared on "Saturday Night Live" with his teammates, he’s done work on ESPN’s baseball broadcasts and is a special assistant in the Cubs’ baseball operations department.
Somehow, he found time recently to chat with Sporting News about a handful of topics, as part of promotional work he’s doing for Scott’s Field Refurbishment Program.
Here are a few excerpts from that conversation.
SPORTING NEWS: Your former Cubs teammates won the NL Central title again, and they did it on the home field of the rival Cardinals, in St. Louis. Does it mean more to win there?
ROSS: The rivalry, for me, was one of those things where the Cardinals had always had the Cubs’ number, so to beat them in the ’15 playoffs was a huge step, to win the World Series was another huge step and then clinching in St. Louis, it probably feels good to a lot of those fans who had been there through the years when St. Louis beat up on them pretty good, and knowing the history of those two franchises. But just clinching the division always feels nice. I got to do that a couple times on different teams, and it doesn’t matter where you are, that champagne feels good anywhere in the country.
SN: Obviously, the goal for the Cubs is to win the World Series again. What do you see as the biggest challenge they face?
ROSS: Good question. I think just the starting pitching. This year the starting pitching has been inconsistent compared to last year, and I think the offense has finally found its groove. It’s so deep. The bench is really good. The bullpen’s really good, and they’ve done a good job. I just really think, with Jake Arrieta coming back, Jon Lester having a good outing his last time out, Kyle Hendricks looks good, John Lackey has had a great second half, Jose Quintana was unbelievable his (Sept. 24) start, so if those guys continue trending the way they’re trending and get better, I think World Series has gotta be on the map for these Cubs.
SN: You’ve been on two teams that won the World Series, and a couple that got knocked out along the way in the playoffs. Have you noticed one common theme with the teams that win in October, or are there lots of ways to get to that final goal?
ROSS: There’s definitely not just one formula, but momentum obviously plays a part, and who’s playing the best baseball. You need pitching. Some teams it may be starting pitching and some teams it may be bullpen. We’ve seen the bullpen play a bigger role here lately, and how teams are kind of supplementing a weaker starting rotation and going to that bullpen early.
The one thing I’ll tell you is every detail matters in the playoffs. Every mistake is magnified. Nine times out of 10, the team that plays the cleanest game, without mistakes, is going to be the one that comes out ahead in a series, and in the playoffs in general.
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SN: Tell me about this deal with Scott’s.
ROSS: Being a part of the Scott’s field refurbishment program and being an ambassador for Scott’s and being on the blue-ribbon panel that gets to choose the five fields that are going to get refurbished across the country, it’s a cool thing to be a part of. Now that I’m out of baseball and having a family and kids, where I’m going to little league fields and doing stuff in my own community, I see that need for a nice field. When you’re able to do something like this, I think it touches communities in bigger ways than just the field. I think it brings more people to baseball, builds excitement in the kids who may not have been there before.
They’re doing fences, dirt, grass, mounds, the plate area. I’ve gone to some of these fields and there’s a three-foot hole in the batter’s box. It’s just cool to be a part of that. I love baseball and I love my family and I’m definitely getting up there in years, so family and kids are a lot more important. So being able to team with Scott’s and being able to bring a nice field to different communities is really cool to me.
SN: OK, first of all, we’re about the same age, so I’m going to need you to stop talking about how you’re getting up there in years, if you don’t mind. (yes, I was laughing)
ROSS: (laughing) OK, I won’t. I’ll stay away from that.
SN: Sweet. Thanks. Really, though, it’s been such a whirlwind for you since the last out of that World Series. Have you been able to take it all in as it’s happened?
ROSS: Oh yeah. I think I do a good job with that. I try to. I’ve learned later in life about appreciating the moment, taking a moment. And for what it is, not trying to be corny, I feel like I’m the luckiest man on the planet. So many great things have happened to me on the back end of my career. This last year has been an amazing year, what those guys in that clubhouse did for me and my family, I’m so thankful for. And the opportunities that have come my way, whether it’s TV or being a part of a Hall of Fame front office in some capacity, being a part of Scott’s. I wasn’t a great player as far as stats go, but I was able to be a part of some special moments and with special guys. I really do feel like the luckiest guy on earth.
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SN: Speaking of the special moments, do you sometimes stop and think, “Did I really hit a home run off Andrew Miller, the best relief pitcher in baseball, in Game 7 of the World Series?”
ROSS: That’s pretty special. I’ve had a lot of cool moments, especially in the last year, but that’s definitely a highlight. Going through it, you don’t really feel like it’s a highlight. It felt like I just got one run back after I let two in. It’s one of those things where in the moment it wasn’t as big of a deal, was just focused on winning the game. But now, having been out of the game and adding a bit of perspective, I realize how many people come up to me and talk about that home run and what they were doing, their reaction, their families’ reaction, how awesome it was for them. It’s really put it in perspective, even in a greater capacity for me, being able to interact with fans more.
SN: When you look at the wild-card teams, which one of those four do you think has the best chance to make a run all the way through the playoffs?
ROSS: The Yankees definitely have a chance to win the World Series. They’re loaded, in my opinion. They’ve got starting pitching, and where they are thin in the starting pitching, their bullpen makes up for that. Their offense is pretty potent, and they’re healthy now, clicking on all cylinders. Jacoby Ellsbury is playing at the level he’s capable of again. Aaron Hicks is back. Starlin Castro is back. Didi Gregorius is so under-the-radar. He’s maybe one of the best shortstops in the game. Greg Bird is healthy and hitting homers. The list goes on and on. And we haven’t event talked about the middle of the order, with (Aaron) Judge and (Gary) Sanchez. Brett Gardner, I think, is the catalyst for that whole lineup, setting the tone.
I don’t think a lot of teams are set up to beat Cleveland. It’s hard for me to picture Cleveland losing four games to anybody, but I think a short series with New York would be one of the most exciting series we could have. I think New York has the best chance to beat them.
SN: I was going to ask you about that. Is Cleveland the clear favorite in your mind, or do you see it more bunched at the top?
ROSS: No, no. They’re definitely the favorite. They’re the best team in baseball right now. I think you’re seeing the trend of the World Series hangover being a real thing, and both them and the Cubs getting off to slower starts than expected, and then probably the two best teams in the second half have been the Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. That’s no secret. These guys have really hit their stride in the second half, playing to their World Series form of the year before. I think Cleveland is definitely at the top of the list of the favorites to win it all.
