David Ross Is The Guy
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I've been all over David Ross as the manager since day 1. Literally:
It's just made way too much sense. This is the opportunity to jump into bed with someone that's been universally regarded as the Next Great Manager going back to 2013 in Boston? Of course Theo pulls the trigger. Slam dunk.
No exaggeration or bullshit - we can all agree that nearly everyone has at some point thought Damn David Ross Is Going To Be A Good Manager. It's the generational charisma. The ruthless competitiveness. The unbiased recognition of world class leadership. For years it's been in front of us, and most of us through most of it distanced ourselves on the sole basis of We Already Have Joe Maddon.
Then as soon as Maddon fell out of favor we started 2nd guessing Ross. People wanted experience now. Toughness. A Proven Winner. Someone Who Could good lord shut the fuck up already. For whatever reason a lot of the public got soft on David Ross and it blows my mind. When did he become a wet bag?
The guy I remember hit a bomb off the best reliever in baseball to win Game 7 of the World Series. The guy I remember changed the culture of the Chicago Cubs. He was the guy Jon Lester - one of the most respected pitchers of my life - specifically trusted more than anyone else. He's the guy Javy Baez, EVERYONE'S favorite player, credits with being the biggest influence in his career. Or something like that. The guy I remember leveraged slightly above average raw power into a 15-year, multi-championship career across seven different organizations in four of six divisions.
The guy I remember is experienced. He's smart. He's familiar with the personnel and decision makers. He's plugged in for the transition going back years when they made him a consultant. Blah blah fucking blah down the line and people are still willing to second guess this move? It's within your right to do so but it's also within your right to be wrong. So knock your fucking socks off I won't stop you.
I'll be over here with common sense, conventional wisdom and a whole lot of optimism that they landed the right guy because HE IS THE RIGHT GUY.
Don't complicate things. Don't think the next manager needs to come in the clubhouse with every answer and piece of advice and a bunch of goddamn magic tricks. That would be a stupid waste of time.
Instead just trust the backup catcher who became famous for being a leader and The Best Guy In Baseball really is exactly that. Otherwise why have we been making such a big deal about him for years?
Answer: because he's the right guy and he's been the right guy all along.
WELCOME HOME YOU HANDSOME SON OF A BITCH
