From Tallahassee to Wrigley Field: A trip inside David Ross' Cubs command center
Balancing work and family during the Major League Baseball season can be difficult.
Spring training opens in February and the postseason ends in November. It's not unusual for coaches to show up eight hours before night games and players to arrive five hours before the first pitch. Players can spend up to 140 days a year on the road and those with families at times must go to considerable extremes to see loved ones.
"Family and work balance is always something that pulls at me, so having everyone in town at once was cool," Chicago Cubs manager and Tallahassee resident David Ross said. "Having your loved ones around always keeps things in a good perspective and that's very important to me."
The Democrat traveled to Chicago July 13-17 to visit Ross, 46, the former catcher who played 15 years in the big leagues, won a pair of World Series titles (Boston Red Sox 2013 and Cubs 2016) and is in his fourth season as the Cubs' manager.
The former Florida High standout has enjoyed a whirlwind journey since his playing days ended seven years ago. He appeared on the reality television show 'Dancing With The Stars,' penned his autobiography with local author Don Yaeger and helped provide baseball coverage on ESPN prior to being hired by the Cubs to replace Joe Maddon.
The Democrat's journey to the Windy City mixed personal travel with business, enjoying time with Ross, his family, including his three children and parents David and Jackie of Tallahassee, and friends. It was a five-day sprint of baseball, BBQ, country music, tours and Ubers between downtown Chicago, Wrigley Field and the United Center.
It couldn't have gone any better.
A city of 2.7 million people and spread along the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan, downtown Chicago was impressively clean. Folks were friendly. The beach and boardwalk along the lake bustled with action. The temperature was splendid, in the 80s with no humidity.
Ubers drove our group, usually in heavy traffic, from A to B daily. Even driver Darrell was a good sport when four men (two taller than 6-foo-5) squeezed into his Toyota Camry, while their wives relaxed in a premium Yukon SUV, for the 30-minute drive to Wrigley Field.
The Cubs, meanwhile, are still trying to figure it out as they climb from their rebuild under the competitive Ross, who is signed through 2024 with an option in 2025. Ross, when hired, said he didn't come back for the uniform or money. He wanted to make history and raise another World Series banner on Chicago's North Side.
The Cubs have hovered around .500 most of this season in the National League Central. It's not clear if they will be buyers or sellers at the Aug. 1 trade deadline. According to media reports, President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer has said the Cubs' decisions will be based on where the team sits in the standings.
July is winding down and only the Central division-leading Milwaukee Brewers are more than 10 games above .500.
Cubs manager David Ross gives family, friends tour of Wrigley Field
Visiting Wrigley Field was a bucket-list item.
The iconic, neighborhood stadium, built in 1914 and renovated within the past 10 years, didn't disappoint. The Cubs split the two sold-out games the group attended against the Boston Red Sox. Cubs fans are known as some of the most loyal fans in the world. With good reason. The organization had not won a World Series since 1908 prior to the 2016 title.
Hearing 'Go Cubs Go' - a tradition after home victories as the song is played through the public address system and faithful fans sing along - was a feel-good moment. Ross, who performed the song on Saturday Night Live with teammates Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler and comedian Bill Murray after the Cubs won the World Series, said the song always brightens his mood.
Attending a private get-together hosted by former Cubs pitcher Rick Sutcliffe atop Murphy's Bleachers across from Wrigley Field − at the corner of Waveland and Sheffield avenues − following one of the afternoon games was entertaining. Sutcliffe, 67, an analyst for the Marquee Sports Network (broadcasts Cubs games), is friendly, engaging and a wonderful storyteller. (He also threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game). Sutcliffe said he felt like a "Beatle for a day" when he helped the Cubs win the division championship in 1984.
One of the best moments, however, was the tour of the Cubs' stunning 30,000-square-foot clubhouse and facilities. It was directed by the gracious but focused Ross prior to one of the games. (The team's previous clubhouse/facilities was one-third of the size). The new area also features a strength and conditioning center, training areas, cafeteria, offices, a players' lounge and media center.
Ross' office is modest is size, but it does feature the first 3X5 W flag to hang over Wrigley Field after the Cubs won the 2016 World Series. A tradition since the late 1930s after games, scoreboard operators raise a 'W' flag for Cubs wins and an 'L' flag for losses. Framed and adorned on the wall, Ross said team chairman Tom Ricketts gave it to him for the office.
"The W flag is most the meaningful (item in office)," said Ross, who lives nearby and often rides his bicycle to work. "It represents what it's all about and what to focus on every day in everything we do."
What's the coolest item in his office?
"I have a big mask from Anthony Rizzo's (former Cubs teammate and current New York Yankees first baseman) bachelor party that his Dad wore the whole time on the trip," Ross said. "That is special. There are a lot of great memories in my office. Some cool gifts and notes from teammates and friends."
Emerging from the home dugout along the third-base line, the 30-mimute tour ended with a stroll down the left-field line, photographs in front of the Ivy covered outfield wall and a view of the manual scoreboard above the center-field bleachers.
The unique rooftop seating across the street from Wrigley also provides fans a view of the action inside the ballpark on game days. Die-hard fans won't forget 30 years ago, when Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning sneaked out of Wrigley during a game and visited, still in uniform, a rooftop from where he waved to his teammates and television cameras.
Cubs manager David Ross embraces the chance to spend time with family and friends
The four-day, outdoor Windy City Smokeout at the United Center was BBQ, beer and country music heaven to the more than 80,000 fans who attended. The festival celebrated its 10th anniversary and filled the center's parking lot with 20 handcrafted beers, 21 country music artists, and 27 BBQ Pitmasters nationwide.
One Pitmasters group included Chicago restaurant/sports bar owner Danny Beck and cooked over 1,000 pounds of brisket and 400 pounds of sausage. It was neat to learn many, such as Leslie Roark Scott of Mississippi, also travel the nation and cook in competitions and festivals. Another crew member known as "Coach" teaches at-risk students in Texas, is a high school golf coach and sells custom-made cowboy boots.
These folks are celebrities because of their BBQ skills and affability.
The country music acts featured established stars such as Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Zach Bryan and the Zac Brown Band.
Ross balanced work with family in rhythm with the music.
Ross attended the festival three of the four days after the Cubs' games. He watched the musical acts from a large, elevated VIP section near the stage that was also available to the public. While Ross focused on enjoying time with his children, family and friends that included childhood buddy Troy Greene, who visited from Atlanta with his family, Ross also engaged with fans and posed for photographs.
One gentleman, formerly of Chicago who resides in Fort Myers, and his wife have watched games in all 30 MLB cities. Another thanked Ross for helping the Cubs win their first World Series title in 108 years. And one young woman waited nearly three hours before she mustered the courage to ask Ross for a photograph.
"Fans our the backbone of our game and Cubs fans have treated me so well for so many years," Ross said. "It's nice to interact with them and hear their stories and how hard they are pulling for the team. I am very lucky to have played and be the manager for such a fan base.
"They have given me so much."
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: A Chicago Cubs tour: As provided by manager David Ross of Tallahassee
