David Ross' Mock Spring Training Speech Reportedly Put Him 'Over the Top' for Cubs Managerial Job
By Jerry Trotta
The Chicago Cubs announced on Wednesday that former backup catcher and Wrigley Field favorite David Ross will become their new manager.
Ross was always considered a candidate for the vacancy, but he was up against a plethora of other applicants with coaching experience already under their belts. Astros bench coach Joe Espada, Yankees skipper Joe Girardi, Cubs bench coach Mark Loretta and first-base coach Will Venable and even former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler were all considered for the position.
Where Ross reportedly won over the Cubbies braintrust, however, was an exceptional mock 2020 Spring Training speech that he delivered during his second interview.
Per source - one of the things that put Ross over the top for the job with the Cubs, was his strong delivery of a mock 2020 Spring Training team speech. The club asked Ross and Joe Espada to compose and deliver mock speeches for the staff during their second interviews.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) October 23, 2019
This certainly wasn't the deciding factor that we expected to be publicized in the wake of his hiring, but it doesn't necessarily surprise us, either.
Grandpa Rossy is one of the more animated and exuberant individuals within the baseball landscape, so we can only imagine what kind of impassioned monologue he strung together to sweep Chicago's front office off their collective feet.
Cubs are hiring David Ross for manager
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 23, 2019
We'll probably never know what was uttered by Ross behind closed doors, but given the pedigree of the other aforementioned candidates, it must have been sensational.