Chicago Cubs: David Ross defends Joe Maddon, is noncommittal on future

Chicago Cubs: ‘The grass isn’t always greener’

Now, obviously Ross has a great degree of loyalty to Maddon. That’s a given. But he’s not alone in praising what the quirky skipper has done for the organization. After all, we’re talking about a guy who notched four 90-plus win campaigns, three straight NLCS appearances, two NL Central titles and a World Series championship in his first five years with the Cubs.

"“I go back to people have no idea what Joe Maddon has brought to the team, what he has done, his resume. The grass isn’t always greener. Do I one day have an itch to manage? That has definitely crossed my mind with all the rumors that fly around.”"

Ross isn’t alone on the list of prospective candidates that’s been circulating. Maddon’s current bench coach, Mark Loretta, is an obvious candidate, as well – among others. But for whatever reason, Cubs fans absolutely adore Ross.

Honestly, they associate him with winning – and with good reason, the guy has two rings to his credit. But don’t expect Epstein to just hand Ross the keys without a thorough search – not after how this season played out. For his part, though, the former backup catcher knows it would take a special opportunity to bring him back to the game full-time.

"“Do I want to put my stamp on a team and the things I believe in? Of course. You see things, even as a casual fan, you start to want to kinda do things your way. It’s all about opportunity. I think when you have to give up and sacrifice family time, its gotta be worth it. I don’t do things halfway, I go all-in, so that’s a huge commitment from me. It’s definitely flattering to hear those rumors.”"