Chicago Cubs: Five reasons the team’s dynasty isn’t over just yet

Chicago Cubs: Grandpa Rossy would look great on these guys shoulders again

Joe Maddon was the best Cubs manager any of us have ever seen. Unfortunately, making the postseason is now a prerequisite for keeping your job in that role given the expectations and resources being funneled into the team.

With the departure of Maddon, who was not tendered a new contract and is now with the Angels, there is the possibility that a new manager can pick up where Maddon left off. A new voice, a fresh start, a new coat of paint. Sometimes those things can have a bigger effect than any of us can imagine, despite seeming to be very minor or superficial changes.

Enter David Ross, he of the “Grandpa Rossy” moniker. While everyone knows who Ross is and what he’s all about, a new voice and younger yet old-school approach could breathe new life into the husk of the 2019 Cubs. Ross will hold guys accountable in a different way than Maddon and navigate the landscape of coaching/managing on the fly with many guys he already knows well. And, if you’re worried about him being too chummy with the team- remember that the team may feature fewer than 10 players from that 2016 World Series team.

Or, enter Joe Espada, he of Houston Astros fame. Espada is one of the hottest names in baseball right now and would bring a different vision, new ideas, as well as break from the “winner’s trap” model that many take exception to. If the Cubs desire cutting all ties from 2016 and starting anew, Espada might be the guy.

Also in play are the experienced Joe Girardi, 2019 Cubs bench coach Mark Loretta, and Cubs first-base coach Will Venable. These options are considered more of a longshot with Ross and Espada in the two pole positions, but no one really knows what direction the front office wants to go with the new skipper.