Cubs News: David Ross is a finalist for NL Manager of the Year

David Ross - Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
David Ross - Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cubs skipper David Ross is up for this year’s NL Manager of the Year Award.

The Chicago Cubs’ David Ross is up for the National League Manager of the Year Award. After starting the season 13-3, he was just ‘ho-hum,’ finishing 34-26, three games in front of the Cincinnati Reds, who were 31-29. In other words, they were hot early, then coasted in a pretty lackluster NL Central.

For his first year on the job, Ross was solid. The Cubs finished eight games over .500 – playing basically dead-even ball the rest of the way – but got swept from the postseason by the upstart Miami Marlins.

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Jayce Tingler of the San Diego Padres and Don Mattingly of the Marlins were the other two. Tingler was effective, managing to a record of 37-23 – six games behind the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Marlins were 31-29, but Mattingly was nothing short of brilliant in his work. For all the players he lost – 18 of told – including Sandy Alcantara, Miguel Rojas, Jose Urena and more, he was scintillating.

In all, he used 61 players, 18 making their big league debuts. For a 31-29 record, it was impressive. Mattingly has my vote for Manager of the Year. Of course, I don’t get one. But if I did? Not to take anything away from Ross and what he accomplished, but Mattingly’s my guy.

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Ross led his team to the fourth-best record in the NL and Chicago was the only club without a positive COVID-19 test among its players. Bravo to Ross. Still, he falls second to Mattingly. He was stellar with his coaching and his management. Two games over doesn’t sound like much. But after losing 18 guys, including some key players, to the coronavirus, the Fish still made an October run.