CINCINNATI — Chicago Cubs manager David Ross treated each game the previous three seasons the same way.
He returned to Chicago in October 2019 to win another championship for the franchise and wanted to take on the challenges that come with those expectations. Even when mired in back-to-back losing seasons, Ross brought this mentality into the dugout each game — reflected at times in his surly postgame demeanor when the Cubs were on the losing end.
After two rebuilding seasons, the Cubs’ offseason investments and improved roster now align their talent level with the external perception that this group should produce a winning season.
And by extension, this puts Ross’ in-game decisions under scrutiny. Even five games into the season.
“I’m not perfect, I’m not going to be perfect, I’ll definitely make mistakes,” Ross said before Tuesday’s 12-5 victory against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. “I also know part of sitting in this seat, part of this job, is getting scrutinized.”
The seventh inning of Monday’s 7-6 loss to the Reds highlighted the second-guessing that will become more frequent with the importance of each game in contending for the division and postseason.
Ross opted to have Patrick Wisdom, with a bruised wrist, attempt a sacrifice bunt with runners on first and second and left the call on once Wisdom got ahead 3-1 only to pop out to the pitcher. Then he chose to use both reserve catchers, Luis Torrens and Yan Gomes, to pinch hit with two outs over contact hitter Nick Madrigal.
And that’s just one inning of examples. Whether Ross gives a starter too much rope (Drew Smyly on Monday) or perhaps pulls his veteran early (Jameson Taillon on Sunday), moments pop up in every game that can sway a win or loss.
Ross understands. He does reflect, too, after games. He replays scenarios and consults his coaching staff and the front office about the thought process behind his decisions and what, if anything, they would have done differently.
“I’ve always thought expectations are a great thing,” Ross said. “The expectation to win is good. That means we have a good team. I believe we have a good team.
“I also know that in my job I can’t worry about what everyone else thinks. I’ve got to trust the people around me. I’ve got a very good support staff here. ... So I want to continue to take it day by day and game by game to do the best I can. But I’ve never expected not to win, I promise you that.”
The self-evaluation process requires removing the outcome from the process. If the process leading to the decision is sound, what happened shouldn’t influence whether the right or wrong decision was made. (”Outcome bias,” as former Cubs manager Joe Maddon liked to say, Ross noted.)
Ross knows that can be difficult to separate externally, that ultimately the result is what fans care about when a decision or move doesn’t work out.
“We can second-guess and Monday morning quarterback it all, but that’s my job to make those decisions,” Ross said. “When it works out, it’s great. When it doesn’t, it’s my fault. So that’s part of the seat.
“It’s just trying to be consistent with what I do. ... If we’re in a conversation and five people around me tell me they would have done something differently, then I’d try to look in a mirror and, like, where did I miss? How did I miss? It’s the only way we get better.”
Ross gets that part of his job description involves publicly explaining his in-game choices. He tries to balance offering insight into the whys of his thought process while not giving away all of his in-game strategies.
The focus on Ross’ decisions during the first of week of the season won’t compare to the microscope that awaits if the Cubs are fighting for a playoff spot in August and September. After the last two losing seasons, Ross and the Cubs would take that.
