Will Chicago Cubs Manager David Ross Get Contract Extension?
The Chicago Cubs have taken the league by storm.
Coming into the season, few analysts and media members alike projected the Cubs to be more than a .500 team. The club's first 62 games did little to change the perception that this was a team in the early stages of a rebuild. Chicago entered June 9 with a 26-36 record and looked like a subpar team that would sell at the deadline.
In the three months since, the Cubs have been one of the best teams in baseball, with a 49-28 record. Entering Wednesday, they are three games up on the Cincinnati Reds for the second National League Wild Card and are just two-and-a-half games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central lead. Needless to say, Chicago has greatly exceeded expectations.
The Cubs' stunning turnaround makes David Ross a prime candidate for NL Manager of the Year Award honors. Ross is in his fourth season as manager after he was hired in 2019 to replace Joe Maddon.
In early 2022, Ross received an extension through 2024, with a club option for 2025. As of now, only next season is guaranteed for the manager.
The 2011 film Moneyball highlighted the discomfort for managers running their teams on a one-year contract.
"A one-year contract means the same thing to a manager as it does to a player," the Art Howe character says to Billy Beane midway through the movie. "There's not a lot of faith there."
In most cases, if a front office intends to keep a manager, they will take care of the contract before the start of the year, assuring that they won't be managing to save their job during that season.
So has Ross done enough to earn an extension in the eyes of the Chicago's front office?
It would be difficult to argue otherwise, given the results he has put forth at the helm this season. Ross' team is overachieving, and the Cubs seem to have great cohesiveness and team chemistry, which is reflective of strong leadership. Ross is getting the very best out of his club and they are peaking at the right time. There are few teams that enter the final weeks of the regular season with more momentum than Chicago.
The Cubs are positioned well to make a postseason run and their manager could be in position for a handsome payday.
Check out the latest episode of the Jack Vita Show, where Orestes Destrade discusses the Cubs' incredible turnaround, and the latest baseball news!
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