Chicago Cubs Manager Ross Gives Honest Admission on Division Race

It's been a tough season for the Chicago Cubs in the early goings. But is it even "early anymore?"

Through 53 games, the Cubs sit five games back from the National League Central lead with a 23-30 record. The only team worse than them is the St. Louis Cardinals who have had one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory for a team with such high expectations.

Luckily for the Cubs, the division is so bad that even seven games under .500 they still have a chance. If they dramatically turn things around.

For Chicago manager David Ross, it's never too early to look at the division race and begin worrying about one's place in the standings.

“No, it’s never too early for anything in my opinion, I think we have to play out the season and continue to get better,” Ross said. “Obviously I follow the division and thankfully we’re still not playing our best baseball and things aren’t out of reach, but you can only say that for so long, right?"

"But I’m always really super hyper focused on us and what we’re not doing right, where other teams are taking advantage of us. You can’t start worrying about the other team stuff until your stuff is dialed in in every little area and we’re definitely not there.”

An honest admission of always keeping one eye on the race and one eye on your own team.

But at some point it won't matter if the Cubs continue to play like they have been over the course of the last month. They have plenty of talent on the team, as displayed on Monday when Marcus Stroman pitched a complete game shutout while allowing just one hit.

Yet, Stroman's name is one that has been swirling in potential trade rumors come July.

Something has to change on the North Side otherwise another sell-off is in the near future.

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