I've observed the Cubs in bits and pieces this year so I haven't really been able to see his work. I'd say the team underachieved given their talent and the quality of the rest of the division. He certainly hasn't maximized the play of his veterans, which seemed to be his most discussed attribute leading into the season. This season presents difficulties for evaluation but the Cubs really should have been positioned to flourish in this environment.

My evaluation of him is that he is perfectly average at manager, no value added or lost.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

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He's much more of a disciplinarian than Maddon was.

He benched Schwarber and Rizzo in the middle of games this season for fucking up.

But you can also argue that managers don't matter with him.

The Cubs offense has gone to sleep again for a 3rd September in a row. They can barely score a run.

Underachieved? MANY Cubs fans, this one included, thought they’d suck and it’d be a rebuilding year. The offense hasn’t been good for years.

Easily the best manager in baseball.

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i have a different take. I think Ross got them to play at the level they should be playing at.

They got tired of Maddon in 18/19 . they underachieved those 2 years. but this year ross got them back to being the team they are is what you see.

plus i think they got a good kick in the pants that every team gets w/ a new manager explaining their good 13-2 start.

I'll always remember.

He seems fine. I didn't expect much from the team this year. The pitching has been surprising.

I think they have the potential to do something in the playoffs. Outside shot.

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You know me like that.

Since their great start, they have been decidedly mediocre, and likely would have struggled to hit 80 wins during a full season. I think the MANY Cubs fans you reference had the right idea on their team.

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they would have easily won 80 games this season.

The wsox would probably barely be sniffing 80 if it was 162.

The season has been messy in so many ways:

a. truncated spring training
b. weird re-boot to the season
c. new rule changes that were telegraphed (3 batter rule)
d. new rule changes that occured on the fly (7 inning double headers)
e. covid complications, travel complications, etc.

It's just been a season that even an experienced manager would have trouble adjusting to. Ross was a first time manager and given all the above he's going to win the NL Central. That's a hell of a job by Ross. Every manager can be criticized for certain things, but it was a great job this year by Ross.

I think he has kept the dug out loose. I am happy with his bullpen handling especially the tricky Kimbrel situation.

I continue to be dismayed that the veteran hitters hit right into the shift at bat after at bat. Baez, Rizzo, and Schwarber need to go the other way and take the easy hits. Otherwise their averages will keep hovering around the .200 mark. They are also letting too many good pitches go by. I see several hitters that cleared just stand their and take strike one out of habit.

I am ok with Ross as manager, and I think we all know the front office is setting the strategy.

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Hawaii (fuck) You

The batters obviously have been using video to help them in between at bats the last few years.

Without that video they are trash.

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There is a whole lot of trash around the league this year from this very thing. Once you rely on a crutch it has to be almost impossible to do it on your own again. Thank god none of them signed extensions. The video is a huge component to this bullshit launch angle/reinventing a 150 yr old game with sabermetrics crap. Always draft and develop hitters, not adult softball home run derby players.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Yep!!!

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Go make a thread about the Sox then.

This

Put Ross on the White Sox and you win the last Indians series

I had em at 34 wins.. I had faith in Ross. He's a good skipper and he'll only get better.

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He has made some odd bullpen moves at times but we never know who is up or down for a night and every manager makes questionable pitching moves. He has had no problem giving poor performers the hook and moving guys down in the order. He will be fine once the shitty core gets dismantled and the new guys arrive.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

You could say the same things about the Sox. Rookies already hit a wall. Your rotation has already been exposed in this short season. The Sox and Cubs benefit with this short season. Cubs are trying to hang on to their hot start and the Sox are trying to keep the wheels moving forward with the gas tank near empty.

His pen also sucks

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its very important for Ross to win the division as a first year manager.

I like his playoff work

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Ross or Rickey. Who do you want in your dugout for the playoffs?

Given the rosters they each have? Ricky 10 times out of 10.

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