(670 The Score) In his first public comments since the Cubs shockingly fired him Monday, David Ross took the high road by expressing gratitude for his opportunity to manage in Chicago for four seasons.
Ross made the comments in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat on Thursday, three days after Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer flew to Florida to inform him in person that he was being dismissed. In a move that stunned the entire MLB landscape, the Cubs signed former Brewers manager Craig Counsell to a five-year, $40-million contract to replace Ross in their dugout after Hoyer’s clandestine pursuit of Counsell, whose contract had expired with Milwaukee on Oct. 31.
The Tallahassee Democrat article described Ross as “emotional” in his interview with the newspaper. Ross is a Tallahassee resident.
“I am extremely thankful for the opportunity, to be honest,” Ross told the Tallahassee Democrat.
“There was a lot of people who worked really hard alongside me ... I am really thankful for the four years I got, coming from zero coaching experience to getting the chance to manage such a great organization that has impacted my life in a great way. There's great people there. I really don't have a whole lot negative to say, to be honest.
“I get mad from time to time, but I have a lot to be thankful for.”
Ross, 46, went 262-284 (.480) in four seasons leading the Cubs, who reached the playoffs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Ross isn’t sure what comes next for him.
"I try to trust in my faith and God knowing he's got something else planned for me,” Ross told the Tallahassee Democrat. “That's the way I am looking at."