MLB notebook: Cubs reportedly set to hire Ross as manager

[October 24, 2019]  The Chicago Cubs will name David Ross as manager, succeeding Joe Maddon, according to multiple reports Wednesday morning.

ESPN reported the Cubs will make the official announcement Thursday.

Ross, 42, has no managerial experience at any level. A catcher, he played with seven teams over 15 seasons, including the Cubs. He was part of Chicago's 2016 World Series-winning team, and he also won a title with the Boston Red Sox in 2013.

Ross retired following the 2016 season and served as a Cubs special assistant to baseball operations and an ESPN analyst.

--Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers were selected as winners of the Hank Aaron Award, which goes to the top offensive player in each league.

Yelich won the National League honor for the second straight season and is in position to repeat as NL MVP. Trout won the American League honor for the second time -- 2014 was the first -- and is one of the favorites to win his third AL MVP award.

Trout hit a career-best 45 homers, led the majors with a .438 on-base percentage and led the AL with a .645 slugging percentage. He batted .291 with 104 RBIs in 134 games. Yelich led the NL with a .329 batting average and .429 on-base percentage and led the majors with a .671 slugging percentage. He set career-highs of 44 homers and 30 steals and also drove in 97 runs in 130 games.

--The Pittsburgh Pirates parted ways with team president Frank Coonelly and will name his successor early next week, the club announced.

The decision to move on from Connelly comes a few weeks after the Pirates fired manager Clint Hurdle after nine seasons. The team also announced earlier this month that pitching coach Ray Searage and bench coach Tom Prince would not return next season.

Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross (3) talks during the World Series victory rally in Grant Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

Coonelly, 59, has been with the Pirates since 2007. Prior to joining Pittsburgh, he served as the senior vice president and general counsel of labor in the MLB commissioner's office.

--George Springer's failure to immediately run out a long drive in Game 1 of the World Series didn't sit well with AJ Hinch, though the Houston Astros manager is backing his team's potent slugger.

Springer ended up with a double on an eighth-inning play on Tuesday but may have able to reach third if he had run from the outset. The lack of hustle was magnified when Jose Altuve followed with a fly to right -- a play in which Springer could have tried to score from third -- with the Astros trailing by one in the eventual 5-4 defeat.

Hinch and Springer discussed the play twice. Springer called the manager late Tuesday night when he was surprised at the public backlash and the two met face-to-face on Wednesday. Hinch said prior to Wednesday's Game 2 that it was "a mediocre baserunning play" as opposed to "an egregious showmanship kind of pimp job, as they call it."

--Field Level Media

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