He still has no COVID-19 symptoms, Ross says
Chicago Cubs manager David Ross sent a message Saturday to acting manager Andy Green to relay to reporters about his COVID-19 absence.
“He wanted you guys to know the only symptom he has right now he can’t overcome is late-night snacking,” Green said.
Ross missed his second game after testing positive for COVID19. Cubs President Jed Hoyer also tested positive. Both have been vaccinated.
Green said there have been no positive tests among players since Ross and Hoyer’s test results were revealed Friday. Hoyer has been unavailable for comment but was said to be asymptomatic.
The Cubs are one of a handful of teams that have not reached the 85% threshold of tier-one employees to relax COVID-19 protocols and are not close to reaching that level, a source said.
As for Ross’ quarantine, Green said the manager was “bored out of his mind” only one day in.
But Ross couldn’t have been too bored Saturday if he watched the Cubs scored three runs in the ninth inning of a 7-6 walk-off win against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Frank Schwindel barely avoided a tag on a headfirst slide into first as Andrew Romine scored the winning run. The Cubs won their fifth straight and celebrated like they had won the World Series. Then after the call was confirmed after a replay challenge, they did it all over again.
“He’s fun to watch isn’t he?” Green said of Schwindel. “What a blast. You don’t see a lot of first baseman into first baseman and avoiding the tag. He was fired up and confident he hadn’t been tagged.”
Schwindel, the National League Rookie of the Month for August, has all but sealed the starting spot on the 2022 roster and become a cult hero since replacing fan favorite Anthony Rizzo.
“It was a tough spot coming in here with those guys being so loved,” Schwindel said. “It had to be tough for fans losing their favorite players, and really a bunch of guys they haven’t really heard of (coming in) to help fill out (the roster). It’s been funny. ‘Frank the Tank’ has been there. ‘Schwindy City’ has been cool. But that was as cool of an experience as I’ve ever had.”
Kyle Hendricks, who allowed six runs in 4 ⅓ innings in another poor outing, said he could see the Cubs sticking with some of the young players who’ve gained confidence in themselves the last month.
“I definitely could see it, at least with them,” he said. “They’ve earned the spots, earned the jobs. That’s not my decision. I have a lot to focus on myself, trying to get better here at the end of the season, take it into the offseason and be the guy this team needs me to be, being ready for next year.”
Before Saturday’s game the Cubs announced catcher Willson Contreras was activated from the injured list after rehabbing at Triple-A Iowa. Rookie starter Keegan Thompson was placed on the 10-day IL with right shoulder soreness, putting the rest of his season in jeopardy.
Green said Thompson’s injury was not in the “too serious category,” and the Cubs hope he returns before the end of the season. But with the season ending soon, the Cubs could be extra cautious and shut him down. Green didn’t know how Thompson incurred the injury, deferring to Hottovy, who was unavailable for comment.
Green said Ross is sending the lineups and has been in communication with him and Hottovy.
“It’s 100% his club,” Green said. “Outside of anything that happens within the game, if you don’t like the lineups, you still have to crucify him. But then if you don’t like the game decisions, if I’m still in there you can still blame me for those.”
Most Cubs coaches have been wearing masks in the dugout since Friday, though Green said he doesn’t “anticipate” the mask wearing to go through the final four weeks of the season. One coach, Mike Borzello, was seen in the dugout without a mask.
“Those of us who were close contacts (with Ross), we’re probably going to keep it up a little bit longer than the rest of the staff that didn’t have as much close proximity to Rossy,” Green said. “As long as we get through this period, next three to five days without any positives popping in the clubhouse, then you’ll probably see those masks pop back off.
“As you all have lived through (pandemic) life, we’re going to do everything we can to be cautious. Life is a touch more enjoyable when you’re outside when you’re not wearing a mask.
“We’re going to do what we can to protect ourselves, make as good of decisions as possible, go beyond what MLB regulates and suggests, and what the CDC regulates and suggests. That’s what we’re doing right now.”
The Cubs are 2-0 under Green, who will be acting manager for 10 games until Ross’s return.