Report: Cubs set to tab Ross
The Cubs are set to make ESPN analyst David Ross their next manager, according to an ESPN report.
Ross will replace Joe Maddon, for whom the new manager played under in 2015 and in 2016, where he hit a home run in Game 7 of the Cubs' World Series triumph.
Former Yankee manager Joe Girardi was also up to be Chicago's next skipper, but he is now believed to be the Phillies' top candidate, according to NBC reports. Other candidates for the Cubs' role include former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler, and Astros' bench coach Joe Espada.
According to ESPN, part of the interview process included a mock press conference, which Ross apparently aced. ADRIAN COVERT
ASTROS GM PROBE CONTINUES
Major League Baseball will speak with the Astros to determine whether the commissioner's office or the club will handle any decision following an investigation into the conduct of Houston assistant general manager Brandon Taubman.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said before World Series Game 2 on Wednesday that MLB investigators were at work in their probe.
“I think that there will be a conversation with the club at the end of the investigation and as is often the case, we'll make a decision working with the club as to who should handle it, as opposed to exactly what the outcome is,” Manfred said. ”At the end of the day, he is an Astros employee.”
Taubman has apologized for using language that was “unprofessional and inappropriate” in the Houston clubhouse following the Astros' pennantwinning victory over the Yankees last weekend. Sports Illustrated reported he repeatedly yelled toward a group of female reporters about closer Roberto Osuna, who was suspended for 75 games last year for violating MLB's domestic violence policy before he was traded from Toronto to the Astros.
Taubman shouted ”Thank God we got Osuna!” according to SI, which said he made similar remarks several times, punctuating them with a profanity.
UMP TWEET INVESTIGATION
Manfred says Major League Baseball will look into a politicized tweet by umpire Rob Drake that referenced a rifle and criticism of President Donald Trump.
Drake posted this message to Twitter on Tuesday: “I will be buying an AR-15 tomorrow, because if you impeach MY PRESIDENT this way, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CIVAL WAR!!! (hash)MAGA2020”
The tweet has since been deleted.
Drake, 50, has worked spring training or regularseason major-league games since 1999 and joined the big league staff in 2010. Drake was not assigned to work the postseason this year.
BREGMAN STRUGGLES
The chants of “M-V-P!, M-V-P!” still break out from the crowd each time Alex Bregman comes to the plate at home for the Houston Astros.
After Bregman struck out three times while going 0 for 4 with a walk in Game 1 of the World Series, including two strikeouts with runners on base in a 5-4 loss to Washington, the third baseman was 3 for 22 (.136) with one RBI since the start of the ALCS.
“It's rare to see him kind of mentally frustrated, but yet if anyone is equipped to figure it out, it's Alex Bregman,” manager AJ Hinch said Wednesday.
Bregman has continued to get on base, with seven walks in six ALCS games against the Yankees, but he had only one extrabase hit in that span.
SANCHEZ IN GAME 3
Right-hander Anibal Sanchez will start Game 3 on Friday night when the Nationals play their first World Series home game.
Washington manager Dave Martinez isn't saying yet if Patrick Corbin, who was 14-7 in the regular season, will be the Game 4 starter on Saturday night. Corbin threw a scoreless inning in Game 1, his fourth relief appearance this postseason.
Zack Greinke is Houston's starter for Game 3.