The Chicago Cubs are preparing for a three-game set with the Atlanta Braves, but manager David Ross will not be on the bench for the series opener.
Ross has been suspended for his role in the team's decision to throw behind Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff on Tuesday as retaliation for Milwaukee drilling Cubs catcher Willson Contreras on multiple occasions early in the 2021 season. Woodruff hit Contreras earlier in the game.
The Cubs skipper and longtime MLB backstop was taken aback by MLB's suspensions, saying there was little harm in a message pitch thrown behind Woodruff's calf:
“This is a ball that got pulled down around a guy's [Woodruff's] calf,” Ross said, via ESPN's Jesse Rogers. “We're talking about a middle-of-the-order bat, for us, that got hit in the head, hit in the hand and up around his face. Since I've been here we lead the league in getting hit, and it's not even close, and we've never intentionally retaliated.”
Cubs reliever Ryan Tepera, who threw at Woodruff, was suspended three games. Ross and game-planning coach Mike Borzello were each suspended one game.
Chicago does not believe the Brewers were intentionally trying to plunk Contreras. But Milwaukee plunked the Cubs catcher three times–once in the head–as a result of trying to work the ball on the inner third of the plate. Outfielder Jason Heyward told Rogers the Cubs had to “draw the line” at some point in an effort to protect their guy.
Contreras got the last laugh on Tuesday, clubbing a go-ahead, two-run homer that made the difference in the game. It was a rare moment of bliss for a Cubs offense that is off to a historically bad start.
Chicago will try to get the ball rolling against the three-time reigning National League East champions on Friday, though it will do so without Ross on the bench.
Follow Us
Subscribe