Grandpa Rossy Has A New Position With The Cubs

There were a lot of happy surprises that popped up during the Cubs' run to the World Series. One of my favorites was the emergence of David Ross.

Ross, or Grandpa Rossy as he was affectionately called by his younger teammates, had one of the better late career surges in recent history. The catcher was originally signed on to be Jon Lester's personal catcher but the veteran quickly became a clubhouse leader and fan favorite.

His superb defense and surprisingly lively bat helped lead the team to a title that made for a wonderful last chapter to his playing career. I personally have never seen a fanbase rally around a new player in town that essentially only played every fifth day. It's a testament to how much he meant to that team.

Now that his playing days are over he has taken a position in the Cubs system as a special assistant. What does that mean? Here's what the Cubs said in a press release today.

In his new role with the organization, Ross will contribute to all elements within the club's baseball operations department, including major league operations, player development, pro scouting and work within the front office. He will also assist in evaluating amateur players leading up to the draft among additional responsibilities and opportunities throughout the year

Catch all that? It basically means that Ross will float around helping whoever needs it and I couldn't be happier.

It is my belief that Ross will be a manager in the big leagues within 5 years and a good one at that. That's just about the time Joe Maddon will probably be retiring. The timing is great.