Bernfield: Ross true leader for Chicago Cubs
As the Chicago Cubs near the most defining games of the season, they should lean on their veterans to guide them to the finish line. Among those players with the benefit of playoff experience, there is nobody better to lead them as the primary catcher than David "Grandpa" Ross.
His invaluable leadership skills, defensive prowess and ability to handle the pitching staff make him the right choice to guide the Cubs to their first World Series championship in 108 years.
While rookie Willson Contreras is full of potential and Miguel Montero has veteran experience and a good rapport with Jake Arrieta, Ross was the backstop who guided the Red Sox to the 2013 World Series title. He understands the pressures that come with high-stakes playoff games better than his catching counterparts.
All three figure to make Joe Maddon's 25-man roster for the National League division series regardless of which team the Cubs end up playing, but Ross is the right choice to start at catcher.
He handles the pitching staff better than Contreras because he has worked with it longer.
Ross guided the staff to a 2.32 ERA when he's catching - the best mark in baseball, though he doesn't have enough innings to officially qualify.
Contreras, by comparison, has a 3.87 catcher's ERA in 52 games, while Montero's is 3.10 in 69 games. Working primarily with Jon Lester, a pitcher who struggles to hold runners with issues throwing to first base, Ross also leads baseball with five pickoffs from behind the plate.
Though Contreras has thrown out a higher percentage of runners attempting to steal, Ross caught 29 percent of would-be basestealers, which would rank 12th in baseball if Ross had the innings to qualify.
He's certainly better than average, even while catching Lester more than any other Cubs pitcher.
Montero has struggled to stop the running game. He has thrown out just seven of 65 basestealers, a woeful 10.8 percent.
Ross is a much better offensive player than last year. Baseball Reference marks his WAR at 1.9 this year, compared to -0.1 last season. His batting average is up 54 points, on-base percentage improved by 71 points, and he has hit 10 home runs compared to 1 last season.
Maybe most important, "Grandpa" is the glue that keeps the Cubs' clubhouse together. His infectious attitude on a daily basis keeps his teammates loose and helps them silence outside influences to keep them focused on the ultimate goal.
"He brings the energy in the clubhouse. He brings the energy in the dugout," Lester told me Saturday morning on "Inside The Clubhouse" on WSCR-AM. "He makes sure that when we do screw up, whether you're an old guy or a young guy or in between, he knows how to communicate that with you in a positive light, to make you feel like you just got better, as opposed to screwing up."
And that's just the mindset the Cubs need to win 11 games in October.
• Jordan Bernfield is an anchor and co-host of "Inside The Clubhouse" on WSCR 670-AM The Score. He also works as a play-by-play broadcaster for ESPN. Follow him on Twitter@JordanBernfield.