Chicago Cubs: David Ross, meet Yogi Berra

Once, Yogi Berra was named to manage his friends. For Yogi it was win the pennant, then lose your job the sneaky way. For Chicago Cubs manager Ross, beware.

Among numerous moments not to forget from the 2016 World Series was David Ross, the veteran catcher whose playing career would end with a Chicago Cubs World Series ring on his finger, doing his level best to settle the jitters of his buddy Anthony Rizzo.

The only way Ross could have topped that was doing exactly what he did in a little earlier Game Seven—atone for a horrific throwing error one half-inning earlier by leading off the next with his last major league hit, off spent Cleveland Indians relief star Andrew Miller, hitting a 2-2 pitch into the left-center field bleachers.

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That is, unless you predicted then that the respected journeyman would become the Cubs’ manager after the Joe Maddon era ended with a whimper last season. If you did predict it, you should send your crystal ball to the Hall of Fame.

“How can I top this?” Ross asked when he was found reposing with his family after that surrealistic Cubs triumph. Then, he answered his own question: “If I come back, it’ll be to get my ring and maybe yell at Rizzo from the seats.”

Now Grandpa Rossy gets to yell at Rizzo and any other Cub if and when needed from the dugout or in the clubhouse or around the Chicago Cubs spring training complex. And he gets to try walking a very fine line that isn’t walked easily by the rare breed of major league managers who were their players’ friend just a short time earlier.