Cameras caught Cubs manager David Ross raising his two middle fingers during Thursday’s game against the Giants. The next day at Oracle Park, he felt the need to explain himself.
“I need the address the double birds, first? Alright,” Ross opened his pregame interview from the visitor’s dugout.
The third-year manager confirmed that the gesture was directed toward the Giants’ dugout and apologized.
“I’m sorry, first of all, for saying kind of my hello to a friend of mine on the other side,” Ross said. “I should definitely know better. I don’t want kids out there giving birds to anybody. It’s not representative of the organization or myself or my family. Poor taste, I apologize.”
Ross declined to identify exactly who he was directing the gesture at. But there are some likely suspects.
Ross was a catcher for 15 years in the bigs, so he surely has plenty of friends around the game. Ross’ 15-year career includes an uncanny list of teammates who have become managers. He played with Alex Cora, Mark Kotsay, Dave Roberts, Phil Nevin, and Kevin Cash. He also crossed paths with former Giants Rich Aurillia, Ryan Vogelsong, Jake Peavy, Kris Bryant and Royce Clayton.
But he wasn’t flipping any of them off on Thursday. The receiving end of his middle fingers had to be present in the Giants’ dugout.
Possible candidates include Ross’ former teammates or players he’s managed.
Ross played with Tommy La Stella in his last two seasons — 2015 and 2016 with the Cubs. He was also teammates with Giants pitching coach Andrew Bailey on the 2013 World Series-winning Red Sox. A less likely candidate: Antoan Richardson, the Giants’ first base coach who was teammates with Ross for nine games on the 2011 Braves.
Joc Pederson, who hit the injured list Friday with a concussion, played for Ross in Chicago during the first half of 2021 before getting traded to Atlanta.
But who was Ross’ friend on the other side? The world may never know.
“It definitely got the person’s attention,” Ross said. “Let’s just leave it at that.”
Update, July 29, 2022, 7:30 p.m. PT:
The world, in fact, will know. Joc Pederson confirmed to The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney that the birds were directed at him.