Before the 2009 season, David Ross agreed to a two-year deal with the Atlanta Braves, knowing that his odds of starting over a three-time all-star were very low. The Braves though needed some experience behind the dish to back up Brian McCann and Ross fit that bill. The Braves inked the seven-year veteran and Ross has been invaluable as McCann has missed time the last two years with eye troubles and various other injuries. Last season Ross appeared in 54 games and hit .273 with seven home runs. This season, Ross has played in 25 games as of Friday night and while he has not left the yard yet, his RBI total has nearly surpassed last year's mark and his average is around .300 (.293) with a .414 on-base percentage, more than suitable enough numbers for a back-up catcher.
" I know I have an all-star ahead of me so it makes my job a little bit easier in that I play once every couple of days and I (can) go all-out those days. I don’t have to pace myself," said Ross recently before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. McCann started that night and drove in a run while Ross watched from the bench. Ross had played the day before and rarely goes more than two games without at least a pinch hit appearance. "Bobby uses me really well in situations where he feels like I can succeed, and I appreciate that."
With McCann ahead of Ross, the 33-year-old former Red, Pirate, Red Sox, Dodger and Padre knows that he must contribute in other ways besides providing power like he did earlier in his career. Ross knows how to work a pitching staff and has done an outstanding job of catching this staff. Ross reveals that the way to build a rapport in though simply talking, a lot. "In spring training we do a lot of communication and I think that's really (it)." Ross credits the veteran pitchers as well as pitching coach Roger McDowell for helping him improve out on the field and call the great game that he does. "His (McDowell) communication skills with the player, the pitchers and catchers are some of the best I've ever been around."
But Ross also has in his corner the ability to not have to worry about tomorrow. Ross will get a spot start, usually on a day game or the last game of a series so that McCann can get some extra rest and be ready for the next big series. " I know come tomorrow he’s gonna be in there. And if he’s down for a couple of days, I can go in there and go hard, and if it is a week, two weeks, whatever it is I know I’m going to get some rest and be able to recover. It is nice and he is really good and we need him to be fresh."
Ross will be a free agent at season's end and the team has local product and former University of Georgia standout Clint Sammons at Class AAA Gwinnett who has a bit of major league experience. Will Ross move on at the end of the year and away from the shadow of Brian McCann? Possibly not says the "really comfortable" Ross. "After last year, coming in the coaching staff and players treated me with a lot of respect and I feel really comfortable, and the result of that comfort zone was a good year last year and I’m trying to help with that and to help win."
Ross seems to thrive in the Braves clubhouse and appears at ease with the fans during batting practice. Recently before a game against the Kansas City Royals, Ross signed about 25 autographs in the sweltering sun following his trip to the batting cage. And after only two career trips to the postseason, the Braves are in first place and playing well enough to earn Ross his third trip into October. "The end result, when you get to be 33 like I am and you know that you only have a couple, three or four years left is you want to win. That’s what we have here is a good group of guys and a chance to win and I'm enjoying myself." If Ross can keep excelling in his spot starts for the All-Star McCann perhaps Ross might get a few meaningful at-bats in the postseason.
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