Carrying three catchers comes in handy again for Cubs

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This is the benefit of having three catchers on the roster.

In the eighth inning of Thursday's game against the Mets, David Ross stepped out of the batter's box during his at-bat, grabbing at his side. He eventually bunted - with two strikes - and came out of the game.

Miguel Montero had pinch-hit earlier in the eighth inning and replaced Ross in the game (after Ross had come in to replace starting catcher Welington Castillo in the fifth inning).

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At first, it looked as if Ross had suffered a dreaded oblique injury, which have been known to shut down hitters for more than a month.

The Cubs initially called it "abdominal tightness" but Ross said Friday morning he felt fine and didn't expect a stint on the disabled list.

"I don't know exactly what it was. Maybe it released some scar tissue or something. I'm 38, there's no telling what this body's been through," he joked.

"It was just a little tweak and [Cubs manager Joe Maddon] wanted me to bunt, just to make sure I didn't do anything crazy. And then with Miggy having pinch-hit and us out of catchers, Miggy had to go in and catch.

"It was just precautionary and hopefully everything is good. I feel fine this morning."

Ross was insistent it was not an oblique injury, saying the feeling was different.

"It felt a little funny, but I took a couple practice swings and it didn't grab," Ross said. "I pulled an oblique once before in Double-A and know what that feels like. It didn't feel like that.

"It just felt like a little sharp twinge and tightened up just a little bit and then kinda released. I came in, saw the trainer and he felt where it was tight and released it. I think I'm OK."

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As for the bunt with two strikes (which rolled foul for a strikeout), Ross laughed it off, saying Maddon was "pretty adament" about the veteran catcher not swinging and risking further injury.

"Whenever that happens, you always think badly immediately," Maddon said. "So I went out there and he didn't think it was that bad when I talked to him. I said, 'You know, regardless, why don't you put down a bunt for a base hit here?' He's actually good at it, even though there were two strikes.

"I did not want him to swing and then unnecessarily do something bad. We made the adjustment because again, there are so many little things moving right there. Montero had just hit. If that had happened back in the dugout and he said soemthing after you had already taken Montero out of the game, [that would have been bad]. That's the beauty of having three catchers."

With the Pirates starting left-hander Jeff Locke on the mound Friday, the right-handed-hitting Castillo got another start behind the dish.

The hope is Ross will be set to regain his usual role as Jon Lester's personal catcher Saturday against Pittsburgh.

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In his first year with the Cubs, Ross is hitting only .192, but he has worked seven walks and clubbed four doubles to boast a .364 on-base percentage and .346 slugging. He's also served as a strong veteran voice in a young clubhouse.

The three-catcher experiment has worked for Maddon and the team so far this season. Cubs catchers have combined for an .853 OPS, tops in the National League and third in baseball.

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