David Ross could do no right. The Cubs were in a vexing backslide, floundering through a 14-29 stretch from April 22 to June 8, and Defendant No. 1 was their fourth-year manager — once a beloved member of a World Series championship team, but now the focus of fans’ frustration and ire.
Having Patrick Wisdom bunt with two on and nobody out in the seventh inning with the Cubs trailing the Reds by one run? Letting Michael Fulmer pitch to the Dodgers’ David Peralta with men on second and third and two outs in the ninth, and the Cubs desperately clinging to a 1-0 lead? Ordering Eric Hosmer — with three sacrifice bunts in a 13-year career — to lay one down with two on and no outs in the ninth and the Cubs trailing the Nationals 2-1?
