Can David Ross fix the Chicago Cubs in his first year as manager?

CHICAGO -- An offseason of change for the Chicago Cubs began in earnest earlier this week when the team introduced David Ross to replace Joe Maddon as its manager. The news conference Monday worked to allay the fears of fans on two fronts: Ross' ability to manage his former teammates and his lack of prior coaching experience.

On the first point, Ross made it clear he wasn't always the lovable "Grandpa Rossy" he became known as in the late stages of his career as a player, so there's no reason to believe that's who he will be as a manager.

"If I would have been mic'd up for some of those conversations on the mound, they were rarely friendly conversations," Ross said Monday. "The Grandpa Rossy…