April 15--Last year, it was the helmet rub.
This season, many of the Chicago Cubs' players are making a "point" of staying in the moment.
Catcher David Ross confirmed Thursday that many players who reach base safely are pointing to the ground with both hands to indicate they're not looking too far ahead or too far in the past.
"It's just the guys talking about, 'we're here,'" Ross said. "Make sure you're in the present. Don't be in the past. Don't be in the future."
"It's just the mental skills part of things. It's one of those things that will evolve and change over the year. That's it."
Ross confirmed that motto is one of the teachings of Dr. Ken Ravizza, a renowned psychologist whom manager Joe Maddon brought from the Tampa Bay Rays and has worked with several college and professional teams.
"Good teams stay in the present and what's going on right now," Ross continued. "They stay focused on the day, the at-bat, the pitch.
"For people who don't play, that sounds crazy. It's kind of semi making fun of it. "We're here. We got it. We're locked in.'
"It's positive vibes from Ken."
Last season, after a Cubs player got a hit, he would look to the dugout and then rub his batting helmet with both hands.
Former Cub Jonathan Herrera, the apparent trendsetter, claims he was inspired by Starlin Castro, who once rubbed his head vigorously when something funny happened.
A short while later when Herrera got on base, he did it -- and then everybody did it.
Herrera and Castro are now gone, so a new on-base tradition has started.
