May 12--The express lanes aren't open with the same frequency as they were last season against catcher David Ross.
Thanks to a thorough evaluation, Ross has helped shut down opponents' running games more this season.
"I had early opportunities last season, but I just wasn't throwing the ball well," Ross said. "Some of that had to do with the way I was catching Jon (Lester).
Ross said he polished his technique under the supervision of coach Mike Borzello, as well as communicating more with first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
"We're creatures of habit," Ross said. "When a hitter is getting pounded in and all of a sudden backs off, we only know the strike zone from where we usually stand. So now the outside (corner) is going to look farther away.
"It's the same way with baserunning. If you take your normal shuffles when you get a larger lead on Jon, you're going to take your normal secondary (lead), that gives me an opportunity because you're farther off than you're used to. I'm able to take advantage of it."
Ross has thrown out five base stealers in 16 attempts -- 31.2 percent, an improvement over his 23.4 percent last season. Ross also has picked off three baserunners from first base with the help of Rizzo.
Aggressive Grimm: Reliever Justin Grimm did not allow a walk in his first 11 appearances and hopes to regain that aggressiveness after walking three (one intentional) in his last two outings.
"I never thought I was the guy who shied away from hitters," said Grimm, who walked 26 in 492/3 innings last season. "In retrospect, those are more walks than I wanted. But in my mindset, if I'm attacking the zone, my stuff is good enough to get any hitter out in this league, and that's the step I was missing last year.
"Going forward, I still have that same mindset. For me right now, I'm trying to stay on the corners. But at the same time, be aggressive when I need to be."
Catching quandary: Manager Joe Maddon might have a pleasant problem when catcher Miguel Montero returns from the 15-day disabled list.
That's because John Lackey has worked well with Ross as his catcher in his last two starts. Montero is scheduled to return from the 15-day disabled list just before Lackey makes his next scheduled start next week against the Brewers.
"They're definitely on the same page," Maddon said of Lackey and Ross.
Lackey was 3-1 with a 4.97 ERA with Montero behind the plate in his first four starts but has allowed only three runs in 15 innings with Ross catching his last two.
"Rossy is great," Lackey said. "As far as going with a game plan, it's so easy to execute with him. What I'm looking for, he's putting down (signs). He has done his work. It's a pleasure to be out there with him, for sure."
Extra innings: Wednesday's 1-0 loss in the doubleheader's nightcap marked only the second time the Cubs were held without an extra-base hit. The Cubs struck out a season-high 14 times. ... Rizzo's walk in the eighth inning extended his streak of reaching base safely to 24 games -- the longest active streak in the National League. ... The Cubs are 5-5 against the NL West and 20-3 against other opponents.
