For once in his life, Cody Ross wasn’t smiling.
”
Uh oh,
”
he said.
”
You don’t want to talk about that again, do you?
”
Don’t worry. No questions about rodeo clowns or mutton busting.
If you followed the Giants’ postseason run in October, it was hard
to miss the flurry of articles about little Cody following his dad
to dirt rings all through the Western U.S., painting his face to
look like his heroes in the barrel.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.
For once in his life, Cody Ross wasn’t smiling.
“Uh oh,” he said. “You don’t want to talk about that again, do you?”
Don’t worry. No questions about rodeo clowns or mutton busting. If you followed the Giants’ postseason run in October, it was hard to miss the flurry of articles about little Cody following his dad to dirt rings all through the Western U.S., painting his face to look like his heroes in the barrel.
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“I had to laugh as I’m reading all of it, because the next bull I ride will be the first,” said Kenny Ross, from his home in Carlsbad, N.M. “I did some steer wrestling and roping, but it was just a hobby. I mean, I’m 61 years old. I play golf now.”
The rodeo angle is played out. Yet in a sense, it still applies. Kenny Ross’ only son has spent his baseball career holding on for dear life.
By the time he was 25, Cody Ross had 2,603 professional at-bats in seven seasons—but just 44 of them in the big leagues. The Tigers, Dodgers and Reds liked the undersized outfielder’s spark-plug style, but not enough to keep him when they faced the inevitable roster crunch.
Ross has been traded three times—twice for players you probably have never heard of (Steve Colyer and Ben Kozlowski, anyone?), and once for the dreaded “cash considerations.”
The ultimate indignity came Aug. 22, when the Florida Marlins let him go without asking for a bag of infield dirt. The Giants had claimed Ross off waivers, essentially to block him from going to the San Diego Padres. The Marlins simply waved goodbye.
“It’s almost like a slap in the face,” Ross said. “I was willing to sign an extension there even though it’s not the greatest place to play. They were building a nucleus for when their new stadium opened. I was comfortable there and liked it. You pour your heart and soul out for an organization for 41/2 years, and all the sudden they’re like, ‘See ya.’
“But I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason. And everything couldn’t have turned out better.”
In barely more than two months as a Giant, Ross went from roster afterthought to starting right fielder to postseason hero. Fans in Philadelphia are still trying to wrap their heads around his stunning, two-homer game off supposedly unhittable ace Roy Halladay, which set the tone in the NLCS.
“I knew he was hot, and as a parent, I can tell by the look in his eyes when he’s locked in,” said Kenny Ross, who watched Game 1 from his easy chair. “Everyone started screaming. My phone blew up. A good friend called and I just said, ‘Call me when he hits the next one.’ I don’t know why I said that. I just did.
“Then, boom! He does it again.”
Ross was named Most Valuable Player in the NLCS. And because the Giants went on to break their 56-year World Series championship drought, finally bringing the trophy to San Francisco, he’s guaranteed a lasting place in franchise lore.
Hang on for eight seconds? How about a lifetime?
“It happens a lot—a Giants fan will come up say thank you,” Ross said. “I honestly tell them, ‘No, thank you.'”
Ross’ startling postseason earned him the everyday right-field job this year and a $6.3 million contract, avoiding arbitration. He’ll be a free agent after the season, and he reached out to Giants officials on the first day of spring training about an extension.
“I’ve let them know that’s what I want,” Ross said. “Free agency would be cool to experience, but I know what this team is about and where it’s going. We have a great thing here and I want to stay.”
Giants vice president Bobby Evans told Ross’ agent that the club would revisit the matter later in the spring after finishing 2011 contracts for the remainder of the roster.
The Giants have a glut of outfielders, though, so it seems likely that Ross will have to play out the year and prove he can hang on once more.
“I’ve always said Cody’s greatest asset, other than his physical talent, is his heart,” said Kenny Ross, a former college football safety whose career aspirations ended with five knee surgeries. “It wasn’t in the cards for me, and sometimes I think Cody has taken something from that. He’s living a Little Leaguer’s dream right now.
“You know that phone call parents make, telling their kid, ‘Don’t get down on yourself?’ I’ve never had to make that call to him. I’ve never had to cheer him up. He’s always done it on his own. And he always thought he’s a lot bigger than he is. He’d say, ‘Dad, I know I can hit it far enough.’ In his mind, he’s 6-foot-13.”
Ross’ high-energy optimism is evident whenever he comes to the plate. Every year, his scoreboard mug shot is all giddiness and white teeth. It’s the reason his new Giants teammates nicknamed him “Smiles” within a few days of joining them.
The Giants had their photo day last week. Did Ross smile?
“I did,” he said. “I had to.”
— Story by Andrew Baggarly, San Jose Mercury News
