SAN DIEGO — In his first ride on the carousel of manager media availability at the Winter Meetings, former Cubs catcher and now first-year Cubs manager David Ross voluntarily mentioned his “lack of experience” several times and referenced how he would “need help” to close that gap even as he tried to put his personal imprint on the team.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt sat in the same chair, fielding some of the same questions, and a few minutes after Ross discussed how he helped shape a team’s “identity.”

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“It gives us a stronger reference point,” Shildt said.