David Ross retired after winning the World Series with the Cubs in November, but his popularity has not waned in Chicago. A few blocks from Wrigley Field, he surprised commuters with breakfast from Raisin Bran, and stopped to talk to us about his new jobs, his favorite memories from the 2016 season, and whatever happened the scooter Anthony Rizzo the team bought him.

For the Win: Since you’ve retired from baseball, you’ve started working as a special assistant to the general manager for the Cubs and as an analyst for ESPN. Are you busier now than you were as a player?

David Ross: I wouldn’t call it retirement. I’m definitely busier than I’ve ever been. Things are a little crazy right now just because of what happened with the World Series and everything. I’ve gotten so many great opportunities and doors open that it’s hard to turn any of them down. Everybody has been very understanding about being flexible about my schedule for my family so I could do the vacations I wanted to do and coach my son’s games, be there for my daughter’s volleyball tournaments.

I’m putting myself through a lot but my family is at home and relaxed. They don’t have to travel to Chicago or to spring training to see dad. I’m busier than I’ve ever been, but it’s definitely a good problem to have.

Which new job is more challenging?

The Cubs thing is just learning. I feel like it’s a Hall-of-Fame front office. I thought it would be awkward to be on the other side, and the guys would push me away. They were super respectful, and I try to be respectful of their space. I’m not one of the guys any more. I don’t go into the locker room. That’s their space. I’m more sensitive to it than they are. I don’t want to be that guy that still thinks he’s a player and tries to hang out.

The ESPN stuff is a huge challenge, because instead of getting to know one team, you have to get to know all 30, the ins and outs, what you think are their strengths and weaknesses. There’s a lot of studying. There’s a lot of learning to be done. I’m a positive guy, so how do you find a way to stay positive in a negative situation. How do you criticize the right way. I’ve built a reputation that I don’t want to ruin. This is who I am. I don’t want to change that just because I’ve got a new job.

Is front office work what you want to do in the future?

I don’t know. That’s why I’m grabbing a little bit of each thing that’s come my way. A little bit of TV, a little bit of Cubs. I’ve got more stuff on the horizon. I want to see what my heart’s passionate about. Do I want to do front office? TV? Do I want to go back and coach? I don’t know what I want to do.

Were you surprised to see the Cubs’ World Series-winning season unfold as it did?

That’s what’s crazy. Fans and media conjure up things, like how they should go. But it never goes that way! For me, it was a true story book year. So many great things happened to me this year. I went outside my box this year and done things I would never do with social media, doing things on the road, putting myself out there and trying new things. I’ve had the greatest year of my life.

It’s kind of unbelievable that it all happened to me. I mean, who gets carried off the field during game 7 of the World Series? I don’t even have words for that. I get to catch a no-hitter with Jake, I get a standing ovation and I get taken out by the manager in the middle of the game, and curtain calls. We win 103 games, and on and on and on. I look back and it really is unbelievable.

My life has changed so much with the way fans treat me, and the recognition and being here with Kellogg. Amazing opportunities have come up. I’m a back-up catcher, a role player. I hit .220. All these great people are saying these great things to me. It’s emotional at times. I just feel really blessed.

What have you done with your retirement gifts?

The little scooter with the license plate on it that says G-Pa Rossy? My grandma rides around it in Jacksonville! I shipped it over there. She kept the license plate on it. I visited her, and I was almost embarrassed but then I had to laugh out loud when I saw her scooting around on it.

I’ve kept a lot of things, a lot of pictures. My name plate from Saturday Night Live.

What was that like?

That’s the best thing I’ve done. It was so much fun. We hung out with Bill Murray who had us laughing for four hours in the dressing room. Our wives were there. Jay-z and Beyonce were there. We go to an after-party. Everybody watches Saturday Night Live!

Now, looking at the Cubs as an analyst. Do you think this team is built to repeat?

No doubt. I think this team is built to be good for a long time. I think that the youth in the group is important when you’re talking about a shortened offseason. They look hungry. Guys have been at spring training for a while and they didn’t have to be. There’s a sense of energy.

I think it’s the youth. I’ve been a part of a World Series win before with the Red Sox, and you felt that really short offseason. I don’t feel like these guys are that way. You’ve got Kyle Schwarber, who is hungry because he missed all of last season. Jason Heyward is working and trying to have a bounce back year. You’ve got Addison Russell, who is still growing. Kris Bryant is only going to get better, which, isn’t that crazy? I like Albert Almora, who is hungry, and Jon Jay, who is new. The bullpen looks amazing. I got a good sense while I was in spring training. If they stay healthy, they’ll be back.

Do you have any concerns with the Cubs?

Health is always a worry, and the leadoff spot, with Dexter [Fowler] gone. I’m a traditional baseball guy and I like to see a true leadoff hitter. Whether it’s Kyle, or whoever they put in that leadoff spot, it’s how they work through the line-up from that position.

It’s funny. You get into predictions, and I guess that’s part of my job now, but as I used to tell Rizzo. We’ll see. ‘Were going to go do this!’ Well, we’ll see. You gotta go do it, right? We’re starting at scratch.

You worked with Jon Lester for years, but now Willson Contreras will catch for him. Have you talked to Willson about taking over your catching duties?

They wanted me to talk to him about Jon, but my main thing is I don’t want to talk to him about Jon. I want him to be Willson Contreras. I don’t want him to be David Ross. In my opinion, he’s going to be better for Jon than I was. He throws better than I do, he’s a better hitter than I am, a better blocker than I am. Now it’s about working with Jon and getting to know his ins and outs and building a relationship with Jon. I think that relationship needs to develop naturally rather than me trying to force feed it.

I talked to Willson and said everyone wants me to give you my opinion. I think it’s the opposite. You need to form your own. I gave him my phone number and said if you have questions or if there’s something that comes up, call me or text me, but I’m going to stay out of your way. I also talked to Jon. It’s also Jon’s responsibility as a three-time World Series champion to bring Willson along and show him how it’s done and nurture that relationship. Spring training is going to be good for those guys.

I’ve noticed that Kyle Schwarber really, really loves wearing his American flag shorts. Are those the only pair he owns?

Jon bought us those! It was a thing Jonny Gomes started in Boston, and Jon brought it over to the Cubs. Everybody wore them. Kyle loves ‘em. Most of us do, but he’s not even going with the team-issued shorts. He’s sticking with those. I don’t blame ‘em!

Kyle is so hungry right now. He missed out on a lot of the fun last year. He was trying to get ready last year, and he’s such a people person. He likes being around people. He’s going to rock every t-shirt and shorts you give him.

What are you doing out here with Kellogg’s today?

Working with Kellogg’s Raisin Bran today. They’ve got a new cereal out, and when they called, of course I said yes. I mean, I’m David Ross. I’m not Kris Bryant!

The cool thing for me is surprising fans. When I’m in Florida, I get recognized, but like [in Chicago.] There’s so much love from the fans. I’m sitting in the little alleyway there, and they’re walking by and I’m surprising them and asking them if they want breakfast. They have no idea, but it’s fun! When you surprise fans, it’s just as fun for me.