Driver's positive an 'eye-opener' for Cubs

The Cubs are currently without Craig Driver, as the first-base coach is home in Chicago after testing positive for COVID-19. After several days of testing and contact tracing, the team's traveling group has tested negative and been cleared across the board.

Even so, Cubs manager David Ross said this is another reminder for everyone to keep taking a serious approach to the ongoing pandemic.

"That's something that is an eye-opener, for sure," Ross said prior to Saturday's game in Pittsburgh. "I think there's been a couple eye-openers to start the season around baseball that should hit home, and to understand that this is still a very serious pandemic that we're in.

"We have to continue to stay diligent in all that we do. We're at the mercy of this thing a lot of the time."

Ross said Driver was "just a little under the weather," and in good spirits right now. While Driver is away from the team, quality assurance coach Mike Napoli will handle the first-base duties.

Ross noted that the Tier 1 personnel on the current road trip were tested each day from Wednesday to Saturday, and would undergo another round of testing Sunday to be safe. The manager noted that the timing of Friday's off-day was helpful for gathering test results and avoiding a possible situation where a game might have been postponed.

Ross also noted that the Cubs continue to educate the Tier 1 group about the COVID-19 vaccines. Clubs were informed at the start of the season that MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to relax certain health and safety protocols contained in the 2021 Operations Manual for fully vaccinated Tier 1 Individuals, and for clubs where 85 percent of their Tier 1 Individuals are fully vaccinated.

"Let's be honest. The goal should be 100 percent," Ross said. "That's what we're shooting for. Again, each person has their own views and things, but we're just continuing to try to educate and encourage them as much as we can to get vaccinated."

Cubs second baseman David Bote said the players have been consulting the club's medical team for information, and they're having good conversations about the vaccine behind the scenes.

"Everybody's been super respectful with each other," Bote said. "If they want to get it, if they don't want to get it, if they're in a holding pattern or whatever, I think having those conversations is really good and really healthy."

Cubs thrilled for Caratini
Ross fired off a text to Padres catcher Victor Caratini in the wake of Joe Musgrove's no-hitter against the Rangers on Friday night. Caratini, who was traded to San Diego by the Cubs over the offseason, also caught Alec Mills' no-no on Sept. 13 last season.

"He texted me back and I was super happy for him. That's really cool," Ross said Saturday. "Super happy for him. I saw the emotion on his face, jumping up and hugging Joe. It seemed really neat. After reading the story behind it, too, right?

"A San Diego kid going back home and him feeling like he was destined to be there, and to have that happen, the first one ever in San Diego history, all those things, and for Vic to be a part of that, I know how special that is as a catcher."

Caratini is one of multiple catchers in MLB history to catch consecutive no-hitters but the first to accomplish the feat for different teams.

Worth noting
• Catcher Austin Romine (10-day injured list, right knee) was in the starting lineup and behind the plate for the start of Triple-A Iowa's game at the South Bend alternate training site on Saturday. The game against the Tigers' affiliate was later called due to rain.

• Due to the rainout in South Bend, the affiliate announced that fans who had tickets will have them honored for the Cubs-White Sox Triple-A game on Thursday at Four Winds Field. If unable to attend, tickets can be exchanged for any South Bend Cubs game later this season.

Quotable
"Victor's awesome. He's such a great guy, so anything that he gets and success is incredible for him. Great teammate, great hard worker." -- Bote, on Caratini