In a dramatic shake-up, the Colorado Rockies parted ways with manager Bud Black following a dismal performance that saw them lose by 21 runs to the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. The decision comes on the heels of the Rockies’ bleak start to the season, standing at a major-league-worst 7-33. However, the team did manage to salvage a bit of pride with a 9-3 victory over the Padres Sunday, snapping an eight-game losing streak.
Stepping into the breach, third-base coach Warren Schaeffer has been appointed as the interim manager for the remainder of the season, while hitting coach Clint Hurdle will take on the duties of interim bench coach. This managerial overhaul occurs as the Rockies are set to begin a road trip against the Texas Rangers, a crucial time for the organization to identify its path forward.
The Rockies’ struggles have been monumental, with this season marking their worst 40-game start since the infamous 1988 Baltimore Orioles, who limped in at 6-34. Rockies owner, chairman, and CEO Dick Monfort acknowledged the team’s woes in a statement, emphasizing the community’s expectations and the need for fundamental change. “Our play so far this season, especially coming off the last two seasons, has been unacceptable. Our fans deserve better, and we are capable of better,” he stated. The focus now shifts to evaluating the team’s operations and making necessary improvements as they attempt to navigate through this rough patch.
Bud Black, who has held the managerial position for nine years, leaves with a career record of 544-690 – making him the winningest manager in Rockies history. While the franchise has had moments of success under his leadership, highlighted by back-to-back playoff appearances in 2017 and 2018, the team has struggled to find its footing since, having endured back-to-back 100-loss seasons. Their winning percentage of .353 since 2023 paints a stark picture of the challenges at hand.
General manager Bill Schmidt echoed the sentiment shared by Monfort, stating, “We have to get better and move forward. We owe it to our fans to play better baseball.” Interestingly, just hours before the management decision, Schmidt expressed support for Black, saying he believed the team was putting in the effort. After Saturday’s crushing defeat, however, the tone shifted decisively.
Before their recent win, the Rockies sat a staggering 19½ games out of first place in the National League West, and their run differential of -128 is the worst recorded since 1900 for a team through 40 games, only eclipsed by the 2023 Oakland Athletics.
Pitcher Kyle Freeland reflected on the managerial changes with a mix of respect and a desire for progress, stating, “I love both those guys to death. I’ll be in contact with them for hopefully the rest of my life. Clearly, some changes needed to be made to see if we can start turning this thing around, get going in a new direction and get some traction.”
As the Rockies embark on this new chapter under interim leadership, the focus will be on finding ways to reinvigorate a franchise that has faced significant trials over the last few seasons. With such a disheartening start to the season, there’s no denying the urgency for a turnaround in Colorado.
