By Jordan Long
The Colorado Rockies will be looking for a new manager. Walt Weiss’ contract was up on Sunday and he decided to step down on Monday. According to the Denverpost.com, Weiss said, “I told them I was not going to pursue another contract. It was time to move on. I just thought the working relationship with the front office wasn’t healthy or productive. That was ultimately my thought when I made this decision.”
The Colorado Rockies hired Weiss on November 8th, 2012. This was after Jim Tracy resigned October 7th, 2012 with one year and $1.4 million left on his deal. The Rockies lost a franchise worst 98 games.
At the time I didn’t understand why they would hire Weiss. They knew who Weiss was as a player. He spent time with the Rockies from 1994 to 1997. The only experience he had as a manager was in high school for Regis Jesuit High School in 2012. They went all the way to the 5A semifinals. That is not Major League managerial experience.
The Rockies struggled under Weiss. Their best year was this year at 75-87. The overall record with Weiss was 283-365. I know some of it wasn’t his fault. The offense was decent. They could score runs to take leads. What bothered me when he a managed was he never seemed to take struggling pitchers out early, especially during the 9th innings when the Rockies had a lead. The closer would come in and walk a few guys or allow hits. Top managers would make a call to the bullpen, but Weiss would often watch them blow the save and then take them out when it should have occurred earlier.
I hope when the Rockies look for a new manager they have some sort of Major League experience. This could help the Colorado Rockies improve the pitching and the bullpen. The Rockies have big task ahead of them to hire a manager.
What do you think of Walt Weiss tenure as manager of the Colorado Rockies?
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