The Colorado Rockies resisted the urge year after year, loss after loss, and failure after failure.
They knew their historically dismal start wasn’t manager Bud Black’s fault.
They also knew Sunday that with a 7-33 record that they had no choice.
Just one day after Rockies GM Bill Schmidt gave a vote of confidence to Black on Saturday afternoon, hoping to stop the noise that he was to blame, along came a 21-0 loss later that night, and the decision was made.
So, only in Rockies fashion, they have their biggest victory of the season, winning 9-3 over the San Diego Padres, and then wreck the euphoria by announcing Black was fired minutes after the game.
“I don’t think [Hall of Fame manager] Casey Stengel could change the outcome of that ballclub,’’ said Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who was on Black’s coaching staff in San Diego, and one of his closest friends. “That’s not the manager’s fault. Obviously, they felt they needed a chance in voice or direction, but for me, there’s not many people that are better than Buddy Black. It’s very disappointing. It’s not his fault.’’
Indeed, in Black’s first season as Rockies manager in 2017, he took the team to the playoffs with a lineup that had Trevor Story, DJ LeMahieu, Mark Reynolds, Nolan Arenado, Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon.
They combined to hit 150 home runs and drive in 605 runs.
This year’s team ranks last in the league in hitting (.219), second-to-wost in OPS (.646) with an MLB-worst 5.77 ERA.
They don’t have a single hitter batting above .290, only two hitting above .250 with no one hitting more than six homers despite playing in the hitter-friendly Coors Field.
“It’s tough, I don’t think it was Buddy’s fault, much,” Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon — who’s hitting .211 with six homers, 11 RBI and a .736 OPS — told the Denver Post. “We didn’t play to our capabilities, but this is the direction the organization decided to go, so we’ll roll with it. …
“Hey, it might be a kick in the ass. Like, heads up! We’re in a spot where we need to make some moves and start doing some stuff, or things like this are going to happen.”
The Rockies are one of only five teams since 1900 to lose 33 of their first 40 games, joining the 1904 Washington Senators, 1928 Philadelphia Phillies, 1932 Boston Red Sox and 1988 Baltimore Orioles. They are on pace to not only lose at least 100 games for the third consecutive season, but an MLB-record 134 games.
“Our play so far this season, especially coming off the last two seasons, has been unacceptable,’’ Rockies owner Dick Monfort said. “Our fans deserve better, and we are capable of better. While we all share responsibility in how this season has played out, these changes are necessary. We will use the remainder of 2025 to improve where we can on the field and to evaluate all areas of our operation so we can properly turn the page into the next chapter of Rockies baseball.’’
The author now will be 40-year-old third base coach Warren Schaeffer, who has been with the organization since 2015. He will be the interim manager the rest of the season. Clint Hurdle, who was just hired three weeks ago as the hitting coach to replace Hensley Meulens, is now the new bench coach, replacing Mike Redmond, who was fired.
The Rockies’ new hitting coaches will be Jordan Pacheco and Nick Wilson. Andy Martinez will be moved from the assistant hitting coach position to third base coach, replacing Schaeffer.
So that’s one manager and three coaches fired, and three positional changes on the staff, if you’re keeping score.
The new man on the hot seat is GM Bill Schmidt, who on Saturday told reporters that Black’s job was not in jeopardy.
Well, just in case it wasn’t clear, we found out that Monfort is the one calling the shots, not even letting Schmidt’s vote of confidence last 24 hours.
Black, who turns 68 next month, was in his ninth year as the Rockies’ manager. He led the Rockies to back-to-back playoff berths in 2017-2018, but they haven’t had a winning season since, with the Rockies suffering 100-loss seasons in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. He was in the final year of his contract and was expected to retire after the season.
The Rockies made the early retirement decision for him, with Schaeffer becoming the eighth manager in franchise history.
“I believe that Warren is the right person to lead us forward for the remainder of this season, develop our young talent at the Major League level and get our club back to playing a better brand of baseball,” Schmidt said. “He has a great ability to connect with both veterans and young players and is an excellent communicator.’’
Well, if nothing else, Schaeffer might have some karma on his side.
When Black was fired in 2015 by the Padres, the man who replaced him for a day was Roberts, who since has won two World Series titles and is on the road to Cooperstown. Pat Murphy, who replaced Roberts one game later, was Craig Counsell’s bench coach in Milwaukee, and last season was the NL Manager of the Year.
The Rockies can only hope that history repeats itself as they dig out of the depths of the National League.