The task of steering the Colorado Rockies away from the shadows of baseball disgrace no longer lies with Bud Black. Black, having become the most successful manager in franchise history, was removed from his position after a horrendous start, a 7-33 stretch, one of the worst ever in Major League Baseball. The Rockies found an interim manager on Sunday when they announced third base coach Warren Schaeffer to assume the position following a 9-3 win over San Diego.
That victory could not save Black, especially coming off a 21-0 drubbing by the Padres a night before. Further changes involved the firing of Redmond, with Clint Hurdle stepping up as interim bench coach. The Colorado Rockies are experiencing their worst start through 40 games since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles, who were 6-34.
Rockies owner, chairman, and CEO Dick Monfort said in a statement, “Our play so far this season especially coming off the last two seasons has been completely unacceptable.” He further added to his statement, “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.”
Nineteen and a half games behind the first-place NL West team and having been outscored by 128 runs this season, Colorado has been in such an extended slump in the competitive NL West. The only other team since 1900 to have a worse run differential after 40 games was the 2023 Oakland Athletics, with an eye-watering figure of -144. General manager Bill Schmidt was in public support of Bud Black, asserting that Bud has been doing a good job. Schmidt commented that he was planning for managerial change for Sunday, despite the result of the game. Thus, he admitted that the winning began to water down his decision.
