Harry Ralston “Buddy” Black has managed more games than anyone in Rockies history, surpassing Clint Hurdle on Thursday when the Rockies lost to the Nationals.
But Black’s future is uncertain, and whether he stays or goes is the biggest question weighing on the club as we approach the final month of the season.
Although Black and owner Dick Monfort had some preliminary discussions about a contract extension during spring training, Black’s future is still pending. I’m told something could be worked out in the second half of the season. However, general manager Bill Schmidt recently told me that Black’s future will be discussed after the season.
This is a warning sign.
I honestly don’t know what will happen.
Some days I feel like Black can’t wait to captain a ship that will be loaded with fresh, new talent in the coming seasons. Other days I’m not so sure.
Black turned 67 on June 30, but he’s still young at heart. He loves interacting with players and sees himself as a teacher. He loves taking hitting practice. He loves playing chess during the game. Hell, he even likes to talk to us slackers in the media. Just imagine.
But I also get the feeling he’s just tired of losing. Who can blame him? I get the feeling he’s tired of fielding a team he knows is less talented than the opposition. I get the feeling he’s tired of “waiting until next year.”
Black didn’t say it, but I think he agrees with veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland, who spoke from the heart last August.
“We all want to win, we all want to be successful, and we all want to be in the playoffs and play meaningful baseball,” Freeland said after the Rockies were crushed by the Padres at Coors Field. “Right now, it seems like every time you look down the tunnel and look for the light, the light is getting further and further away.”
The Rockies are an exceptionally patient team, much to the chagrin of their fans. The Seattle Mariners were managed in a similar manner. But on Thursday, as Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto saw his team’s playoff chances slipping away, he fired longtime manager Scott Servais, who had been captain for nine years.
Seattle had a ten-game lead in the American League West on June 18, but then lost 20-33, leaving it five games behind rising Houston.
“Where we were in mid-June and where we are today, it’s actually hard to believe how quickly this all unraveled for us,” Dipoto told reporters.
Dipoto and Servas are long-time friends. The decision was not easy for Dipoto, but that is the tough business of baseball. Dipoto, who also fired hitting coach Jarret DeHart, explained his reasons.
“Together we decided that our organization needed this,” Dipoto said. “We needed to do something to create a different theme, a different atmosphere in our clubhouse. I’m not trying to throw Scott under the bus at all here. I can’t say enough positive things about the things he’s done here, but I think we needed a new voice.”
Monfort and Schmidt may think something similar.
Or maybe it’s Black who is resisting.
Make no mistake, Black is a good manager. He proved that in 2017-18, his first two years at the helm, when he led the Rockies to the only consecutive playoff seasons in franchise history. He molded a young pitching staff that included German Marquez and Freeland.
Inheriting a cast that included stars Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu, Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story, Black was the right man at the right time.
As I’ve written before, the Rockies found themselves in an unusual position after the 2018 season. Had Monfort and the front office decided to go all out by keeping LeMahieu, aggressively pursuing a free agent, or making an impactful trade, their window to victory would have remained open. Instead, they went conservative, the Arenado trade fiasco got to them, and six consecutive losing seasons followed.
Black deserved better. He won’t say it, but it’s true. He was loyal and had only good things to say about Monfort and Schmidt.
Now a decision has to be made.
Black is a people person. He gets along better with his players, staff and the media than any other coach or manager I have ever met. That could be invaluable for a young team.
But maybe a younger, fresher voice is needed. Infield/third base coach Warren Schaffer could be the answer. But how would that work with bench coach Mike Redmond or hitting coach Hensley “Bam Bam” Meulens, who would no doubt love a chance to coach a major league team?
Bringing in a manager from outside the organization would mean cleaning up the coaching staff. The Rockies aren’t typically willing to shake things up, so hiring from outside would go against their usual modus operandi.
I could see Black working in the Rockies’ front office. He loves Colorado and wants the Rockies to succeed. However, he would have to have real power in the front office to make it worthwhile. But would that get in the way of Schmidt or other front office members?
I know some fans blamed Black for the Rockies’ frequent bullpen losses earlier in the season, but did you see the pitchers Black had to choose from? He’s a manager, not a wizard.
I understand the Rockies are coming off a second consecutive 100-game losing streak. I understand the fans’ fear and/or apathy. Black isn’t perfect. No manager is. But he was asked to lead a rebuilding team. He can only work with the tools he’s been given.
I don’t know what will happen, but I am sure of one thing: If Black leaves, Monfort and company should be ready to take the blame.
Want more Rockies news? Sign up for Rockies Insider to get all of our MLB analysis.
