A fractured working relationship between manager Walt Weiss and the Rockies’ front office was the root cause of Weiss’ decision not to seek a new contract with the team.
“It was time to move on,” Weiss told the Denver Post on Monday. “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.”
Weiss took over as manager in 2012. Bridich was promoted to GM in October 2014.
On a conference call Monday, Bridich told reporters that he and Weiss tried to make the arranged marriage work, but were unsuccessful.
“I agree with Walt,” Bridich said. “I think it was time to move on. I think that over the course of two years with he as manager and myself as GM, I think we both put in a lot of work to make the relationship work. It could’ve been different when changes in the front office were made two years ago. … Over the course of those 24 months we made a decision to make this thing work. … In the end it just didn't take place.”
In four years under Weiss, the Rockies went 283-365 and never qualified for the playoffs. Weiss’ .437 winning percentage is the worst among the six managers who’ve guided the Rockies.
Colorado finished 75-84, its best regular season record of Weiss’ tenure. The Rockies briefly flirted with a postseason experience when they reached a high-water mark of 54-54 on Aug. 4. But poor bullpen play and the loss of Trevor Story contributed toward them sinking down the stretch.
Now Bridich must find Weiss’ successor. He was adamant that he’d look inside and outside Colorado’s organization to do so.
“I imagine we’ll look at all avenues,” Bridich said. “We’ll look at both internal and external interviews we want to have. There is no specific timeline right now.”
The Rockies have traditionally hired from within. Weiss played for the Rockies from 1994-97 and was a special assistant to former general manager Dan O’Dowd from 2002-08.
One candidate who reporters brought up on the conference call was Glenallen Hill, who's managed the organization's Triple-A team for the last four seasons. Bridich said Hill is certainly in the mix for the job, but it's still early.
"I think with the pitching we’ve seen this year and the young and talented guys, what they’ve shown, there is a lot of talent with this group,” Bridich said. “Now it’s about how successful this team can be. That next step is having a very talented and successful team.”
