Colorado Rockies Set to Name Bud Black as Next Manager

Jun 12, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres manager Bud Black (20) gestures before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres manager Bud Black (20) gestures before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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On Sunday morning, the Colorado Rockies were the last team in Major League Baseball without a manager. On Sunday night, it appears that that has changed.

According to multiple reports, Bud Black will be named as the next manager of the Colorado Rockies. The first to report the news was Tommy Stokke in this article.

Black was the manager of the San Diego Padres from 2007 until the early portion of the 2015 season when he was let go after the Padres started the campaign at 32-33. In nine seasons in San Diego, Black compiled a 649-713 record. He was named as the 2010 National League Manager of the Year after pushing the Padres to a 90-72 mark, his best season in San Diego.

Black’s first season in San Diego ended when the Padres lost to the Rockies in a one-game playoff to reach the postseason.

He has been rumored to be in the mix for several managerial openings since being let go by the Padres, including the skipper positions with the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Black, who will turn 60 during the 2017 campaign, has a reputation of working well with pitchers. He served as the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels for six seasons, including helping the Angels win the World Series in 2002.

During Black’s seven seasons (2000-06) in Anaheim, the Angels made three playoff appearances, including their 2002 title run. The Angels ranked among the top five in American League ERA in five of his seven years. Additionally, Bartolo Colon won the AL Cy Young under Black’s watch in 2005.

Having someone with strong pitching credentials bodes well for a Rockies team that has a talented, young rotation in Jon Gray, Tyler Anderson, Tyler Chatwood and Chad Bettis, as well as an established closer in Adam Ottavino.

Additionally, Black inherits a strong offense as well with defending NL batting champion DJ LeMahieu, 2016 All-Stars Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez and record-setting rookie shortstop Trevor Story among others.

Next: The Top 5 Shortstops in Colorado History

Colorado believes it has the materials for a postseason run in 2017. Management believed the only thing missing was a manager who could lead the Rockies in that quest. They believe they’ve found their man in Black.