Walt Weiss Named Colorado Rockies Manager

As the dust of election day officially settled and Rockies fans across the country tucked themselves in for a good night’s sleep, the front office announced who will be the Colorado Rockies manager in 2012.

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Walt Weiss, a shortstop during his playing career and a former member of the Rockies, is an interesting choice because he is a blend of the other finalists. He brings the professional experience of a guy like Matt Williams, in that he has never actually managed on the big league level but has served in other capacities, namely in the Colorado front office as an assistant and as a scout. Meanwhile, he brings an excited and passionate, albeit a bit more thoughtful, level of support from the fan base that is similar to the groundswell of buzz for Jason Giambi. As for Tom Runnells…I guess he’s not really like him in any manner.

It seems that most who cover the Rockies believe that Weiss will command instant respect because of the high regard in which he was held as a player. He is smart and he works hard. Let’s just hope that he is put in a position to fully command that respect and put his stamp on this clubhouse without feeling too handcuffed by the presence of his boss on a day-to-day basis.

Still don’t have access to a picture of Weiss, so here are some Rockies fans. Image: Chris Humphreys-US PRESSWIRE

What lies ahead now is the project of filling the rest of his coaching staff. In an article today Troy Renck wondered if Bob McClure would be a good fit for pitching coach. And dare I say it, but wouldn’t Jason Giambi make sense as hitting coach? I know he said he would only retire to manage, but it is not much of a stretch to think that his feelings might change if he was given the chance to stay in Colorado.

But for now the focus is on Weiss, who will be compared to Robin Ventura and Mike Matheny ad nauseam because this is his first professional coaching gig. Even if he does possess the smarts on the level of those two men to make the transition, he faces a far tougher task than they did because of the current state of the Rockies roster.