Jeff Bridich named new Colorado Rockies general manager

The Colorado Rockies finally have a new general manager. On Wednesday they announced that Jeff Bridich has been promoted to the position.

The Rockies named a new general manager before you could say “external candidate.”

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Dan O’Dowd and Bill Geivett both stepped down from their respective positions on Wednesday morning. They were not fired, and it appears that owner Dick Monfort had a plan of action ready to go for his new general manager.

There was no hiring process. No job posting. No interviews conducted.

Dick Monfort didn’t even wait a day to name his new guy. Hell, he didn’t wait an hour.

Jeff Bridich was named Rockies’ GM on Wednesday. Bridich has been with the Rockies for 10 years and most recently served as the Senior Director of Player Development.

The Colorado #Rockies have named Jeff Bridich the Club’s Senior Vice President/General Manager. pic.twitter.com/lMQcJV8soZ
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) October 8, 2014

A quick survey of those who would know seems to indicate that Bridich is a solid hire in terms of his baseball background.

Thinking about #Rockies new GM Jeff Bridich. You don't know him because he refused to self-promote. He's analytical, but knows players...
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) October 8, 2014

Good at seeing trends, where players are headed. His handling of finance, will be creative about allocating payroll resources.
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) October 8, 2014

I've known Jeff Bridich since 2005, he is very bright,former catcher at Harvard, and knows the organization inside and out.Excited for him
— Ryan Spilborghs (@spillygoat19) October 8, 2014

@garcia_mckinley I believe that Jeff will do a much better job. Jeff knows his stuff.
— Paul Swydan (@Swydan) October 8, 2014

#Rockies Jeff Bridich is a bright young man. Graduated from Harvard, played baseball there. Has been O'Dowd's right-hand man.
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) October 8, 2014

Ugh. You had me right up until “O’Dowd’s right-hand man.”

That raises the most important issue here. Monfort and O’Dowd were so tight that two things happened over the last 15 years: nothing ever changed, and Monfort got more and more involved with personnel decisions. For two quick examples, the Rockies would have drafted Evan Longoria in 2006 and traded Jorge De La Rosa this summer if Monfort would have stayed out of it.

Did Monfort promote Bridich so that he can continue running things that way? So that he can meddle and have the final say in key player personnel moves?

Bridich deserves a clean shot at this gig and he deserves the benefit of the doubt. I just hope Monfort lets him do his job.

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