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Colorado Rockies Countdown: Top Five Shortstops

By James Keating

Jul 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the sunset in the sixth inning of the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the sunset in the sixth inning of the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 20, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss (L) asks home plate umpire Cory Blaser (R) to review a play against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss (L) asks home plate umpire Cory Blaser (R) to review a play against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

3.  Walt Weiss (1994-1997, fWAR 2.8)

The current Rockies skipper lands number three on our rankings. Before he was the leading man on Blake Street, Weiss was a highly touted prospect out of the University of North Carolina. Drafted 11th overall by the Oakland Athletics in 1985, Weiss burst onto the scene to win the 1988 Rookie of the Year Award. Weiss was never a very talented offensive player but fits that defense- first prototype perfectly.

Despite never hitting for a high average, Weiss built a career out of defense and reaching base. In 523 games played with Colorado, Weiss mashed only 14 home runs while hitting a .266 average but enjoyed a Rockies shortstop best .375 on-base percentage. Weiss’ large OBP can be attributed to his high walk rate (leads all Rockies shortstops at a 14.2%) and low strike-out rate (leads this list at 11.8%).

As the Rockies skipper, Weiss has been at the helm since 2013. In that time, Weiss has managed a 248-326 record which is a pedestrian .432 winning percentage. Weiss has been referred to as a players manager while also being criticized for the management of the team’s pitching staff. Weiss has shown great temperament as a manager, very rarely being ejected but willing to back up his players on the field.

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