Colorado Rockies Sunday Sit Down with Marc Stout

Our Sunday Sit Down series returns this season. Throughout the season, Rox Pile will interview someone from within the Colorado Rockies world. Whether that be from inside the organization, Rockies media, Rockies Twitter or someone special in the Rockies community. Look for these pieces on Sundays!

The first Sit Down this season is former jack of all trades for Root Sports and AT&T SportsNet, Marc Stout. Marc did it all when it came to Rockies broadcasts … pre- and post-game shows, in-game analysis, post-game interviews and human interest pieces that ran with Rockies Weekly.

The 2017 season was Marc’s last year covering the team. He has since moved on hosting his own Denver-based radio show. I caught up with Marc at Blow It Up, a Denver area batting cage. We dialed up the pro hitter machine to 90 MPH and, let’s just say, sometimes you swing and don’t miss.

After a few gap shots and many weak grounders later, we ventured to a near by pub to chat about his time with the Rockies and a few of his favorite memories along the way.

JP: From the time Troy Tulowitzki was traded until now, the Monforts seem to have taken a big step back as far as being hands on is concerned. What has been the biggest difference been? Has it been the Monforts directly or Jeff Bridich as the GM/voice of the franchise type roll?

Colorado Rockies

Stout: Dick Monfort is definetely still around, visible and involved. I used to get so disappointed when people would say he doesn’t care about winning. I was around him a lot. He wants to win. He’s a businessman. When Jeff came in, I think they gave him more control of all the baseball aspects.

However, I think the biggest difference has been Bud Black. There was a time when Walt Weiss was here that I wondered if he was enjoying himself. I don’t know if you knew this (incoming Stoutistic) but Walt only had one losing season in his entire big league career (the 1993 expansion Florida Marlins). Walt played on those Braves teams that went on that successful run. He wasn’t accustomed to losing, and a lot of losing at that. I think that wore on him and reflected on the team.

I don’t like the phrase “changed the culture” but when Jeff came in, it had a different feel to it. I can’t put a word on it other than they figured out how to win.

JP: Does a lot of that have to do with Jeff coming in, being that voice and trading Tulo? Opinion is that Tulo wasn’t thought of highly in the locker room. Or was stand off-ish, maybe even a cancer if you will. Not that he didn’t want to win but maybe he wanted to win so badly he put too many expectations and too much pressure on the younger guys.

Stout: I’ll agree with that. Tulo had baseball tunnel vision, which isn’t a negative thing.

JP: Wanted to succeed to a fault?

Stout: Yeah, pretty much. If you’re looking at that being a turning point, it probably was. It probably sent a ripple effect through the organization. If this can happen, anything can, including winning. Which is crazy because last year they won 12 more games than they did in 2016. They essentially won one more game a week in 2017 than 2016. That’s all they needed to do. We talk about how big it is to win series and they did that last year.

Were you at Wrigley when Tulo was traded?

Nope, but i can tell you where I was. I was at the Mountain West football media conference. It was Spilly’s (Ryan Spilborghs) first reporting day, but being new and not knowing the logistics it was tough. So it was deemed after that I would always stay with the team during the trade deadline.