Colorado Rockies: Walt Weiss enjoying transition from manager to coach

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DENVER, CO – JULY 9: Manager Walt Weiss of the Colorado Rockies sits in the dugout before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field on July 9, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Weiss has taken some of the things he learned as a manager and applied them to coaching. With the Braves in a similar situation to the Rockies when he was the skipper he easily looked across the field and back.

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“People say as a manager you have to be careful with your relationship with your players. I was just the opposite,” Weiss described his unique style. “I liked to personalize those relationships as much as possible, I look at those guys as my kids.”

When the Rockies went to the playoffs last season— one year removed from Weiss and in the control of Bud Black — he smiled from home.

“To see them play well and be excited, that’s a good feeling,” he said of his former players and club. “Those are great guys, I love my players over there (with Colorado) and I think they knew that. Watching those guys have success makes you feel good.”

Weiss’ personalized approach to coaching — one that was seen around Colorado when he was a high school coach at Regis — he feel translates well to the show. Especially for one position and how he sees the field.

“It’s very easy to connect with the players and dig in on a deeper level,” he said about being a bench coach. “I’ve really enjoyed that part and there are a lot of good young players here (in Atlanta) and I’m trying to mentor players, Dansby Swanson in particular. We’ve had a really good connection right away.”

The first overall pick of the 2015 draft and third-year Braves shortstop is looking to rebound after a tough season. Yet there is a lot of reason for hope, given both Swanson’s pedigree and the relationship the former All-Star shortstop Weiss has with that position.

“For me, there’s always been a pretty special connection between me and the shortstop because when I walk out onto a field that’s where my eyes go,” the career .970 fielder said. “There’s a lot of common ground. I felt like Tulo (Troy Tulowitzki), Trevor (Story) and now Dansby and I have had good connections and that stuff comes easy to me.”

Next: The top 25 Colorado Rockies players and prospects under 25 years old

Weiss will always have a special connection with Colorado and baseball played here. He is happy to build those special baseball connections, with a new group while in a new role.

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