Colorado Rockies: Exploring the fit for Jerry Dipoto as the new GM

You may have your gripes with the decisions interim general manager Bill Schmidt has made with the Colorado Rockies since he took over for Jeff Bridich in early May. Maybe a better descriptor would be the lack of decisions he’s made after no major moves happened before the trade deadline.

That. however, would be missing the point. The Rockies stated they would fill the general manager position at the end of the year. If Schmidt is hired, it would continue the long tradition of hiring someone internally to run the ship due to comfort and familiarity. If that is the case, no one would blame any Rockies fan in changing their loyalty to any other team.

So let’s just imagine a world that, come the offseason, the Rockies will buck their trend of hiring internally at least since 1999 when they hired Dan O’Dowd. To say the Colorado GM job is one of the most difficult in the majors is an understatement, but that is something former Rockies pitcher Jerry Dipoto has a lot of experience dealing with. He first started in 2010 as the Diamondbacks GM, made a stop in Anaheim, and has held that position since 2015 with the Seattle Mariners. Even though Seattle has played many more games, they have the same winning percentage at the Rockies at .471, they haven’t made it to the playoffs since 2001, and they have never been in the World Series. The statement stands true of, “It could always be worse.”

Could Jerry Dipoto be a fit for the Colorado Rockies as GM?

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Even if that playoff drought continues, Dipoto looks to have the Mariners on the right track. It didn’t always feel that way though. By the midway point in 2018, they had one of the best records in the majors and signed Dipoto to an extension. However, by the All-Star Break, they faltered and continued that trend the rest of the way. They traded all of their best players and proceeded to tank in 2019, finishing last in the AL West. They finished third in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and are currently sitting third in their division right now. No one expected the Mariners to be even close to contending this year, yet they are sitting at an impressive 66-58.

Dipoto’s contract is up after end of this season though and he might just be on the market despite that trajectory. Is it too little too late after the team hasn’t made the playoffs under his tenure?

Who knows. The ownership of the Mariners might very well be pleased with the future of the team under Dipoto and manager Scott Servais. They can sign him and the Rockies would have to look elsewhere. Again, hopefully outside the organization, despite what is being reported. It looks like Dipoto knows how to build a sustained winner, even from prospects which the Rockies farm system is in dire need of replenishing.

Dipoto has turned this Mariners team around in just three years. For how great the Rockies home record is, it doesn’t negate the fact that Colorado needs a fresh approach. If he is available, Dipoto would be a great option as general manager. It’s something some of Denver’s greatest sports journalists talked about six years ago when he became available.

It doesn’t hurt that Dipoto has experience pitching at Mile High, suiting up in purple pinstripes from 1997-2000. Maybe he could be the one to bring stability and fresh perspective to 20th & Blake.