Rockies Aim for Reset after Horrid Start

The Colorado Rockies have parted ways with manager Bud Black and bench coach Mike Redmond following a dismal 7-33 start to the season, the team announced after Sunday’s game. The move comes after a historic 21-0 loss to the San Diego Padres on Saturday, the final straw in a season that is on pace to be one of the worst in MLB history.

“Our play so far this season has been unacceptable. Our fans deserve better, and we are capable of better.” — Rockies owner Dick Monfort

Bill Schmidt, the Rockies’ general manager, acknowledged that a change was needed to spark improvement. “We’re capable of playing better than we’ve played, and so, it was the time to make a change,” he said.

New Leadership for the Remainder of the Season

Third base coach Warren Schaeffer has been appointed interim manager, while hitting coach Clint Hurdle will serve as the interim bench coach for the remainder of the campaign. Schaeffer, 40, previously managed in Colorado’s farm system and joined Black’s staff in 2023. Hurdle, 67, led the Rockies to their only NL pennant in 2007 and returned to the team last month after Hensley Meulens was fired.

As part of the coaching staff shuffle, the Rockies are promoting Triple-A hitting coach Jordan Pacheco and minor-league hitting coordinator Nick Wilson to replace Hurdle as the team’s hitting coaches. Assistant hitting coach Andy Gonzalez will shift to third base coach.

Black’s Tenure and Impact

Black, 67, spent nine campaigns as the Rockies’ skipper, compiling a 543-690 record. He led the club to the playoffs in each of his first two years at the helm but failed to post a winning record after 2018. Under his guidance, the Rockies are now well on their way to a fourth straight last-place finish and third consecutive 100-loss season.

“We had a lot of internal talks. I think we’re capable of playing better than we’ve played, and so, it was the time to make a change,” Schmidt said, according to Andrew Mason of 104.3 The Fan.

“I’m bummed. I’m disappointed. I don’t think Casey Stengel could change the outcome of that ball club, and that’s not the manager’s fault.” — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

Rockies’ Struggles in Context

The Rockies’ struggles have been mounting with each passing day: Colorado now owns a minus-128 run differential in 2025 and has yet to win a series this year. The team’s 7-33 record is the worst through the first 40 games of a campaign since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles started 6-34, according to The Associated Press. Sunday’s result put the Rockies on pace to finish at 29-133, a record that would shatter the modern-era loss record set by last year’s White Sox and leave them one shy of tying the all-time mark held by the 1899 Cleveland Spiders.

By John Doe, 247sports.news