MLB Hot Stove: Bud Black wants to manage Colorado Rockies

 The Colorado Rockies have a managerial vacancy, and someone with experience in the NL West has interest in the job.

After a fourth straight season with a below .500 finish (75-87), Walt Weiss resigned as manager of the Colorado Rockies before he could be fired. Some of his coaching staff is in line to return next season, but there hasn’t been much early speculation about who will replace Weiss as Colorado’s manager. Until now.

According to the Denver Post, Bud Black said he is interested in managing the Rockies. He was a recent finalist for the Atlanta Braves’ job that went to Brian Snitker, and Black was also a candidate for the Washington Nationals’ job that went to Dusty Baker a year ago. He worked as special assistant in the Los Angeles Angels’ front office this season, but Black’s coaching acumen automatically makes him a top managerial candidate.

Black served as pitching coach for the Angels under Mike Scioscia from 2000-2006, before moving on to manage the San Diego Padres. Over eight-plus seasons as Padres’ manager (2007-2015) Black had a 649-713 record with zero playoff appearances. The 2010 National League Manager of the Year was fired midway through the 2015 season, when the Padres were lingering around .500 (32-33). With the team’s results since, including a 68-94 record and a last-place finish in the National League West this year, firing Black looks like a bit of a knee-jerk move.

The Rockies have long struggled to build a competent pitching staff, due in part to a very hitter-friendly home park at Coors Field. It will still be a challenge to do so, regardless of who the manager is, but Black’s history as a pitching coach gives him a better chance than most potential candidates.

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Rockies’ general manager Jeff Bridich has confirmed one possible candidate to manage the Rockies-Triple-A Albuquerque manager (and former major league outfielder) Glenallen Hill. Braves’ first base coach Eddie Perez is also a reported candidate for the job, but Black stands out as the best option. If he has serious interest, it’s a no-brainer for the Rockies to hire him while he’s still available.