After last night’s 4-1 loss to the Miami Marlins, the Colorado Rockies have lost four straight games, and six out of their last eight matchups. Colorado edged themselves onto the wrong side of the MLB history books on Tuesday night. This downhill season for the Rockies does not look like it will improve. Bud Black is pushing near his 600th loss as the Rockies manager. With a ton of young promising prospects on this team, Colorado’s higher management may need to reconsider their plans for the 2025 MLB regular season. Black will be turning 67 years old in June, and although he brought this team to the postseason in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018, the Rockies may decide to bring a new face to lead this desolate franchise. One candidate that’s perfect for Black’s manager position if he’s fired is third base coach Warren Schaeffer.
Rockies Third Base Coach Warren Schaeffer Should Become Manager Next Season
Rockies third base coach Warren Schaeffer has been with the organization for well over a decade. As a player, he spent six seasons in the minor leagues before becoming a coach with Colorado. From 2015 to 2017, Schaeffer was the manager of the Asheville Tourists, putting up a record of 206-209 through three seasons. A year later, he became the manager of the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats. In two seasons with Hartford, the future Rockies third base coach put up an even 138-138 record. During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Schaeffer managed the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes to a 114-154 record. During the 2022 offseason, the Rockies organization promoted Schaeffer to their third base/infield coach.
If the Rockies decide to let go of Bud Black at any point during this regular season, Colorado management’s first choice for a replacement should be their third base coach. Schaeffer has been part of this organization since 2007. Not only has he played at the professional level, but he’s also been promoted and rose through the ranks as a manager throughout the minor leagues. He’s only 39 years old. His age gives him an opportunity to connect to and relate with the players on his roster. Already well respected, Schaeffer would want to change the culture completely around this Rockies franchise and fanbase.
Great drill from infield instructor #Rockies Warren Schaeffer.
The fungo precision is on point with 1B Nolan Jones. pic.twitter.com/YU9yeLEenS
— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) June 6, 2023
What’s Next For Bud Black?
Black has to assume his time as the Rockies manager will be ending soon. With the Rockies currently looking to be nowhere in sight of the postseason, they are now on the verge of missing the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Black found success during the 2017 and 2018 regular seasons. Since then, this team has slowly regressed to mediocrity. Colorado has desperately needed a spark, especially one coming from their manager who can motivate and steer a team’s positive mindset.
Since the end of spring training, this team has not been the same. Although we knew they were not going to be top-tier, they had the chance to surprise a lot of people. However, that has not been the case at all, and Black’s time as manager is slowly depleting. It will be intriguing to see who the Rockies decide to choose as manager if Black is fired. If it’s Schaeffer, this Rockies team may regroup and find success in 2025 and beyond.
Photo Credit: © Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
