The Colorado Rockies and manager Walt Weiss have agreed on a three-year contract extension, the team announced on Tuesday.
Weiss became the sixth manager in Rockies history after the 2012 season, one in which the club finished with a franchise-worst 98 losses. Under Weiss, a first-year manager at any professional level, the Rockies improved by 10 games in 2013 but still finished in last place in the National League West with a 74-88 record.
Weiss told Troy Renck of the Denver Post that the entire coaching staff, with the exception of recently-departed hitting coach Dante Bichette, will be retained for next season, adding that Bichette's vacant position will be filled "soon."
The Rockies scored 706 runs in 2013, their lowest total in team history. Despite that, their .270 team batting average and collective slugging percentage of .418 both ranked first in the NL. Hitting on the road was, once again, a major issue, and heavily influenced the Rockies' team 91 OPS+. That's probably the main reason the position has become a "two-man job," as Renck puts it.
As far as tactical decisions, Weiss really proved no better or worse than his predecessor, Jim Tracy. Sure, he made a few rookie mistakes, particularly early in the season when certain roles, particularly in the bullpen, were still playing themselves out. However, I wouldn't say he did anything that sticks out as terrible in his debut campaign, although some feel his lack of emotion in terms of riling up his players by arguing calls and what not was detrimental to the team.
More to come.