The Colorado Rockies are struggling as the Major League Baseball season begins in May. They’re approaching the 40-game mark and can still count each victory on two hands.
The Pittsburgh Pirates relieved Derek Shelton of his managerial duties on Thursday. The move marks the first firing of the 2025 campaign, but are there more on the way?
Given the Rockies’ current six-game losing streak (and counting), one has to wonder if a change in leadership is also on the way in Denver.
That means all eyes will be on Bud Black as the Rox take on the San Diego Padres (ironically, the only other MLB team Black has previously managed) in a three-game series at Coors Field.
Colorado has already played one series with the Friars in 2025, during which the Rockies failed to score a single run. A similar result in the Mile High this weekend would be detrimental to Black’s job security. He is in his ninth year with the club and has a total record of 543-688 (.441).
On Friday morning, Bleacher Report revealed its list of six managers who could be next on the chopping block, with Black ranked fourth. Given the current state of the “Blake Street Bombers,” I doubt anyone will be perplexed by that notion.
Colorado has many common issues, but as you might expect, the pitching has been the most problematic. It must irritate Black’s soul, as he spent 15 MLB seasons on the field, including a World Series championship with the Kansas City Royals in 1985.
According to FanGraphs, the Rockies’ pitching staff has a 4.37 skill-interactive ERA, ranking them 27th in baseball. Colorado is also struggling to strike out opposing batters, with an MLB-low K-rate of 17.3%.
Of course, navigating a pitching staff has always been a challenge in Denver. Since its inception in 1993, the Rox have had seven different managers, with Black being one of only three in team history to lead Colorado to the playoffs.
The Rockies (who have not won a game since May 1) will face the Padres on Friday night. Randy Vásquez and Antonio Senzatela are expected to start the game at Coors Field at 8:40 p.m. (ET).
