The Colorado Rockies finished the 2013 season with another last-place finish. However the last place finish didn’t stop them from giving manager Walt Weiss a three-year contract on Tuesday.
Weiss got the job after Jim Tracy resigned after a 64-98 season last year. He led the Rockies to a ten win improvement over last year. With a 74-88 record this year, the Rockies finished last in the division for the second straight season. It’s the first time in team history that they have finished in last place in consecutive years, according to MLB.com. The Rockies believe that Weiss can turn the team around, otherwise they wouldn’t have given him a three-year contract.
''I think it comes down to stability - stability for a club, from the players' perspective, that a manger is going to be around,'' Weiss told the Associated Press. ''They know the manager is going to be there and he's the guy running the club. I think there's something to be said for that.''
The Rockies had struggled with their pitching in the past. They aren’t struggling with pitching anymore however. In 2012 they went 29-68 with a 5.81 ERA, and this year they went 54-60 with a 4.57 ERA, MLB.com notes.
Weiss, who is a former All-Star shortstop, spent 14 seasons in the majors, four of which were with the Rockies. From 2002 to 2008 Weiss was a special assistant to the general manager with the Rockies.