NL Manager of the Year: Breaking down the ballot
By Bill Felber
Bud Black, Colorado Rockies. In his first season on the Colorado bench, Black finished fourth last year while leading the Rockies to an 87-75 record and the second NL wild card ticket. The Rockies are on pace to better that performance in 2018, standing at 77-62 entering Thursday’s play and leading the NL West.
Like many candidates for this award, Black’s hopes probably rise or fall depending on what happens from here on out. The Rockies’ final 23 games include seven with the Diamondbacks and six with the Dodgers, so they essentially control their own destiny.
Black came to Colorado following nine seasons at the helm of the San Diego Padres, where his best season, 2010, produced a 90-72 record and runner-up finish to the eventual World Series champion Giants. He was released a third of the way into the 2015 season.
In the one measurable “stat” applicable to a manager – challenges won – Black is batting .565, having won 48 of 85 to date. Colorado’s roster has largely avoided crippling injuries in 2018, so Black’s major challenge has been the perennial one in Colorado, managing the pitching staff in a mile-high environment. In that sense, Black can already be judged a success. Colorado ranks only 13th in the NL in earned run average (4.53) but a more presentable ninth in WHIP (1.381), and fifth in ERA+. To nobody’s surprise, they lead the NL in both batting average and on base average. Overall, that’s an acceptable if not sensational statistical profile in Denver.