Hurdle fired; Tracy takes reins

[Solair Wright]

DENVER -- The Rockies dismissed manager Clint Hurdle and replaced him with bench coach Jim Tracy on Friday. The official announcement was made during a news conference at Coors Field.

The last straw for the Rockies was being swept at home in a three-game series this week by the Dodgers, with the Rockies being outscored by a combined 31-13. At 18-28, the club is a season-worst 10 games below .500, last in the NL West, and trailing the first-place Dodgers by 14 games.

CLINT HURDLE'S RECORD
YEAR REC. PCT. PLACE
2002 67-73 .479 4
2003 74-88 .457 4
2004 68-94 .420 4
2005 67-95 .414 5
2006 76-86 .469 4
2007 90-73 .552 2*
2008 74-88 .457 3
2009 18-28 .391 5
Totals 534-625 .461
* Won NL championship

Tom Reynolds, manager of the Rockies' Triple-A team in Colorado Springs, will be named bench coach to replace Tracy.

Hurdle, 51, went 534-625 (.461) as Rockies manager after taking over for Buddy Bell on April 26, 2002. He finished with one winning season. That was a doozy.

In 2007, the Rockies seemed headed once again for also-ran status, but they won 14 of their final 15 regular-season games. The last game was a 9-8, 13-inning victory over the Padres in a one-game showdown for the NL Wild Card. The Rockies swept the NL Division Series and Championship Series before being swept by the Red Sox in the World Series.

But the Rockies didn't maintain that momentum in 2008. With injuries to several key players during the first two months, inconsistent pitching and poor performances with men in scoring position, they fell to 74-88 last year. An offseason of coaching changes has not paid off in 2009.

Tracy, 53, is in his 32nd season of professional baseball as a player, coach and manager. The Rockies hired him as bench coach amid a flurry of changes during the offseasons.

Tracy has managed the Dodgers (2001-05) and the Pirates (2006-07), going 562-572. He led the Dodgers to the 2004 NL West crown with a 93-69 record. The Cardinals beat those Dodgers in the NL Division Series, three games to one.

Tracy came to Colorado along with hitting coach Don Baylor, third base coach Rich Dauer and bullpen coach Jim Wright.

[DodgerBlue8188]

I'm surprised he lasted that long.

[RubeBaker]

I'm surprised he lasted that long.

I was about to say the same thing. Usually managers are gone after 2-3 losing seasons. I guess Hurdle got a lot of leeway for having to coach at such a huge hitters park, pre-humidor.

[KHenry14]

Jim Tracy is no upgrade from Hurdle frankly. One mediocre leader replacing another. Where's the upside???

[Zito75]

I could see this coming since Spring Training. Why else would the front office hire both Tracy and Don Baylor? Both could manage if needed. I can see Hurdle catching on as a coach someplace in the NL.

[ol' aches and pains]

I was about to say the same thing. Usually managers are gone after 2-3 losing seasons. I guess Hurdle got a lot of leeway for having to coach at such a huge hitters park, pre-humidor.

Getting the Rockies to the World Series probably bought him some time. How soon they forget!

[Rich the Giants fan]

Getting the Rockies to the World Series probably bought him some time. How soon they forget!

One lucky month got him to the World Series. What's to forget?

[ol' aches and pains]

One lucky month got him to the World Series. What's to forget?

At least they got there. If you lived in Chicago, you'd appreciate what that means.

[CandlestickBum]

At least they got there. If you lived in Chicago, you'd appreciate what that means.

Ahh, I see, that whole "lost and loved being better than never having loved at all" thing is a bit overrated IMO.

1989 Earthquake Series anyone?

[Rich the Giants fan]

At least they got there. If you lived in Chicago, you'd appreciate what that means.

It doesn't mean Hurdles didn't deserve to get canned.

[RubeBaker]

Before the 2007 run, his team in 4th place 4 out of 5 years, and the year they didn't (2005), they were in 5th place. In fact, he only one 75+ games twice during his tenure (76 in 2006 and 90 in 2007).

Subtracting 2007, his record was an abysmal 444-552 (.446 WP).

Even looking at 2007, his team was a ho-hum 76-72 and in danger of falling below .500 again before their improbable 14-1 run in September. Even then, the barely squeaked past San Diego to reach the post season. But don't forget, the even more improbable fall of the Mets (going 5-12 the last 3 weeks of the season and dropping 6 of the last 7) also paved the way for their wild card slot.

Bottom line, 2007 in all respects appears to be a fluke as opposed to the norm under Hurdle. There is plenty of statistical evidence to back up his firing.


Jim Tracy is no upgrade from Hurdle frankly. One mediocre leader replacing another. Where's the upside???

In 5 seasons with the LA Dodgers, Tracy had 4 winning seasons and a 427-383 record.

In Pittsburgh, he went 135-189, which is not bad. Expecting any manager to win in Pittsburgh is like expecting somebody to build a working airplane with a rubber band, a paper clip, and some chewing gum.

He's had success before, and he has shown he can manage good talent when he has it. Give him a chance.

[baseball junkie]

I know this has probably already been asked before, but can anybody tell me how or why Jim Tracy keeps getting managing jobs?

First he failed the Dodgers, then he failed the Pirates, now he'll fail the Rockies ... give someone new a chance! :rant: lol

[KCGHOST]

Jim Tracy is no upgrade from Hurdle frankly. One mediocre leader replacing another. Where's the upside???

What is the point of firing Hurdle only to replace him with Tracy. For crying out loud if you are going to fire a guy at least get an upgrade.

[DodgerBlue8188]

I know this has probably already been asked before, but can anybody tell me how or why Jim Tracy keeps getting managing jobs?

First he failed the Dodgers, then he failed the Pirates, now he'll fail the Rockies ... give someone new a chance! :rant: lol

Jim Tracy wasn't a failure. He had 1 bad year in LA. He was a class act. Joe Torre would be losing in Pittsburgh.

[DodgerBlue8188]

I really don't know how he lasted 3 seasons based on his record, let a lone through 2007.