The morning after his opening night as Rockies interim manager, Warren Schaeffer worked out in the hotel gym in Arlington, Texas.
It’s part of who he is. Schaeffer’s DNA includes sweat equity, discipline, routine, attention to detail and passion. That’s why, when many others see the Rockies and their 7-34 record as the majors’ unholy mess, Schaeffer has a far different take.
“This is an opportunity,” he said Tuesday during a phone interview before the Rockies played the Rangers.
Schaeffer, 40, wasn’t just talking about his career opportunity, but about the team’s chance to turn around a dismal season.
“If the Rockies, as an organization, doesn’t look at this as an opportunity to move forward, we’re missing out,” he said. “I look at it like this — and I want the boys to look at it like this, too — every day is a day where you show up to work and we can move the ball forward.”
Monday night, in Schaeffer’s first game at the helm, Colorado lost, 2-1, to the Rangers. Despite another loss, Schaeffer was encouraged.
“I thought we played a fantastic game,” Schaeffer said. “That’s something to build on. Now, if we can stack tonight on top of that, and then again tomorrow, and then the day after, and so forth, then we’ll move forward. But that’s a decision that the players have to make every single day. The wins will come if that’s what we are collectively building.”
The Rockies’ third base and infield coach since 2023, Schaeffer took over as manager for Bud Black on Sunday when Black was fired after eight-plus seasons in Colorado.
Before that, he’d spent his career in the Rockies’ farm system as a player, coach and manager.
Several current Rockies players, including two-time Gold Glove center fielder Brenton Doyle, Gold Glove shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, and reserve outfielder Sean Bouchard, played under Schaeffer at Triple-A Albuquerque. Schaeffer received glowing reviews.
Asked if Schaeffer was the right man to try to reverse the Rockies’ downward spiral, Doyle was direct. “One hundred percent. We need somebody like him to take charge and really help us get turned around.”
Bouchard, who played 69 games under Schaeffer in 2022, is a fan.
“The first things that come to my mind are work ethic, energy and humbleness,” Bouchard said. “For as long as I have known him, he’s always been one of the hardest-working coaches. ‘Schaeff’s’ work ethic and energy are incredibly infectious.”
Nonetheless, Schaffer’s golden opportunity comes with tremendous obstacles. Colorado entered Tuesday night tied with the 1988 Orioles, 1932 Red Sox and 1928 Phillies for worst start in the Modern Era (since 1901).
Through Monday, Colorado had been outscored by 129 runs, the second-worst run differential through 40 games since 1900, with only the 2023 Oakland Athletics worse at minus-144. Colorado’s .218 batting average and .642 OPS both rank third from the bottom, with its 5.69 team ERA being the second-highest.
While owner Dick Monfort predicted in February that the Rockies had a chance to have one of the best defenses “in the history of the game,” the Rockies currently have one of the worst defenses in the majors, ranking 28th in defensive runs saved across all positions. Colorado’s .976 fielding percentage was the worst in the majors, while its 36 errors were the second-most.
The club has been without Tovar (hip bruise) since April 16 and new second baseman Thairo Estrada (broken wrist) has yet to suit up. But Schaeffer doesn’t use injuries as an excuse. And he vowed that the defense would improve.
“Up until two days ago, I was in charge of the infield defense and I will take full responsibility for that,” he said. “We work hard every single day, but I’m not going to make any excuses at all for our defense because I expect it to be better. I don’t care if ‘Tovie’ is hurt, guys are more than capable of stepping in there.”
Schaeffer predicts that Colorado’s avalanche of bad baseball is nearing its end.
“When things are going bad, which they have been, there is a tendency for a lot to go bad,” he said. “I think that’s what we’ve seen in the first 41 games. That being said, we have every intention of moving forward.”
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Originally Published: May 13, 2025 at 6:01 PM MDT
