The MLB-worst Colorado Rockies are scapegoating their hitting coach. On Thursday, the Rockies introduced they’ve fired hitting coach Hensley Meulens and changed him with former supervisor Clint Hurdle, who had been serving as a particular assistant to basic supervisor Invoice Schmidt. Hurdle will keep on as hitting coach for the remainder of the season.
“This has been an extremely irritating and disappointing begin to the season, particularly offensively,” Schmidt mentioned in an announcement. “Whereas all of us share duty, I felt a change was essential, and {that a} new voice was wanted to offer us the very best probability to carry out as we transfer ahead within the season. Clint’s 30-plus years of baseball expertise, particularly over the previous three-plus seasons working with our younger gamers all through the Minor Leagues, put him and our membership in a spot to achieve success transferring ahead. I wish to thank Hensley for his efforts over his two-plus seasons with the Rockies. He’s a lifetime baseball-man who nonetheless has loads to offer the sport of baseball.”
The Rockies have baseball’s worst file (3-15) and run differential (minus-51). They rank twenty first in batting common (.220), twenty fourth in on-base share (.284), and twenty fourth in slugging share (.344) regardless of enjoying residence video games in Coors Subject. Adjusted for ballpark, the Rockies have a team-wide 72 OPS+, fifth worst in baseball. Meaning they’re 28% worse than the league-average offense.
That’s not on Meulens, after all. The Rockies lack expertise. Meulens joined the group as their hitting coach in 2023 after a profitable teaching profession with a number of groups in a number of completely different roles. That features hitting coach with the San Francisco Giants throughout their World Sequence championship years in 2010, 2012, and 2024. It is simpler to fireside the hitting coach than the gamers, so the Rockies fired Meulens.
Greater than something, the Rockies are in baseball’s basement as a result of they’re behind the occasions organizationally and seemingly unwilling to herald new folks and recent views. The entrance workplace is loaded with individuals who have been with the group for many years. There’s something to be mentioned for loyalty and selling from inside just like the Rockies do, little doubt, however sooner or later loyalty turns into stagnation. Colorado is much past that time.
Take a look at the rotation. Kyle Freeland, Germán Márquez, and Antonio Senzatela have every made 4 begins for the Rockies this yr. They have been three of their high 4 in video games began in 2017. That little turnover within the rotation is extraordinary. The rotation is to not blame for the dangerous offense, however it’s a signal the Rockies aren’t on the up and up, organizationally. Issues are damaged and but nothing modifications.
Hurdle, 67, was Colorado’s supervisor from 2002-09. I perceive the hitting coach market will not be ripe in the midst of the season, however as soon as once more the Rockies are going with somebody they know, and never bringing in a brand new voice. The way in which the Rockies function doesn’t work. The proof is within the standings yearly. A brand new hitting coach is window dressing. Issues should change larger up on the organizational ladder for the group to have even a modicum of success.
The Rockies went 59-103 in 2023 and 61-101 in 2024. These have been the primary two 100-loss seasons in franchise historical past. They’re properly on their approach to their third this yr.
