Get to know new Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer

DENVER — You hear “energy” thrown around so much when Warren Schaeffer is discussed that you’re surprised to learn that it’s not his middle name.

The replacement for the dismissed Bud Black certainly fits in the commonly-used template of having the replacement coach or manager provide a contrast in personality and style to the predecessor.

Where the 67-year-old Black provided the a typical old-school major league manager’s demeanor — relaxed, rolling with the day-to-day ebb and flow of the sport with an even keel that allowed him to effectively weather the storms — the 40-year-old Schaeffer brings a slightly different style to the gig.

“He’s a high-energy guy who’s going to be wanting to work every single day,” pitcher Kyle Freeland said. “We love what he’s been doing, especially with our infielders.

“His work ethic speaks very highly of the kind of person that he is. Everyone in this clubhouse loves him.”

Schaeffer’s entire professional life has been spent in the Rockies organization.

A Rockies lifer, Schaeffer joined the organization as a 38th-round draft pick from Virginia Tech in 2007, advancing through the minor-league ranks to make it as high as AAA Colorado Springs in 2010 and 2011. But with a .262/.303/.393 line in the Pacific Coast League, he never got past the Sky Sox, and his playing journey ended in 2012 with 80 games in AA Tulsa.

After that, Schaeffer immediately went into coaching. By 2015, he was a manager at low-A Asheville in the South Atlantic League. Three years later, he reached AA Hartford. He was scheduled to take over at AAA Albuquerque in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic punted that opportunity a year; he guided the Isotopes to 58-72 and 62-86 marks in 2021 and 2022 before joining the Rockies’ coaching staff in 2023.

“I was also involved in bringing him in the organization as a senior sign way back when. So I’ve seen him as an amateur to a minor leaguer to the player development,” general manager Bill Schmidt said.

And from what Schmidt has seen, it’s more than just the energy that he likes.

“I think just really how he communicates and relates with players, his connection to players,” he said.

Center fielder Brenton Doyle, who played under Schaeffer briefly at Albuquerque in 2022 before rejoining him with the Rockies a year later, can attest.

“You can tell when someone really cares and he goes out of his way to make sure on and off the field that you’re good and you’re taken care of,” Doyle said. “And like everyone’s saying, he brings a lot of energy and I’m just really looking forward to seeing him as the new manager.”

COULD MORE CHANGES BE COMING?

It seems unlikely that there could be any more shakeups in the dugout at this point.

Gone from the staff that headed north from Scottsdale in late March are three coaches, with hitting Hensley Meulens sacked in favor of Clint Hurdle last month. Hurdle now moves to bench coach after Redmond’s firing.

But in the clubhouse, the players know the dismissal of Black and bench coach Mike Redmond may not be the final moves made.

“Maybe more is coming,” third baseman Ryan McMahon said. “It might be a kick in the ass, right? ‘Well, hey, heads up, we’re in a spot where we need to make some moves and start doing some stuff or else things like this are going to happen.'”

The fact that Schaeffer has the “interim” tag is certainly relevant. He has the balance of the season to prove himself. Certainly, there are examples of interim bosses proving worthy of the job.

One example is current Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, who had the interim tag when promoted under similar circumstances in May 2016 while serving as a AAA-level manager in that club’s farm system. Like Schaeffer, Snitker was an organization lifer when given the gig.

The Braves removed the interim tag five months later; nine years on, he’s still the team’s manager and has an ongoing streak of seven-straight playoff appearances and a World Series ring.

Obviously, that’s a best-case scenario. But it’s a reminder that you shouldn’t close your eyes to the idea that Schaeffer could be a long-term answer.

“Interim manager right now, but we’ll see where it goes,” Schmidt said.

WARREN SCHAEFFER’S CAREER MANAGERIAL LEDGER

2015: Asheville Tourists (A): 72-67
2016: Asheville Tourists (A): 66-72
2017: Asheville Tourists (A): 68-70

Asheville total: 206-209

2018: Hartford Yard Goats (AA): 65-72
2019: Hartford Yard Goats (AA): 73-66

Hartford total: 138-138

2021: Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA): 58-72
2022: Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA): 62-86

Albuquerque total: 120-158

Minor-league total: 464-505

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