Colorado Rockies’ Manager Race: Matt Williams joins in - MLB News
The Colorado Rockies search for a new team manager is still underway. The latest name in the list of potential candidates is Matt Williams, the Arizona Diamondbacks current third-base coach.
The Toronto Blue Jays have also expressed interest in the 46-year-old though they have yet to contact the Diamondbacks for permission to interview him.
Williams, originally from Bishop, California, is currently managing the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League, his first assignment as a manager. He is excited about the prospect of managing the Rockies.
Although Matt has not confirmed it, he may be meeting the Rockies’ executives on Monday. "It depends on the schedule here and all of my obligations here," Williams said. "It could be any day now. The fact that they're interested in me filling those positions
is great, very exciting."
He was hopeful that he can get is point of view across and shed some light on his intended path to success for the team. "When we sit down and talk, we'll see what happens. I'll try to answer all their questions and give them some direction based on how
I see it," Matt said.
Those expected to be present at the meeting include Rockies’ owner, CEO and Chairman d**k Monfort, senior vice-president of Major League Baseball operations Bill Geivett, executive vice-president general manager and chief baseball officer Dan O’Dowd.
The meeting’s timing could be changed as the GM’s and their assistants will be attending a three day long meeting in Indian Wells, California. There are still two weeks left in the conclusion of the Arizona Fall League. The fact that the Rockies hold their
Spring Training at Salt River Field, the home of the Salt River Rafters will certainly make matters more convenient.
Nicknamed as "Matt the bat", the right-hander played in Major League for 17 seasons. He represented three teams including the San Francisco Giants, the Cleveland Indians and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Matt has a rare distinction of playing World Series with
all three teams that he represented. He had a career batting average of .268 with 378 home-runs and 1218 RBI’s in 1866 regular season games. He also won four Gold Glove Awards and made five All-Star appearances. Williams playing career concluded in 2003.
Previously the Rockies have interviewed Tom Runnells, their current bench coach, veteran players Jason Giambi, who is still a part of the Rockies team and Walt Weiss, a former Rockies player who is currently coaching the Regis Jesuit High School team.
Several other names have been mentioned to have the potential to be the new Colorado Manager including San Diego Padres’ front office special assistant Brad Ausmus, Los Angeles Dodgers’ third-base coach Tim Wallach, Oakland Athletics’ third-base coach Mike
Gallego and Cleveland Indians’ bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr.
The eventual choice by the Rockies for manager is yet to be confirmed, but the race certainly has some very good names in it. The club is spoilt for choice at the moment and it may not be a bad thing for the team’s future.
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