“Rockies in Crisis: Sacking of Hitting Coach Sparks Unexpected Hurdle Era”

Hey there, baseball fans! If you’ve been tuning into Major League Baseball this season, you’ve probably noticed something’s not quite right with the Colorado Rockies, and it ain’t just their hitting slumps! With a record that’s got fans scratching their heads, the Rockies are in the doldrums, struggling to put runs on the board. So what do they do? They’ve shaken up the team and called for some new voices in the dugout.

Hitting coach Hensley Meulens was let go Thursday, and guess who’s stepping up to the plate? None other than former Rockies skipper and current problem solver, Clint Hurdle. After serving as a special assistant to the GM, Hurdle’s now bringing his wisdom as the team’s interim hitting coach.

Now, listen, over the past three-plus seasons, this guy’s been making the rounds, inspiring young Rockies players throughout the Minor Leagues. His experience at this level could be just the jolt the team needs to change the offensive catalysate.

The Rockies’ current record stands at a dismal 3-15. Yeah, ouch! They’re hitting a .220 team batting average – not something you’d brag about – and they’ve topped the charts in getting punched out with a whopping 195 strikeouts. They’re tied for second-to-fewest home runs with a measly 12, and their run tally is… well, it’s the lowest in the majors at 52.

Meulens’ tenure has its highs and lows. He was part of the Giants” three World Series victories, but struggling with the Rockies. Frachise history has seen better days in terms of batting, but now we’ve got Hurdle, who managed the Rockies to the 2007 World Series (though they didn’t quite take the crown). He’s got a record of 534-625 as the Rockies manager but creates hope of sparking something magical out of his team.

And, let’s not forget the bizarre subplot happening off the field. Last year, Meulens was involved in an FAA investigation after being spot in the cockpit of the team’s plane. Yeah, you read that right—baseball and aviation just collided in the sky.

Whether it’s the new coaching strategy, fresh perspectives, or just a much needed change in narrative, only time will tell if the Colorado Rockies can climb out of this early season rut. They’re looking to Hurdle (punchensary intended) to be the guiding…

LEARN MORE.

With the worst record in Major League Baseball, the Colorado Rockies are making a change they hope can provide a jolt to a lifeless offense.

Hitting coach Hensley Meulens was fired Thursday and was replaced by former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, who had been a special assistant to the general manager.

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At 3-15, Colorado has the fourth-worst team batting average in the National League (.220) and third-worst team OPS (.629). The Rockies have the second-most strikeouts in MLB at 195, are tied for the second-fewest home runs with 12 and rank last in the majors with 52 runs scored.

Meulens was in his third year as Rockies hitting coach after being hired before the 2023 season. Last year, the Rockies’ .242 team batting average and .704 OPS were the worst in franchise history.

Hurdle will serve as interim hitting coach for the remainder of the season, according to the team.

“This has been an incredibly frustrating and disappointing start to the season, especially offensively,” Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said in a statement. “While all of us share responsibility, I felt a change was necessary, and that a new voice was needed to give us the best chance to perform as we move forward in the season.

“Clint’s 30-plus years of baseball experience, especially over the past three-plus seasons working with our young players throughout the Minor Leagues, put him and our club in a place to be successful moving forward.”

Hurdle was the Rockies manager from 2002-09, taking over after Buddy Bell was fired. He managed Colorado to the 2007 World Series, which they lost in four games to the Boston Red Sox. In his eight seasons as manager, Hurdle compiled a 534-625 record.

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Prior to being promoted to manager, Hurdle was the hitting coach on Colorado’s staff for five seasons, following three years as the organization’s minor league hitting instructor. He’s been a special assistant to Schmidt since 2022.

Meulens has been a coach at the major league level since 2010 with the San Francisco Giants and was the hitting coach for the Giants’ three World Series champions in 2010, 2012 and 2014. He had also been a bench coach for the New York Mets and assistant hitting coach for the New York Yankees before being hired by Colorado.

Additionally, Meulens was the subject of an FAA investigation one year ago for being in the cockpit of the team’s charter plane during a flight from Denver to Toronto.