They change the mugshot on your Baseball-Reference page when you become a manager. It’s an obvious updating. But it really pounds in how much your life is different on the hotseat.
Walt Weiss’s photo on his player page at Baseball-Reference shows a sunny, smiling Oakland A’s shortstop with his hair swept to the side under a tipped-back hat. His manager’s mug, though, has a brow with weight over his eyes. Uneasy lies the head that wears a skipper’s cap.
On Monday, the Milwaukee Brewers hired former Rockies infielder Craig Counsell as their new manager, replacing Ron Roenicke, who was fired just 25 games into the season.
And Weiss, who played with Counsell in Colorado for two seasons, in 1995 and ’97, threw some advice to the first-year manager.
“Especially early on, lean on the people around you. But trust your instincts,” Weiss said. “It’s a little different in the manager’s seat. You see the game differently. You have to.”
In Weiss’ first three weeks as a manager, after he was hired before the 2013 season, he led the Rockies to a 13-4 record and a 2 ½-game lead atop the National League West. But April was their only winning month and Colorado dropped to last in the West with a 74-88 record.
In two-plus seasons with the Rockies, Weiss has a 151-197 record. He hasn’t always managed under ideal circumstances. But this season, he has a bigger hand in how the team is constructed. The 2015 run will be Weiss’ thesis.
And he knows how quickly the wind can change for a manager on the hotseat. Roenicke survived a 9-22 finish last season, but didn’t get past a 7-18 start this season.
“I always thought that Counsell would end up in the dugout again. I played with him for just a short time. But he was a great teammate. Really a great person,” Weiss said. “At the same time I feel bad for Roenicke. He’s a good manager and a first-class human being.
“I know that’s part of the deal when you sign up for this position. But it’s still tough to see happen to such a good guy.”
CHEW ON THIS
• Floyd Mayweather said he knew he was being cast as the Devil in a “Good vs. Evil” showdown Saturday against Manny Pacquiao. He didn’t much care, not with a $100 million check in his pocket. Bryan Curtis has a great rundown of fight week and “the spiritual rain cloud” that hovered over Mayweather over at Grantland.
• David Letterman is nearing his end as “Late Show” host. So Will Ferrell broke out his Harry Caray impression on the show last night.
• ICYMI: Chris Dempsey explained why Ty Lawson’s time with the Denver Nuggets may be coming to an end.
• Happy birthday to Tammy Wynette, who died in 1998 at age 55 but would have turned 73. Maybe Ron Roenicke is wistfully signing “Stand By Your Man” today.
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke
