Let him coach. Give him space. Provide a safety net, not training wheels.

That's my advice to the Rockies in how to treat Walt Weiss.

Weiss has heard all the jokes about going from high school to the big leagues, even if the facts don't necessarily fit. He was a Rockies assistant for seven years, and former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle offered him every job but his own. Weiss chose to spend more time with his family, working with his own boys. He's ready for this challenge, even if his résumé seems like it ended up in the wrong e-mail box.

Blog: On the Rox


When Weiss was hired as manager, the immediate reaction was that he would be easily controlled by the Rockies' front office, especially since Bill Geivett, the director of major-league operations, has a desk in the clubhouse. Weiss is a lot of things, but a puppet isn't one of them. He's one of a kind, a man devoid of hype who demands respect.

He came up as a skinny shortstop from upstate New York, turned into a star at the University of North Carolina and became a key figure on the Oakland Athletics' great teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

"He's going in with players who want to play for him, who want to do things right because they will trust him," future Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa said of Weiss. "He just has to reinforce what he has learned through the years. He won't have any problem leading."


Had Jim Tracy remained in charge, I would have said the same thing: Get out of his way. Tracy became uncomfortable with his situation, left to advance notions — primarily the four-man rotation and piggyback relievers — that he didn't believe in. He became a sacrificial pawn.

Weiss enters with a chance, given the return to a traditional rotation and potential improved health of Troy Tulowitzki. A curious outgrowth of Weiss' hiring is the notion that he will be nothing more than an interim manager, keeping the seat warm. His one-year contract doesn't help dispel that notion.

The reality is that Weiss likely will receive a rollover deal every time he shows up in spring training, similar to the way Tracy's "lifetime" contract was worded.

Of course, it's unreasonable to expect Weiss to make a seamless move into the chair at the front of the room. But let's be honest, this is a transition season, the roster howling as much. Give Weiss room to make mistakes. So he takes out a reliever one pitch too late? Like that hasn't happened before. Hurdle, for all the confidence he exuded, learned in real time, clumsily navigating those first few seasons before helping the Rockies reach the World Series in 2007.

Hurdle's strength was communication. Such is the case with Weiss, though his won't be at Spinal Tap's volume 11. Weiss brings presence and toughness. He has a way with dry humor — some former teammates have compared him to comedian Steven Wright, who's famous for such lines as "Why does sour cream have an expiration date?"

Yet he knows when to get serious.

"He's a great connector," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said of Weiss. "He knows what to say and when to say it."

And Weiss didn't need a carry-on bag for his ego on the flight to Scottsdale, Ariz. His confidence comes from how he carries himself. How do you think he so easily ingratiated himself and stood out in clubhouses that included Mark McGwire, Rickey Henderson, Larry Walker and Andres Galarraga?

Besides, he knows enough to lean heavily on former managers such as Rene Lacheman and Tom Runnells.

"I would be naive and disrespectful to the guys who have been here before to think I have all the answers. There have been some smart baseball guys in this position," Weiss said. "I know I will have to figure things out and find a rhythm to managing the game. But that excites me. Finding a way to win a game each night is what drove me as a player and will drive me as a manager."

Weiss must develop a style, learning how to incorporate statistics and his own eyes to make decisions. Ultimately, most will see his résumé as a weakness. In fact, it should be a strength.

Players will respect him, and he will challenge them to meet high standards. No one, not even Weiss, knows how this is going to turn out. But the Rockies would be well served to give Weiss the freedom to find out.


Rockies' key dates

Sunday: Pitchers and catchers report.

Tuesday: First workouts for pitchers and catchers.

Saturday: Other players report.

Feb. 17: First full-squad workout.

Feb. 23: Cactus League opener vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m.

Opening day: At Milwaukee Brewers, April 1, 12:10 p.m.

Home opener: San Diego Padres, April 5, 2:10 p.m.