Colorado fired manager Buddy Bell on Friday. As with Phil Garner and Davey Lopes, a poor record to start the season put the final nail in Bell's coffin. The Rockies were 6-16 under Bell in 2002.

Bell took over the club before the start of the 2000 season. The Rockies had a winning record of 82-80 in his first year with the club but fell to 73-89 last season. He was also fired mid-season from his first and only other managerial position in Detroit, although that happened near the end of the 1998 season rather than in the first month.

Hitting coach Clint Hurdle will replace Bell as the manager. GM Dan O'Dowd has given Hurdle a managerial contract that goes through the end of this year. The Rockies may still look for another manager at the end of the season but the job is Hurdle's for the remainder of the year.

Bell was aware that his job was in jeopardy and his anxiety over the situation probably contributed to his eventual dismissal. O'Dowd cited the need for an attitude change in the clubhouse. Hurdle reportedly has a fun-loving attitude; he also has a good relationship with the media and has been readily available for statements in the past.

While Bell may not have been the Rockies' problem, at this point he no longer seemed likely to be an asset to any solution, so the club had to move on to someone who might be able to do more with the team. This year marks Hurdle's ninth season with the Colorado franchise and his sixth as the major league hitting coach. From 1994 to 1996, he was the organization's minor league hitting coordinator and a roving instructor.

Hurdle played 10 seasons of professional ball from 1977 to 1987 primarily as an outfielder, though he did have some time at the infield corners and a handful of games behind the plate. His own hitting record wasn't particularly impressive but his reputation as a hitting coach is one of the best in the game. However, it's rather difficult to judge the validity of his philosophies in the abnormal atmosphere of Colorado. For instance while the Rockies rose to first in the league in OBP, they've also dropped to worst in strikeouts and have been among the bottom third in walks under Hurdle's watch.

In 1988 he took a job with the Mets, for whom he played for three years including his final season, as the manager of their Florida State League A-ball team in St. Lucie. He managed at St. Lucie for two seasons before New York promoted him to manage their AA Texas League franchise the Jackson Mets. Hurdle moved to the AA Eastern League franchise, the Williamsport Bills, in 1991. The next season he was promoted to manager of the Mets' AAA International League team, where he spent two seasons before joining the Rockies organization.

Hurdle was reportedly considered for the major league managerial positions in Houston and Arizona during their most recent searches. He seems at least as qualified as any other former major league manager for this job. I suspect that he will continue to be a favorite of the media given his current reputation, and he also appears to have a good relationship with most of the players.

History has proven that managing the Rockies can be a difficult job given the unique home stadium environment of Coors Field. As the Rockies hitting coach, Hurdle survived two managers, Don Baylor and Jim Leyland, and will now succeed a third. He's had a front row view during the terms of three managers, which should have provided him with a distinctive perspective on many of the irregularities inherent in playing baseball a mile above sea level. He's also familiar with the club so he should both have some idea of the current overall status of the team and roster, as well as the changes he believes necessary to improve the ballclub.

Considering his almost exclusively hitting background, I have some concerns about how he will handle his pitching staff. However, Hurdle has articulated that he intends to trust his coaches for advice in matters where he may be somewhat weak.

Hurdle has worked closely with Juan Uribe and Jose Ortiz and thinks highly of both players. Uribe resumed hitting in the #2 hole last night. Ortiz was also in the lineup, hitting 7th, as the starting second baseman. I suspect Hurdle will keep both situations fairly stationary.

Unfortunately for Ben Petrick, Hurdle appears to have been the primary force behind Gary Bennett's appropriation of the starting catcher's job. Hurdle worked closely with Bennett during Spring Training and thinks highly of the catcher. Benny Agbayani may also see reduced playing time as Todd Hollandsworth is another of Hurdle's special projects.

On a related note, Milwaukee has not yet determined whether Jerry Royster will finish the season as the Brewers' manager. However, if Royster is replaced, it will not be by Paul Molitor, as Molitor has declined to interview for the position. Half of Royster's coaching staff is pursuing the manager's job, including hitting coach Gary Matthews, 1B coach Dave Collins, and 3B coach Gary Allenson; GM Dean Taylor will interview all three. Newly appointed bench coach Cecil Cooper wants to remain as a full time coach but will not put his name in for managing. Taylor has reportedly interviewed one outside candidate, Arizona bench coach Bob Melvin. Milwaukee will decide sometime in the coming week whether or not they want to broaden the search.