Bud Black conducts like a maestro in Rockies managerial debut

Sometimes the guy at the head of the orchestra may just look like a crazy person flailing his arms about while 100 uber-talented musicians fill the room with their brilliance mostly oblivious to the man with the pointy stick. And while baseball managers don’t wear tuxedos or wave batons, they do dress in a special garment for their job and are responsible for getting a large number of elite performers — and their egos — to work together as one.

Yesterday was the 1,363rd game in the managing career of Bud Black. But it was his first wearing purple. And he looked like a maestro before his new talent.

In his debut with the club that signed him almost immediately after the 2016 season ended, Black led the Colorado Rockies to a 7-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. His ability to handle his young pitching staff and explosive bullpen was tested right away.

At first, it seemed like it might be an easy day with Jon Gray plowing his way through the first four innings with seven strikeouts and barely a hint of a rally from the Brewers offense. But — as they so often do in the game of baseball — things took a very quick turn and after a series of line-drive hits, the lead had evaporated and Gray appeared momentarily lost.

And the first tough decision in 2017 presented itself. Black chose not to go with the quick hook, pulling Gray before he recorded a single out in the inning. It would have been reasonable to leave him in and make the second-year pitcher work through it. He might have bounced back and has done so in similar situations. Also, it’s a while before an off day so you don’t want to tax the ‘pen too much, too soon.

But instead of sticking with his young ace, Black made a change and initially it looked like the decision to go to Scott Oberg would backfire. He immediately allowed the go-head run to score (though he had inherited that runner) but then something very interesting happened; he shut down the rest of the inning, and the bullpen shut down the rest of the game, allowing no earned runs and setting the stage for the Rockies comeback win.

Black stuck with Adam Ottavino even though his release point was all over the place and he allowed two walks and a double steal before recording an out. But after handing Otto’s closer job to Greg Holland, who hadn’t pitched in over a year, Black proved it wasn’t out of lack of confidence for the veteran righty with the wicked slider. Ottavino rewarded Black’s faith by striking out the side, stranding the runners, and preserving the lead.

We’ll have more on Holland later this morning at 10.

The Rockies manager had a good first day. Well, technically, he’s been in the office for a few months, but still, these are the days he is paid for. And for at least one day, he conducted like a maestro … and the orchestra sang.

It was game 1,363 of Bud Black’s career. He has a career .477 winning percentage. But he is 1-0 in a Rockies uniform.