Bud Black has been among the most coveted managerial candidates in the industry over the past couple of winters, and it seemed as if he would land in a high-profile gig. He was the first choice of the Nationals last winter but was unable to work out a contract. If the Blue Jays had decided to make a change with John Gibbons, Black was perceived to be the front-runner for the Toronto job because of his history with the team's leadership. The Braves also looked at him, as did other teams.
But Black has landed in perhaps the most difficult spot in baseball for managers — with the Colorado Rockies — because of the difficulty the organization has in developing and maintaining pitching. Black could have waited for a better opportunity with an organization closer to winning than the Rockies are, but Black turns 60 next year, and he needed to get back to what he wants to do.