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Weiss will return to Colorado Rockies bench

Another losing season tough to swallow

DENVER – Nolan Arenado has the stats to be an MVP. His team doesn’t have the wins to really give him any sort of chance.

The Colorado Rockies’ Gold Glove third baseman was one of the few bright spots in a sour 68-94 season that saw All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki traded to Toronto and prized pitching prospects struggle at Coors Field. They struggled elsewhere, too, finishing with a league-worst 5.04 earned-run average.

Arenado tied for the Nationl League lead in homers with 42 and led the league with 130 runs batted in, all while turning in highlight-reel plays at the hot corner virtually every night.

He’s not stumping for MVP votes but he went to bat for his manager, Walt Weiss, who the Rockies announced Tuesday night would return next season.

“We haven’t been able to win. That’s not a reflection on him,” Arenado said. “He’s doing a fine job.”

The Rockies are 208-278 under Weiss, and went 68-94 and finished last in the NL West this season. He has one year left on his contract.

Weiss’ players campaigned for his return in the waning days of the season.

Bridich told The Associated Press that he and Walt “met for several hours (Tuesday) about the season and how we can get better with him back in 2016. It’s going well and we will continue to meet.”

There were some positives in 2015, such as Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez combining to hit 82 homers and drive in 227 runs. Prized pitching prospect Jon Gray also showed some hints of his talent.

“I’m encouraged by some of pieces we have in place,” Weiss recently said. “I feel good about where we are headed. We have some ground to cover, but I feel good about it.”

The 1988 AL Rookie of the Year with Oakland, Weiss played shortstop for the Rockies from 1994-97 and was a special assistant to the general manager for several seasons.

Weiss took over for Jim Tracy following the 2012 season and made the rare jump from high school coach to the big leagues.

“That’s all I ever do is thinking about winning,” Weiss said. “I was fortunate to win a lot as a player. I played some of the greatest teams of our era. That’s what I was used to.”



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