After 17 years, Rockies General Manager Jeff Bridich steps down

Dinger, the official mascot of the Colorado Rockies(Jakob Rosen/Unsplash)

By Steven Bonifazi

(DENVER, Colo.) Colorado Rockies General Manager Jeff Bridich has stepped down from his position Monday.

The announcement came Monday on Twitter from the Colorado Rockies account, with an official statement that referred to the change in management as "mutually agreed" on between Bridich and the club. The statement also said that Greg Feasel, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the club, has been named president/chief operating officer, overseeing baseball operations such as leading the role the organization will play as the host of the 2021 MLB All-Star Game this July.

The statement also said that the Rockies will appoint an interim General Manager for the rest of the current season, with a search for a permanent General Manager taking place once the 2021 MLB postseason is finished.

According to The Denver Post, Bridich was promoted from his job as the Rockies’ farm director to General Manager in October 2014. He also aided in taking the Rockies to the 2017-18 playoffs, making history as the first time the club made the postseason in back-to-back years.

Nevertheless, Bridich's management sparked serious controversy among fans, from trading shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays in July of 2015 to more recently trading third baseman Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals in February.

Although fans have continued to show up to games this season, they also voiced their anger for Bridich across social media, with groups such as SELL the Rockies!, a Facebook group for fans that believe they have been mistreated as a direct result of the current ownership and management. Another Facebook page, titled Fire Jeff Bridich identifies a social movement that aimed to start a "statewide campaign to #FireJeffBridich for complete lack of competence."