Jim Tracy '78 is a little older and little wiser.
 
After stints as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates, Tracy is savoring his third shot in Major League Baseball. Tracy took over as interim manager of the Colorado Rockies on May 29, and the players responded by with an 11-game winning streak and fighting for a playoff spot.
 
But the former Marietta College All-American says he isn't doing anything differently in Denver that he didn't do in Los Angeles and Pittsburgh. “Strategically, I don't do it much differently. I don't feel that at any point in LA or Pittsburgh that it has been a complete failure. I've always felt I could hold my head up high in the way I handled those situations,” he said. “What's different is the stability I feel above me is overwhelming and that starts with the ownership, president, general manager, assistant GM and so on. You just are overwhelmed with the stability above you and the mindset that they have.”
 
He says the leadership in Colorado reminds him of his playing time under former Pioneer baseball coach Don Schaly '59.
 
“There is a specific type of individual they are looking for to put on a Colorado Rockies uniform. It really embodies everything I have been about. It resembles a lot of what I experienced at Marietta College and the man I played for there,” Tracy said. “It is really refreshing.”
 
Tracy has experienced success in the Major Leagues. During his time LA, the Dodgers had a 427-383 (.527) regular season record, including a first-place finish in the National League West in 2004. That year he finished third in the Manager of the Year balloting. His time in Pittsburgh was less accomplished as the Pirates went 135-189 (.417) in two seasons.
 
Tracy understands that many of today's great managers hit their stride with their third, fourth or even fifth team. For example, Joe Torre is with his fifth team (Dodgers) and didn't experience any consistent success until his fourth team (Yankees). St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa struggled in his first assignment with the Chicago White Sox, but has won championships with the Oakland A's and Cardinals.
 
However, Tracy wishes his third opportunity didn't come at the expense of his friend. Former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle was fired after the team opened 18-28.
 
“The way this came about is bittersweet. Clint and I developed a tremendous respect for each other as opposing managers,” Tracy said. “When the situation was posed to me I had reservations. I knew coming in that if things were to go awry that they wanted me to be on the coaching staff. But I wouldn't have put on the Rockies jersey if the first call I got had not come from Clint Hurdle.”
 
Tracy is in his 32nd year of professional baseball, and says the winning streaks and getting back into the playoff picture this season has been an exciting adventure.
 
“I'm in a wonderful situation here. We have a very interesting mix of players. We have Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Aaron Cook and Josh Fogg along with some very talented young players,” Tracy said. “These young guys can learn a lot from them. I've been telling the media around here that we aren't looking at the winning streaks. We expect to win every day. It we don't win we are very disappointed.”
 
These days, Jim Tracy doesn't have much to be disappointed about.