Dan O'Dowd
Encyclopedia
Dan O'Dowd has served as the General Manager
of the Colorado Rockies
since September 20, 1999. Before being hired by the Rockies, he spent 15 years working for the Baltimore Orioles
and Cleveland Indians
, working his way from Accounts Manager to Director of Baseball Operations / Assistant General Manager.
O'Dowd was raised in Montville, New Jersey.
The results of O'Dowd's GM career have been mixed. Upon taking over the team, he traded fading stars Dante Bichette
, Vinny Castilla
, and Darryl Kile
, opting to build a team around pitching, speed and defense. The following season, after a surprising 82-80 run, O'Dowd signed pitchers Denny Neagle
and Mike Hampton
to long-term contracts. The acquisitions turned out to be disastrous for the club and were two of the worst free-agency signings in baseball history. Afterwards, O'Dowd attempted to shed salary and build a foundation of young talent around franchise cornerstone Todd Helton
. Under his watch, the team developed everyday players such as Matt Holliday
, Troy Tulowitzki
, Jeff Francis
, and Ubaldo Jimenez
.
The 2007 season was arguably the most surprising run by any Rockies team, as the team won 21 of their last 22 games to make it to a tiebreaker against the San Diego Padres
. The Rockies, who were making their first playoff appearance in 12 years, swept both the Philadelphia Phillies
and Arizona Diamondbacks
en route to the 2007 World Series
, before losing to the Boston Red Sox
. O'Dowd was rewarded with a contract extension following the team's successful playoff run. Under O'Dowd's leadership, the Rockies have managed four winning seasons and an overall record of 852-931 as of the 2010 season.
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
since September 20, 1999. Before being hired by the Rockies, he spent 15 years working for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, working his way from Accounts Manager to Director of Baseball Operations / Assistant General Manager.
O'Dowd was raised in Montville, New Jersey.
The results of O'Dowd's GM career have been mixed. Upon taking over the team, he traded fading stars Dante Bichette
Dante Bichette
Alphonse Dante Bichette, Sr. is a former Italian-American Major League Baseball player. Bichette was a four-time All-Star as a member of the Colorado Rockies.-Career:...
, Vinny Castilla
Vinny Castilla
Vinicio "Vinny" Castilla Soria is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played his best years with the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves...
, and Darryl Kile
Darryl Kile
Darryl Andrew Kile was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1991-2002 for three different teams in his career. In his first season for the Cardinals, he won 20 games in 2000 as the team reached the postseason for the first time in four years. They advanced to the...
, opting to build a team around pitching, speed and defense. The following season, after a surprising 82-80 run, O'Dowd signed pitchers Denny Neagle
Denny Neagle
Dennis Edward Neagle Jr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was last under contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during the season, but he did not play due to injury...
and Mike Hampton
Mike Hampton
Michael William Hampton is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, Hampton was well known for being one of the best hitting pitchers of his time, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.-Early career:Mike Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in...
to long-term contracts. The acquisitions turned out to be disastrous for the club and were two of the worst free-agency signings in baseball history. Afterwards, O'Dowd attempted to shed salary and build a foundation of young talent around franchise cornerstone Todd Helton
Todd Helton
Todd Lynn Helton is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He is a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, four-time National League Player of the Month, and three-time Gold Glove winner....
. Under his watch, the team developed everyday players such as Matt Holliday
Matt Holliday
Matthew Thomas Holliday , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.Holliday is a five-time All-Star and Silver Slugger...
, Troy Tulowitzki
Troy Tulowitzki
Troy Trevor Tulowitzki , nicknamed Tulo, is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Colorado Rockies.Tulowitzki's arm, range and instincts at shortstop are highly regarded...
, Jeff Francis
Jeff Francis
Jeffrey William Francis is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:...
, and Ubaldo Jimenez
Ubaldo Jimenez
Ubaldo Jiménez García is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He pitched the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies history on April 17, 2010, against the Atlanta Braves.-Colorado Rockies :...
.
The 2007 season was arguably the most surprising run by any Rockies team, as the team won 21 of their last 22 games to make it to a tiebreaker against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. The Rockies, who were making their first playoff appearance in 12 years, swept both the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
en route to the 2007 World Series
2007 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsThe Red Sox cruised to a blowout win in Game 1 behind ALCS MVP Josh Beckett, who struck out nine batters, including the first four he faced, en route to his fourth win of the 2007 postseason...
, before losing to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. O'Dowd was rewarded with a contract extension following the team's successful playoff run. Under O'Dowd's leadership, the Rockies have managed four winning seasons and an overall record of 852-931 as of the 2010 season.