Wins have been hard to come by for the Colorado Rockies this season. The Rockies’ 2025 season started 9-50, continued its slide with a current 19-65 record, and suffered a -221 run differential—one of the worst in both franchise and MLB history. But Sunday’s game was an interesting endeavor, especially in terms of a managerial on-field statement that fans and netizens have been eating up.

Newest Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer was ejected in the June 29 game for the first time in his MLB managerial career. This came after a controversial call on leadoff hitter Tyler Freeman, who was ejected after taking a close third strike in the third inning. It appeared to clip the bottom of the zone and bounce out of catcher William Contreras’ glove. After voicing mild frustration to umpire Ramon De Jesus, Freeman was quickly ejected, despite not showing him up or using foul language. “I didn’t swear. I didn’t really say anything rude,” Freeman stated as per MLB.com. “All I said was like, ‘Come on, bro. That’s twice,’ and he tossed me.”

That’s when Schaeffer ran out of the dugout to confront the umpire. In a visibly animated exchange, Schaeffer removed his chewing gum, slammed his cap to the ground. And he showed De Jesus exactly where he believed the pitch was. The umpire tossed him moments later, but Schaffer returned twice to give him a final word. “I like Ramon, but that was way too quick to get rid of Freeman,” Schaeffer said postgame. “One of our best players, in the third inning? That’s ridiculous. I’ve just got to stick up for my player.”

Freeman’s ejection was major. He already has 11 RBIs, .316 AVG with .895 OBPs, and was riding a 19–game on-base streak. It deprived Colorado of one of its hottest hitters, required a defensive adjustment, and limited any momentum Freeman was building early in the game. The Rockies were already struggling, and losing Freeman could’ve tilted the game further in Milwaukee’s favor.

But the Rockies pulled through. Trailing by two entering the eighth, they tied it with Brenton Doyle’s RBI double, Orlando Arcia’s solo homer in the ninth, and Kyle Farmer’s RBI single in the 11th. It resulted in a 4-3 win in the Rockies’ favor, reflecting the difference Schaeffer’s passion made for a franchise long out of playoff contention. This dramatic victory not only highlighted the team’s newfound resilience, but also underscored the impact of recent changes in leadership.

Warren Schaeffer’s first career ejection sparks a turning point for Rockies

The Rockies appointed Schaeffer as interim manager on May 11, after they let veteran manager Bud Black go. Since then, the franchise has exhibited signs of progress, even if win numbers have not necessarily paralleled their trajectory. With their Sunday triumph, a ray of light seems to have shone through a foggy season. Colorado has climbed up to 11-29, unlike the 7-33 under Black. Their winning percentage has grown from .175 to .250. And runs per game have risen from 3.33 under Black to 3.78 with Schaeffer.

Fans have been noticing the difference, too. The Twitter and YouTube commenters are commending Schaeffer for his passion. This is something fans have missed in the last few lackluster Rockies performances. They’ve made sure to get it across. Deserved.

However, despite a marginal uptick under Schaeffer, the Rockies remain at the bottom of the MLB rankings. As of today, they hold a mere 19-65 record. They are over 33 games below the NL West leaders, the Dodgers. Core problems for the franchise remain deeply rooted: ineffective pitching, lifeless offense (even on Coors Field, a hitter’s paradise), and porous defense. Fans are still giving credit to Schaeffer himself for even a minimal upgrade in performance—and if the Rockies continue in this vein, they might just get somewhere after all. What do you think?