Pirate Galaxy » nts and helped the Opals get off to a strong

DENVER -- Walt Weiss made his way around Coors Field on Sunday to say so long to the Colorado Rockies fans for the season.Turns out, his farewell was for good, too.Weiss is out as Rockies manager after four seasons in charge. In a statement Monday, the team said Weiss has decided to step down.However, he really didnt have a job to come back to because his contract expired after the season finale. General manager Jeff Bridich, who took over two years ago, will now get to select his own manager.The Rockies finished 75-87 this season, their best record since 2010.Weiss took over a team on Nov. 7, 2012, that was coming off the worst season in franchise history. He was a high school coach at the time with no major league coaching experience. The former big league shortstop learned on the fly and concluded his managerial stint in Colorado with a 283-365 record.In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Weiss said he was pleased with the direction the team was heading.Theres a lot to look forward to here, especially from where we came from, Weiss said. Coming in right after the worst season in the history of the franchise, I feel like that if it wasnt rock bottom, it was pretty darn close. But theres a lot to feel good about.Weiss figured all the Rockies needed was to find a couple more arms for the bullpen. Instead, Bridichs offseason retooling starts with the search for a new manager.The players appreciated Weiss laid-back style, with All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado giving Weiss credit for having the Rockies on the right track. Arenado said Sunday that Weiss is a manager that every player respects, everyone around the game respects. You dont find those people too often.The next skipper will be inheriting this: A batting champion in DJ LeMahieu, one of the games top leadoff hitters in Charlie Blackmon, an RBI monster in Arenado, another deep threat in Carlos Gonzalez, a star in the making in shortstop Trevor Story and a young but talented rotation led by Jon Gray.Theres also this: A shaky bullpen, which blew 28 save chances. Colorado finished 24-36 in games decided by two runs or less this season.I like the group that we have. I think we are close, said Arenado, who led the league in RBIs (133) and tied for the NL home run title (41). I want fans to know that so they dont lose hope. I feel bad. They come out every day, to see us lose the way we do sometimes. It upsets me. I want them to know that I truly believe were close.Weiss has long had strong ties with the organization, playing four seasons for the Rockies from 1994 to 1997. He also served as a special assistant to the general manager for seven years from 2002 to 08. Nike Shoes Discount Sale . Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Discount Nike Shoes China . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. http://www.nikeshoesdiscount.com/ . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Nike Shoes Discount . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Cheap Nike Shoes From China . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Penny Taylor is back and shes firing, leading the Australian womens basketball team to a 80-67 win over Canada in the first of three Olympic warm-up matches.Taylor missed part of Phoenixs WNBA season with a hip contusion and was expected to be rested from Thursdays (AEST) game in Delaware.But the two-time Olympian overcame the injury to top score with 19 points and five rebounds.Star centre Liz Cambage added 16 points and helped the Opals get off to a strong start, scoring half of her points in the first quarter.Guard Erin Phillips, back after a stint in the WNBA with Dallas Wings, had 12 points and five assists.Australia had a 23-point lead before their world No.9 opponents rallied to 69-65 midway through the fiinal term.ddddddddddddA three-point play to Leilani Mitchell, who finished with 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, ended Canadas hopes and sparked an 11-0 burst to seal the game.Coach Brendan Joyce played all of his 12-woman squad, although Cayla George saw barely 90 seconds of court time.The Opals will play world No.4 France in Connecticut on Saturday morning (AEST) before facing the Rio favourites Team USA at Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday.Australia is chasing its first Olympic gold medal in Rio, having won either silver or bronze at each of the past five Games. ' ' '