Catch the daily spring training roundup each afternoon from Rockies beat writers Troy E. Renck and Patrick Saunders in Tucson. You’ll find insider information on players and what the team is working on as they get ready for the 2007 season. Check every afternoon for the Rockies Rundown.
The Rockies are searching for the next voice of Coors Field.
The club announced today that that Alan Roach, the public address announcer with the deep-bass voice, is leaving the position he’s held for 14 years.
Longtime Rockies fans can recall Roach’s distinctive foghorn introductions: “Now batting for the Rockies, No. 10, Dan-te Bi-chett.” And manager
Clint Hurdle’s favorite, “No. 33, Larry Walk-er.”
“He’s the only P.A. guy I have ever known here,” Hurdle said. “I’m a big fan of Alan Roach. I’ve enjoyed his voice and presence. He diversified out into so many things. For a man that has one skill, he’s monopolized.”
In addition to his work with the Rockies, Roach does commercial voice-over work, is a sports personality at 850 KOA Radio and was the public address voice of the Super Bowl the past two years.
Hurdle said his favorite Roach memory came at Rockies fantasy camp.
“He actually went upstairs, announced his own name, and then went back down and hit,” Hurdle said. “That was special.”
Anyone wishing to audition as the new Coors Field public address announcer should visit the Rockies website at www.coloradorockies.com.
By the numbers: 157
Total home runs hit by the Rockies in 2006, the third fewest in the National League and the fourth lowest number of homers in a full season in franchise history.
The Rockies hit just 75 homers in 81 games at Coors Field, the lowest home number by any team in franchise history.
Quotable
“He made very, very good strides last year. That is definitely what kept my confidence up in sending him out there. He showed me that he was able to separate offense and defense. He didn’t let one leak into the other. And three springs ago we are having conversations about whether he had the ability to play shortstop at the major-league level.” — Hurdle on the progress of shortstop Clint Barmes, who hit just .220 last season but showed significant improvement as a fielder.
Did you know?
When second baseman Kaz Matsui signed with the New York Mets on Dec. 17, 2003, he became the first Japanese infielder to sign with a major-league team.
Staff Writer Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
