Former Rockie Greg Colbrunn has emerged as a candidate for the team’s vacant hitting instructor job.
A journeyman first baseman, Colbrunn helped ease Todd Helton’s transition to the big leagues during the first part of the 1998 season. Then manager Don Baylor, whose name continues to surface as a possible bench coach for Hurdle, used Colbrunn to face tough left-handed starters.
Colbrunn has been the hitting coach the past two seasons for the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs, the Yankees’ Single-A team. Colbrunn spent 13 seasons in the big leagues, including stints with Montreal, Florida, Minnesota, Atlanta, Colorado, Arizona and Seattle.
Manager Clint Hurdle shook up his coaching staff last week, firing Jamie Quirk, Mike Gallego and Alan Cockrell following the team’s disappointing 74-88 finish.
Hurdle wants a former big-league manager as his bench coach, confirming that Triple-A manager Tom Runnells is a candidate. Rich Dauer, the team’s roving infield instructor, will be considered for the third-base job, and Bo McLaughlin and Jim Wright, both minor-league pitching coaches with vast experience, are likely to be interviewed for the bullpen job.
The Rockies are also looking for a new strength and conditioning coach after general manager Dan O’Dowd dismissed Brad Andress.
Rollins learns from Rockies.
The Phillies have become the favorites to advance to the World Series, and have the Rockies, in part, to thank. Colorado swept the Phillies in the division series last season.
“What we learned is that it’s not a five-game series. It’s the first to three wins. And now in this series, it’s the first to four. You have to play with more urgency,” shortstop Jimmy Rollins said.
