Rockies Tab Don Baylor As New Hitting Instructor

The Colorado Rockies have hired Don Baylor as their new hitting instructor. Baylor was one of two remaining candidates whom the Rockies were interviewing for the job. Baylor won out over former Rockie first baseman Greg Culbrunn. Clint Hurdle may have picked Baylor over Culbrunn due to the fact that Hurdle worked under Baylor when he got his initial break into coaching in the Major Leagues.  Baylor returns to the Rockies after being the first manager in club history. He managed the team from their first Spring Training in 1993 until the end of the 1998 season, when he was fired after the Rockies finished no better than third in the previous three seasons.  As Rockies manager, Baylor posted an overall .484 winning percentage. The move was necessary after the Rockies dumped hitting coach Duane Espy, bench coach Jamie Quirk, 3rd base/infield instructor Mike Gallego, along with reassigning bullpen coach Rick Mathews. The new coaching staff under Hurdle will be Baylor as hitting coach, ... (link)