Results tagged ‘ Stu Cole ’
What To Expect of the New Skipper
By Andrew Woerpel
In the wake of its manager Tom Runnells being promoted to t he Colorado Rockies, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox have turned to a familiar face in Stu Cole to lead the team.
Cole steps in as manager of the Sky Sox after spending the past three seasons, and the first part of this season, as the Tulsa Drillers skipper. Before joining the Sky Sox this season, Cole had the Drillers in second place of the Texas League North Division. In 2006, Cole won the North Division and led the Drillers to a 41-29 record claiming a playoff birth.
Stepping in to the managerial job with the Sky Sox is a reunion of sorts for Cole as he played for the Sky Sox from 1993-1995, winning a PCL championship in the process.
“I haven’t been here in quite a while and know there has been a lot of changes in the city,” Cole said. “It feels good to come back and have people recognize you from when you played and appreciate everything that you did. That’s what makes this game so special whenever you give your all, because people notice that and they never forget you.”
Cole is no stranger to the players he has inherited either, as he has managed many of them on their way up through the Rockies farm system.
“We try to preach to these guys down at the lower level to try and get better to the point where you can be consistent at the higher level,” Cole said. “To see these guys like Miller, Frey and Colonel; they look like stronger and better men because of it, so it’s a joy to see the way these guys develop year in and year out.”
Cole admits he is a very aggressive type of manager, which fits right in with the way the Sky Sox have played this season.
“I like to make guys run and steal bases and hit and run when you have to, just kind of put pressure on the defense,” Cole said.
As far as the players are concerned, they don’t have to worry about being second guessed when making plays on the field as Cole is a very confident and enthusiastic manager.
“I want to let the guys know that they have my support on everything they are going to do out there on the field, and there is not going to be anything that is going to be second guessed,” Cole explained.
When asked what Cole wanted to achieve this season as he inherits a first place club, he was quick to focus on the development of the players.
“I just want these guys to understand that I am coming in here to help them continue to be consistent and continue to get better every single day,” Cole said, “I just want to see the team continue to get better and progress.”
On May 31, 2009, the first game of the Stu Cole era took place at Security Service Field where the Sky Sox pummeled the Tacoma Rainiers into submission by a score of 12-4. When Cole was asked how it felt to get his first victory at the Triple-A level his response was simple.
“It feels good, I mean it’s better than getting a loss,” Cole admitted.
Stu Cole Era Begins in Colorado Springs
Sunday, May 31st marks the beginning of the Stu Cole managerial era with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Cole becomes the 12th manager in the history of the Sky Sox and the second former Sox player to lead the team. He joins Paul Zuvella who played for the Sox in 1988-89 and then later managed the team in 1997-98. Cole played for the Sox as an infielder for three season from 1993-95 and hit .286 with 13 homers and 97 RBIs in 277 games.
So, with Cole officially here in Colorado Springs and running the show, here’s a look at his first lineup, which looks very similar to yesterday:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Jonathan Herrera – SS
Mike McCoy – RF
Carlos Gonzalez – CF
Matt Miller – LF
Kenny Perez – DH
Mark Bellhorn – 1B
Christian Colonel – 3B
Sal Fasano – C
Franklin Morales – SP
Today’s lineup is actually identical to yesterday’s lineup with the only exception being the starting pitcher Morales. Speaking of Morales, this will be his second start of the season with the Sky Sox and first of his Major League rehab assignment as he recovers from a left shoulder strain. He’s expected to throw between 75-80 pitches today.
The Space Between
Today’s contest will be the first game in three and a half years that Tom Runnells will not have some kind of direct impact on. Even yesterday, the day he was promoted to be the Rockies new bench coach, Runnells actually made out the lineup. It sounds odd, but Runnells had actually filled out the day’s lineup the night before and left it on his desk in his office. After Runnells got the call to head up to Denver the lineup was still used that night. So, technically, last night’s lineup was Runnells’ last as the Sky Sox manager. With new manager Stu Cole not arriving in Colorado Springs until Sunday, today’s lineup was put together by interim skipper Rene Lachemann.
So here’s a look at Lachemann’s lineup for today’s match up with the Tacoma Rainiers in game two of the four-game series:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Jonathan Herrera – SS
Mike McCoy – RF
Carlos Gonzalez – CF
Matt Miller – LF
Kenny Perez – DH
Mark Bellhorn – 1B
Christian Colonel – 3B
Sal Fasano – C
An interesting move in the lineup today is McCoy playing in right. It’ll be his first start in the outfield this season but McCoy has played the outfield throughout his career having played 60 total games in the outfield before this season. On the season, McCoy has been an ultra utility player for the Sky Sox. Not only has McCoy been raking at the plate but he’s also played games at second, third, shortstop, designated hitter, pitcher and now outfield.
With McCoy in the outfield, that also makes room to get Colonel in the lineup again today at third which is good to see. Colonel, who has been battling a slump for most of the season, had a break out game last night going 2-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs and his first homer since May 5. An All-Star for the Sky Sox last year, Colonel comes into today hitting a very uncharacteristic .214 with just two homers and 15 RBIs.
Runnells Promoted, Cole Joins Sky Sox
What a whirlwind day Friday, May 29th turned out to be! The day started like any other day really. The Sky Sox bused back from Albuquerque after their victory last night and didn’t roll into town until around 6 AM. As the team headed home to get some sleep, the Rockies had a lot action going on up in Denver.
As the day unfolded, reports from the Denver Post and ESPN started to filter in that Clint Hurdle’s tenure with the Rockies might be coming to an end. At that point the speculations began to float around and the phones began to ring. The Rockies announced a 2:30 PM press conference for a major announcement and from there the dominoes began to fall.
Once Jim Tracy was announced as the Rockies new interim manager the announcement that Sky Sox skipper Tom Runnells was going to be the new bench coach soon followed. The Sky Sox family couldn’t be any happier for Runnells and his family. After having him steering the ship here in Colorado Springs for three and a half seasons, we really do consider him a friend and he will be very much missed.
Later on in the evening the Rockies announced the replacement for Runnells in the form of Double-A manager Stu Cole. Cole is expected to be traveling up to Colorado Springs tomorrow morning and be here to take the helm on Sunday. The Stu Cole era officially begins as he becomes the 12th manager in Sky Sox history.
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