STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Vols in Pros

• Ainge suspended for violating NFL policy on steroids
• Haynesworth drawing attention
• Lewis not running on empty

Share and Enjoy [?]

DENVER - The disappointment of the 2008 season has led to a shakeup Tuesday of the Colorado Rockies coaching staff, including hitting coach Alan Cockrell.

Cockrell, a former quarterback and baseball player at Tennessee (1980-83), bench coach Jamie Quirk and third base coach Mike Gallego were let go, and bullpen coach Rick Mathews will be reassigned to another role in the organization.

Cockrell finished his 11th year in the organization. He was a manager in the minor leagues and a roving hitting instructor.

Cockrell expressed gratitude for his opportunity on two separate occasions to work for manager Clint Hurdle. Cockrell finished out the 2002 season with the Rockies after Hurdle replaced Buddy Bell, and was in charge of the hitters for the past two seasons. The Rockies hit .263 this season compared to .280 a year ago and struggled with runners in scoring position. Still, Cockrell remained immensely popular with the players.

"That's just baseball, the nature of the game," Cockrell told The Denver Post. "It wasn't a lack of effort on any player's part. Our guys worked their butts off every day. I guess sometimes you spend a long time in the game you see it both ways. We got to experience almost reaching the ultimate goal last year and this year was the other end of the spectrum. I have been with this organization for 15 years and wish them nothing but the best."