Beavers announce 2006 field staff

Published on November 15, 2005 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Craig Colbert will return for a third season as the field manager of the Portland Beavers, it was announced today as the San Diego Padres named the 2006 field staff for their highest minor league affiliate.

Hitting coach Jose Castro and pitching coach Gary Lance return to Portland for a second season. Will Sinon will join the Beavers as the team's athletic trainer.

Colbert, 40, returns to the Beavers after compiling a 154-133 (.544) record with the club over the previous two campaigns. Portland went 70-73 under Colbert in 2005, with the club finishing third in the North Division of the Pacific Coast League's Pacific Conference.

In 2004, Colbert led the Beavers to a division title, a playoff berth and the best record in Triple-A Baseball at 84-60.

"I'm very much looking forward to another season at PGE Park," said Colbert. "We've put together two good seasons here, and I am pleased that we'll have the same coaching staff in place to give the 2006 season a solid foundation for further success as a team and continued development of the Padres top prospects."

A native of Iowa City, Iowa, Colbert was a back-to-back recipient (2000-01) of the Jack Krol Award for excellence in player development in the Padres chain. He led Class A Lake Elsinore to a 91-49 regular-season record and a share of the 2001 California League championship. Colbert's 2000 Fort Wayne team advanced to the Class A Midwest League playoffs after a 72-65 regular-season finish.

Since beginning his managerial career in 2000 with Fort Wayne, the former major league catcher has posted a 454-387 record (.540), leading his team to the postseason in three of his six seasons as a manager.

Colbert concluded a 13-year playing career as a player-coach with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas in 1998, serving as a coach with the Stars in 1999 as well. Colbert played in the Giants, Marlins and Padres organizations from 1986-98, including 72 games in the major leagues with San Francisco (1992-93). Colbert was drafted by the Giants in the 20th round of the 1986 draft out of Manhattan (KS) High School. He signed with the Giants, but attended Oral Roberts University during the off-seasons.

Castro, 47, marks his 30th season in professional baseball in 2006. Castro joined the Beavers in 2005 from Class AA Mobile, where he assisted in guiding the BayBears to a Southern League co-championship in 2004 during his first year in the Padres organization.

Prior to joining the Padres, Castro, who resides in Miami, Fla., spent the previous two seasons as a Triple-A hitting coach in a second go-around with the Montreal Expos organization after 10 seasons coaching in the Florida Marlins minor league system. With the Marlins, Castro coached with four different teams in the organization, including Class AA Portland (Maine; 1994; 1999-2001), Class A Brevard County (1995-98), Class A Kane County (1993) and Class A Erie (1992).

Castro began his coaching career with the Expos, serving as the hitting coach at Class A Jamestown in 1990 and Class A Rockford in 1991 after wrapping up a 14-year minor league playing career in 1990.

As a player, Castro, an infielder, was selected by Philadelphia in the 27th round of the 1977 draft out of Miami's Jackson High School. He reached the Triple-A level during stints with Philadelphia, Montreal, Chicago (AL), Toronto and Kansas City.

Lance, 57, also joined the Beavers in 2005 after serving as the pitching coach with Mobile, where he spent part of the 2003 season and all of 2004 campaign.

A veteran of 23 years of minor league coaching, Lance, who resides in Prosperity, S.C., has served two stints with the Padres organization. Previously, he was the pitching coach for the Padres' Class A Charleston affiliate from 1986-88 before moving on to Class AA Wichita in 1989 and Las Vegas a year later.

He rejoined the San Diego system in 2002 with Class A Fort Wayne and marks his 10th year with the Padres in 2005.

Lance began his coaching career in 1983 in the Oakland Athletics system, where he spent three seasons. For his career, Lance has coached in six different minor league organizations, including Montreal (Class A Albany, 1991; Class A Sumter, 1992), Kansas City (Class A Wilmington, 1993-94; Wichita, 1995-97; Triple-A Omaha, 1998-99), Toronto (Triple-A Syracuse, 2000) and New York Mets (Class A St. Lucie, 2001).

Lance, a right-handed pitcher, spent the majority of his playing career in the Royals organization, pitching in one major league game for Kansas City on Sept. 28, 1977. He worked two innings and suffered the loss to Oakland's Vida Blue in his lone big league appearance.

In 1974, the Greenville, S.C., native tossed a no-hitter against Class AA Birmingham while pitching for Jacksonville.

Lance concluded his playing career in the minors with the Seattle Mariners.

Sinon joins the Beavers after serving the three previous seasons (2003-05) with Mobile, where he earned Southern League Trainer of the Year honors in 2003. Prior to his arrival in Mobile, Sinon spent two seasons as athletic trainer at Fort Wayne (2001-2002). He was also the athletic trainer for rookie-level Idaho Falls in 2000 and rookie-level Peoria from 1998-99.

A graduate of the University of La Verne with a degree in physical education, Sinon is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and makes his off-season home in Ladera Ranch, Calif.

The Beavers open the 2006 season at PGE Park on Thursday, April 6. A variety of ticket plans are currently available by calling (503) 553-5555. For additional information, visit www.portlandbeavers.com.

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