Casper Rockies announce 2006 field staff
February 14, 2006 - Pioneer League (PL)
Casper Ghosts News Release
Casper, WY - The Casper Rockies Professional Baseball Club has announced their coaching staff for the 2006 season. The Colorado Rockies Pioneer affiliate will be managed by 2005 Pioneer League Manager of the Year, P.J. Carey, for the 4th straight season.
Carey is entering his 35th season in professional baseball and his 23rd year as a manager. He will be joined again this year by hitting coach Tony Diaz. New to the staff will be Mark Thompson as the team's pitching coach. Thompson is a former big league pitcher who spent seven seasons in the majors. Thompson replaces Richard Palacios who will join the staff of the Asheville Tourists, the Colorado Rockies affiliate in North Carolina.
Carey has now been the Casper Rockies manager for five of the team's six years as a franchise. He has managed the club every year since 2001 with the exception of 2002. He spent the 2002 season managing the Rockies AA affiliate. Carey was named the Pioneer League Manager of the Year in 2005 as he had the young Casper club in the Pioneer League pennant race all season. Carey resides in Tucson, AZ.
Tony Diaz will return to Casper for his sixth season, his seventh season in the Colorado chain. In 2002 Diaz was named Colorado's Player Development "Man of the Year." Prior to his arrival with the Colorado Rockies, he coached at Braddock Sr. High School in Miami, FL. His two-year minor league playing career ended in 1995 as a shortstop in the Anaheim Angels system. He and his wife, Julie, and daughter, Gabriella, reside in San Antonio, TX where he officially became an American citizen in 2003.
Originally drafted in 1992 by the Colorado Rockies, Mark Thompson played five seasons with Colorado in the majors. He also spent two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. The 34-year-old compiled an 18-24 record in 94 big league games. The 2006 season will be the first in the coaching ranks for Thompson.
Come join the Casper Rockies as they celebrate their 5th Anniversary season in 2005. Season ticket packages are now on sale. Contact the Casper Rockies office (307) 232-1111 for ordering information.
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Pioneer League Stories from February 14, 2006
- Casper Rockies announce 2006 field staff - Casper Ghosts
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