Colbert returns for second season as Beavers field manager

Published on November 3, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Craig Colbert, who guided the Portland Beavers to the best record in the Pacific Coast League in 2004, will return as the team's manager for a second season, it was announced today as the San Diego Padres named the 2005 field staff for their highest minor league affiliate.

Colbert's staff will be comprised of two new coaches-hitting coach Jose Castro and pitching coach Jim Slaton. John Maxwell returns for a fifth season as the Beavers trainer.

Colbert, 39, returns for a second season with the Beavers after leading the club to an 84-60 record and a trip to the postseason after winning the PCL's North Division crown in 2004, marking the third time in his five-year managerial career that his team made the playoffs.

"I'm looking forward to another year in Portland, as it's a great city and last year was an outstanding season for us," Colbert said. "I fully expect that we'll be able to put another competitive team on the field again this season, so it should be another exciting year for the fans."

Under Colbert, the Beavers came from nine games behind in their division to wrestle control in the North by going 45-16 (.738) over the final two months of the season, finishing four games ahead of second-place Tacoma before falling to Sacramento in the Pacific Conference Championship Series.

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 384-314 record (.550).

Colbert concluded a 13-year playing career as a player-coach with the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas in 1998; he served 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 in 1992 and 1993. 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, 46, marks his 29th season in professional baseball by making the jump from Class AA Mobile, where he assisted in guiding the BayBears to a Southern League co-championship in his first year in the Padres organization.

Prior to joining the Padres, Castro, who resides in the Miami, Fla., area, spent the pervious two seasons as the hitting coach at the Triple-A level 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.

Slaton, a veteran of 16 seasons in the major leagues spent with Milwaukee (1971-77; 1979-83), Detroit (1978; 1986) and California (1984-85), comes to the Beavers and the Padres organization after spending the previous eight seasons in the Seattle Mariners minor league system, most recently serving as a special assignment coach.

Prior to the 2004 campaign, Slaton, 54, was the pitching coach with Triple-A Tacoma in the PCL from 1999-2003 after serving in the same capacity with the Mariners' Class A Lancaster affiliate during the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Slaton began his coaching career in 1992 as the pitching coach with Class A Medford in the Oakland Athletics organization. After two years in Medford, Slaton coached with the A's rookie league affiliate in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1994 before moving to the Chicago Cubs' system, where he coached at Class A Daytona for two seasons from 1995-96.

As a player, the right-handed Slaton completed his playing career in 1986 with an overall 151-158 record and a 4.03 ERA in 496 career appearances after being drafted by the Seattle Pilots in the 15th round of the 1969 amateur draft.

Slaton allowed just one hit and pitched 2.2 scoreless innings for the Brewers in the 1982 World Series, picking up a win in Game 4 over St. Louis at County Stadium.

Maxwell marks his 11th season as a trainer in the Padres organization, including five at rookie-level Idaho Falls, one with Class AA Mobile and four with the Beavers.

A graduate of San Diego State University with a Bachelor's degree in Sports Medicine, Maxwell is a certified athletic trainer, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, and a licensed physical therapy assistant.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from November 3, 2004


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