Direct line to Denver

Colorado Springs Sky Sox manager Marv Foley saunters into the team's clubhouse at about 10:30 p.m. after a game and sits at his desk to eat dinner and unwind.

Though he already has put in a full day, arriving at the ballpark at about noon for the 7:05 p.m. game, he has at least another hour of work ahead of him and more people to answer to.

Those in charge of the Colorado Rockies organization want information about the recently completed game, player performances and injuries. It is up to Foley and his staff to give detailed accounts of everything that occurred.

They e-mail reports to Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, general manager Dan O'Dowd, president Keli McGregor, farm director Bill Geivett and roving instructors.

The reports include a player's atbats, how he performed in the field, and signs of improvment or decline.

If necessary, Foley might place a call to Hurdle or O'Dowd, and vice versa.

Sky Sox hitting coach Alan Cockrell does the typing while Foley and pitching coach Bob McClure dictate their reports.

McClure's report also might include a one-on-one conversation later that night with Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca and organization pitching coordinator Jim Wright.

Likewise, Cockrell might confer with Rockies hitting coach Duane Espy and hitting coordinator Jim Johnson.

Even Sky Sox trainer Jeremy Moeller sends daily reports to O'Dowd and Hurdle, as well as Rockies head trainer Tom Probst.

"They're our bosses," McClure said. "Whatever they tell us to do, we do."

But the line of communication doesn't end there.

Videotapes on Sky Sox pitchers and hitters are sent to Denver. O'Dowd and Geivett make frequent trips to Colorado Springs to check on the development of players. Assistants to O'Dowd and Geivett show up in Colorado Springs periodically to check on the status of affairs.

Roving instructors join the club for days at a time and report back to the upper brass. Scouts also have a voice.

"Sometimes I'll wake up in the morning and there will already be two or three messages from Clint wanting to know about this or that," Foley said. "We're always talking. We talk every day of the week during the season. Clint needs to know what's going on.

"In the offseason we don't talk quite as much. Maybe once a week about specific issues."

Geivett is Foley's immediate boss. O'Dowd gives Foley and Geivett input.

"Every decision in this organization is OK'd from the top," Geivett said. "Decisions relating to Colorado Springs would be OK'd after input from Marv and myself.

"Colorado Springs is not a satellite organization independent of the Rockies. Everybody down on the field is in communication with what Clint Hurdle and Dan O'Dowd want to do."

Foley remembers a time when communication was simpler.

"When I started managing in the White Sox organization in 1987 there were no computers," Foley said. "I got my first computer in 1992 with the Cubs.

"In 1987 we faxed stuff in and always called in games. We've always had voice mail."

Foley tries to carry a laptop computer with him. He doesn't consider himself computersavvy, but he's learned to compile concise reports.

Not everything the Rockies do at the big-league level filters down to the Sky Sox.

The Rockies went to a fourman pitching rotation for a few weeks earlier this season. The Sky Sox remained on a fiveman rotation.

"If the big club would have remained on a four-man rotation for a longer period of time then we probably would have thought about having the Sky Sox go to a four-man rotation," Geivett said. "But Triple-A is still a developmental league. We would probably only have guys at Colorado Springs go to a four-man rotation as a last resort."

Geivett's job is to evaluate the talent throughout the organization and place players where they will benefit the most. The Sky Sox exist to develop players for the Rockies.

High draft selections, especially those early in their professional careers, likely will be given more opportunity to grow than lower draft picks, or undrafted free agents.

O'Dowd rarely is in the loop about matters at the lower levels of the organization. Likewise, Foley has too many other things going on with his club to concern himself with issues two or three levels in the minor leagues below him.

While Foley may be given specific instructions on certain matters, such as who plays and who doesn't as ordered by O'Dowd or Geivett, he is given free rein to manage the way he sees fit. His input also is taken into consideration on some player personnel matters.

Clint Barmes, one of the top prospects in the organization, batted near the bottom of the lineup in 2003 for the Sky Sox. Foley expressed to O'Dowd, Hurdle and Geivett that he thought Barmes might be more effective as a leadoff hitter this season.

This season, Barmes played on the Pacific Coast League All-Star team.

Yet there are times when the Rockies' wishes take priority. Barmes was replaced in his leadoff spot when second baseman Aaron Miles was demoted to Colorado Springs in May. Hurdle gave Foley strict instructions to have Miles hit leadoff for the Sky Sox.

Hurdle decided Miles could better serve the organization as a leadoff hitter. Miles spent two weeks in Colorado Springs, playing second base full-time and batting leadoff. Miles has stayed in that role with the Rockies since he returned May 31.

Another example occurred last season. Rick Sofield, who managed the Sky Sox, had no choice but to follow orders -- even with the Sky Sox's Central Division title hopes at stake.

The Rockies sent pitcher Nelson Cruz to Colorado Springs so he could make a rehabilitation start. Cruz started Game 1 of a doubleheader on the final day of the season. A victory over Albuquerque would have kept the Sky Sox in contention. A loss and they were eliminated.

Cruz allowed eight runs in one-third of an inning before Sofield pulled him. The Sky Sox lost the game.

Foley has had similar situations arise.

"This is a Rockies club," Foley said. "The Rockies always are going to be included in everything we do. That's just the way it is."

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Copyright 2004
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