Rockieshome.com | Colorado Rockies News, rockies Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> --In addition to adding Don Baylor as hitting coach, the Rockies hired Jim Tracy as bench coach, Rich Dauer as third base coach, Jim Wright as bullpen coach and Brian Jordan as strength and conditioning coach.</div>Pitching coach Bob Apodaca will return for a seventh season, and first base coach Glenallen Hill will be back for a third year. Tracy formerly managed the Dodgers and Pirates. He served as a bench coach with the Dodgers under manager Davey Johnson and the Expos under manager Felipe Alou. Manager Clint Hurdle said Johnson and Alou "are two men I respect as much as anybody in the game" and cited the fact Tracy has spent a lot of time in the NL West. Dauer spent the past three seasons as the Rockies' roving infield instructor. He has been a bench coach in Milwaukee (2003-05) and was a third base coach with Kansas City (1997-2002) and Cleveland (1990-91). Dauer played with the Orioles from 1976-85, when that was a proud and successful franchise. "He played on championship teams ... in Baltimore, where they taught the importance of fundamentals," Hurdle said. Wright has spent 12 seasons in the Rockies organization, including the past six as the roving pitching coordinator. During that period, Wright has developed a good working relationship with Apodaca and has worked with all of the pitchers in the organization. --Class AA Tulsa pitching coach Bo McLaughlin, who interviewed for the job as bullpen coach that went to Wright, is expected to replace Wright as the roving pitching coordinator. The Rockies will have to hire a Class AA pitching coach; a pitching coach for high Class A Modesto, where Butch Hughes retired; a pitching coach for Rookie Casper to replace the fired Eduardo Villacis; and a roving infield coordinator to replace Dauer. --The Rockies will offer arbitration to LHP Brian Fuentes by Dec. 1, the deadline for clubs to offer arbitration to their free agents. If Fuentes receives the three-year, $33 million that the Mets say he is seeking, the Rockies will get a first-round pick in next June's amateur draft as well as a selection between the first and second round as compensation. If the market for Fuentes somehow fails to develop and he accepts the Rockies' arbitration offer, they would get a proven, front-line closer on a one-year deal worth around $10 million. --2B Eric Young played center field and led the Arizona Fall League in batting (.430), on-base percentage (.504) and stolen bases (20 in 21 attempts). Young has top-of-the-order traits but lacks a position. He's below average defensively at second base and lacks the arm to play on the left side of the infield. Young's stock as a utility-type rose in the AFL, where he played well in center, but his arm is a detriment there, too. Members of the Rockies front office, when describing Young's arm, typically say it's not as weak as Juan Pierre's, which is damning with faint praise. Young is expected to move up to Class AAA next year. --C Mike McKenry hit .369 and ranked second in the Arizona Fall League with nine homers and ninth with 25 RBIs. He should move up to Class AA next season. --INF Chris Nelson, a shortstop by trade who played second base -- his likely position in the big leagues -- in the Arizona Fall League, hit .321 with six homers and 17 RBIs. The AFL was redeeming for Nelson, who had a disappointing season at Class AA this year and likely will play at Class AAA next season. --Finding left-handed relief help is a priority for the Rockies, but they were never in on LHP Jeremy Affeldt, who played on their pennant-winning 2007 team. Affeldt recently signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Giants. The Rockies have pursued LHP Alan Embree in the past, and this offseason they have spoken with the agent for LHP Joe Beimel. But with Affeldt and Damaso Marte (three years, $12 million from the Yankees) setting the going rate for a lefty reliever at $4 million per season, the Rockies may find that a bit pricey. They gave a two-year, $7.5 million deal last winter to RHP Luis Vizcaino, the richest the club has ever given a free agent reliever, and he was a huge disappointment. BY THE NUMBERS: .256 -- Average for the Rockies with runners in scoring position this year, the lowest for any season in franchise history. The Rockies ranked third in the National League in that category. They had the third-most at-bats with runners in scoring position (1,491) in the league behind only the Cubs (1,527) and Braves (1,494). QUOTE TO NOTE: "I am excited about this for selfish reasons. I have a lot of respect for him as a man. He has seen me swing the bat well, and hopefully he can help me like he helped Chipper (Jones with Atlanta in 1999) and 'Cat' (Andres Galarraga with St. Louis in 1992)." -- 1B Todd Helton, on Don Baylor's return to the Rockies as their hitting coach. Helton spent his first 1 1/3 major league seasons playing for Baylor.

--In addition to adding Don Baylor as hitting coach, the Rockies hired Jim Tracy as bench coach, Rich Dauer as third base coach, Jim Wright as bullpen coach and Brian Jordan as strength and conditioning coach.

Pitching coach Bob Apodaca will return for a seventh season, and first base coach Glenallen Hill will be back for a third year.

Tracy formerly managed the Dodgers and Pirates. He served as a bench coach with the Dodgers under manager Davey Johnson and the Expos under manager Felipe Alou. Manager Clint Hurdle said Johnson and Alou "are two men I respect as much as anybody in the game" and cited the fact Tracy has spent a lot of time in the NL West.

Dauer spent the past three seasons as the Rockies' roving infield instructor. He has been a bench coach in Milwaukee (2003-05) and was a third base coach with Kansas City (1997-2002) and Cleveland (1990-91). Dauer played with the Orioles from 1976-85, when that was a proud and successful franchise.

"He played on championship teams ... in Baltimore, where they taught the importance of fundamentals," Hurdle said.

Wright has spent 12 seasons in the Rockies organization, including the past six as the roving pitching coordinator. During that period, Wright has developed a good working relationship with Apodaca and has worked with all of the pitchers in the organization.

--Class AA Tulsa pitching coach Bo McLaughlin, who interviewed for the job as bullpen coach that went to Wright, is expected to replace Wright as the roving pitching coordinator.

The Rockies will have to hire a Class AA pitching coach; a pitching coach for high Class A Modesto, where Butch Hughes retired; a pitching coach for Rookie Casper to replace the fired Eduardo Villacis; and a roving infield coordinator to replace Dauer.

--The Rockies will offer arbitration to LHP Brian Fuentes by Dec. 1, the deadline for clubs to offer arbitration to their free agents.

If Fuentes receives the three-year, $33 million that the Mets say he is seeking, the Rockies will get a first-round pick in next June's amateur draft as well as a selection between the first and second round as compensation.

If the market for Fuentes somehow fails to develop and he accepts the Rockies' arbitration offer, they would get a proven, front-line closer on a one-year deal worth around $10 million.

--2B Eric Young played center field and led the Arizona Fall League in batting (.430), on-base percentage (.504) and stolen bases (20 in 21 attempts). Young has top-of-the-order traits but lacks a position. He's below average defensively at second base and lacks the arm to play on the left side of the infield. Young's stock as a utility-type rose in the AFL, where he played well in center, but his arm is a detriment there, too. Members of the Rockies front office, when describing Young's arm, typically say it's not as weak as Juan Pierre's, which is damning with faint praise. Young is expected to move up to Class AAA next year.

--C Mike McKenry hit .369 and ranked second in the Arizona Fall League with nine homers and ninth with 25 RBIs. He should move up to Class AA next season.

--INF Chris Nelson, a shortstop by trade who played second base -- his likely position in the big leagues -- in the Arizona Fall League, hit .321 with six homers and 17 RBIs. The AFL was redeeming for Nelson, who had a disappointing season at Class AA this year and likely will play at Class AAA next season.

--Finding left-handed relief help is a priority for the Rockies, but they were never in on LHP Jeremy Affeldt, who played on their pennant-winning 2007 team. Affeldt recently signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Giants.

The Rockies have pursued LHP Alan Embree in the past, and this offseason they have spoken with the agent for LHP Joe Beimel. But with Affeldt and Damaso Marte (three years, $12 million from the Yankees) setting the going rate for a lefty reliever at $4 million per season, the Rockies may find that a bit pricey. They gave a two-year, $7.5 million deal last winter to RHP Luis Vizcaino, the richest the club has ever given a free agent reliever, and he was a huge disappointment.

BY THE NUMBERS: .256 -- Average for the Rockies with runners in scoring position this year, the lowest for any season in franchise history. The Rockies ranked third in the National League in that category. They had the third-most at-bats with runners in scoring position (1,491) in the league behind only the Cubs (1,527) and Braves (1,494).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I am excited about this for selfish reasons. I have a lot of respect for him as a man. He has seen me swing the bat well, and hopefully he can help me like he helped Chipper (Jones with Atlanta in 1999) and 'Cat' (Andres Galarraga with St. Louis in 1992)." -- 1B Todd Helton, on Don Baylor's return to the Rockies as their hitting coach. Helton spent his first 1 1/3 major league seasons playing for Baylor.