Ringolsby: Gaston's success was fleeting

Published February 9, 2007 at midnight

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Indianapolis' Tony Dungy becoming the first black to coach a team to a Super Bowl victory has led to speculation the achievement could open the door for black coaches.

Unfortunately, the odds are that, in the not-too-distant future, this will become yesterday's news and Dungy's accomplishment will become nothing more than a footnote.

Ask Cito Gaston.

Not only was he the first black to manage a World Series champion, but he did it in successive years, 1992 and 1993, with Toronto.

It didn't prompt much change, though.

In 1993, six of the 28 managers in the majors, 21 percent, were minorities.

When spring camps open next week, only five of the 30 managers, 17 percent, will be minorities.

Gaston?

He was fired by Toronto after the 1997 season and has not been offered another chance to manage since.

He barely has even been considered for a managerial opening despite the fact he won 683 of the 1,319 games he managed for the Blue Jays.

Overheard

• Detroit and Baltimore have shown interest in extending a spring-training invitation to Juan Gonzalez, who would like to resurrect his career in a part-time role. The Angels denied reports they were interested, although they had scouts watching Gonzalez in Puerto Rico this winter. He played in 33 games with Kansas City in 2004 and one with Cleveland in 2005 but did not play last season.

• Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is expected to get an extension this spring.

• Minnesota is working on a four-year, $33 million deal for catcher Joe Mauer.

The readers' turn

Robb Boudon writes: "I am an eternal optimist every spring, and this year is no different. My reason for optimism this year is twofold. First, the Rockies have the same core of position players back, the bullpen seems better and the rotation should be OK at least with depth. My other reason for optimism is that it doesn't appear that any of the other NL West teams improved themselves over the winter. I think 85-88 wins could take the division, which the Rockies are capable of doing. Agree or not?"

Robb, I do agree. In the overall plan, this is the year the Rockies should be ready to become competitive in the division. What you are counting on is an improvement from the holdover players, such as Garrett Atkins, Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe, the comeback of Todd Helton after two years that can be blamed, at least in part, on physical problems, and a lift from a few more new faces. The one team in the division that did seem to address some issues is Los Angeles, which added Jason Schmidt and Randy Wolf to the rotation. The Dodgers did not, however, address the need for a bat in the middle of the lineup.

For Tracy Ringolsby's responses and to ask questions of your own, check out the Rockies blog at www.RockyMountain News.com/ rockies.

Two cents' worth

The good news is, Vinny Castilla still will be hanging around the ballpark.

He took his final at-bat in the final game of the Caribbean Series on Wednesday, wearing the uniform of his native Mexico in his final farewell as a player.

He helped Mexico beat Vene- zuela 4-3 for Mexico's only win in six games during the Series.

Castilla now will turn his attention to helping make the Rockies a winner from upstairs. He is a special assistant to general manager Dan O'Dowd.

His retirement was exciting for Castilla. First, the Rockies brought him back in September so he could end his major league career with the team that provided him a chance to prove he was a big league player. Then he played this winter in his native Mexico, where he always found time to play, even when he was an All-Star in the big leagues.

"It's great to finish my career like this," Castilla said at the Series. "What better way to go out than a win for my country?"

Castilla said he believes he left a legacy "that I played every single day with all my heart. Once I crossed the line, it was all baseball."MILE HIGH WATCH

The Rockies farm system is starting to get attention.

Maybe it is because of the success the past two years of players such as left-hander Jeff Francis, right-handed reliever Manny Corpas, third baseman Garrett Atkins and outfielders Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe.

Seven players from the Rockies' system were among the 100 players "coming into the majors" who will have the biggest impact in 2007, according to USA Today.

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was ranked No. 10, catcher Chris Iannetta No. 39, right-hander Jason Hirsh No. 44, Corpas No. 61, outfielder Jeff Baker No. 67, right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez No. 93 and left-hander Oscar Rivera No. 94.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston's right-handed Japanese import, headed the list.

Arizona led all teams with nine players on the list. Tampa Bay had eight and the White Sox had seven. Detroit and St. Louis did not land a player on the list. Cincinnati's only entry was first baseman Joey Votto, ranked 97th.

Baltimore had one player and Florida two, but the Marlins had a major influx of new faces a year ago, which limits the opportunities in 2007.

As for other National League West teams, the Dodgers placed three players on the list and San Diego and San Francisco two each.

Rivera, whom the Rockies have invited to spring training, was held out of the Caribbean Series by the Mexican entry because of a sore muscle in his back. Mexican Pacific League officials said the injury isn't serious, but with Rivera heading to spring training, they didn't want to risk serious injury.

The Rockies have agreed to pay his Mexican team, Yucatan, $1.3 million if they decide to keep Rivera at the major league or Triple-A level. He led the Mexican Pacific League this offseason with a 1.51 ERA.

Rivera comes highly recommended by former major league third baseman Vinny Castilla, a special assistant to general manager Dan O'Dowd.

ringolsbyt@RockyMountainNews.com

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