truebluefan

Burks declines Hurdle's offer to coach first base

Ellis Burks nearly became Ellis Back.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle confirmed Monday that he offered Burks the team's open first-base coaching position. Burks, an original Blake Street Bomber, declined.

Burks told Hurdle he wasn't prepared to leave his current job as a special assistant to Cleveland Indians general manager Mark Shapiro, which allows him a more flexible schedule.

"I had a good talk with him and he's comfortable where he's at," Hurdle said.

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truebluefan

As expected, the Indians promoted Ross Atkins to director of player development Monday.

He replaces John Farrell, who was hired as pitching coach for the Red Sox last week.

Even though Atkins has spent the past three years as the team's director of Latin American operations, he doesn't feel isolated from the Tribe's farm system.

``My knowledge is not nearly what it's going to be or as extensive as John Farrell's,'' Atkins said. ``But John always kept me in the loop, so it's a matter of refocusing.''

As director of player development, Atkins will oversee the Indians' six farm teams, as well as Latin American operations. He and assistant general manager Chris Antonetti will pick his successor.

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truebluefan

Sunday night, the Cardinals wondered if Tigers left-hander Kenny Rogers was up to no good during his start in Game 2 of the World Series. They wondered if Rogers might have been doctoring the baseball with a suspicious substance (pine tar, perhaps?) at the base of the thumb on the palm of his pitching hand.

The Cardinals' suspicions resulted in Rogers washing his hands, but nothing more in-game. Umpires did not confront Rogers with evidence of doctored baseballs; they simply requested he remove the "dirt mark" to head off potential controversy. By the second inning, the mark was gone. Rogers finished with a two-hitter over eight innings in a 3-1 victory.

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