PITTSBURGH -- As Rockies bench coach, Tom Runnells' job is to strategize a few steps ahead of the action while advising manager Walt Weiss. In the past, however, he loved the physical part, such as throwing batting practice or catching and throwing with players working on their skills.
This year, Runnells is strictly a thinking man.
Runnells, who managed the club Sunday against the Pirates because Weiss flew back to Denver for the high school graduation of his son, Bo, underwent extensive right arm surgery on his elbow, rotator cuff and triceps in November. While he is doing some rehab throwing, he is not at the stage of pitching batting practice.