Shock resonates from death of minor league coach

Mike Coolbaugh became a coach with the Tulsa Drillers earlier this month not so much for the job itself, but because his little boys loved to see him on the baseball field.

"He had just started," said Coolbaugh's wife, Amanda, who is expecting their third child in October. "We were going to be done with it, but his kids wanted to see him."

Coolbaugh, 35, died Sunday after being struck in the head by a line drive as he stood in the first base coach's box during a game in Arkansas.

Amanda Coolbaugh, 32, said they planned to wait to find out the baby's sex until the birth. The couple has two young sons and had been married for seven years.

"You couldn't have asked for a better father," Amanda Coolbaugh said through tears yesterday in San Antonio. "He just paid attention to the boys, put them in clubs and sports . . . volunteered time on their teams."

The game between the Double A Drillers and Arkansas Travelers was suspended in the ninth inning Sunday after Coolbaugh was hit by a foul ball off the bat of Tino Sanchez. He was taken to Baptist Medical Center-North Little Rock, where he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.

The Drillers, a Colorado Rockies affiliate, said last night's game against the Wichita Wranglers in Kansas was postponed.

"Our entire organization grieves at the death of Mike Coolbaugh," Rockies president Keli McGregor said. "We were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the accident on Sunday evening. Mike was a great husband, father, brother and friend to so many throughout the baseball community."

According to a report on the Drillers' website late Sunday, Coolbaugh was knocked unconscious and CPR was administered to him on the field. Sgt. Terry Kuykendall, spokesman for North Little Rock police, said Coolbaugh stopped breathing as his ambulance arrived at the hospital.

Coolbaugh, a native of Binghamton, N.Y., played 44 games for the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers from 2001-02. His older brother, Scott, also played in the big leagues in the early 1990s.

Jason Giambi participated in his first on-field batting practice session since hurting his left foot two months ago. The Yankees designated hitter also started running the bases and kept up a throwing program. He hopes to rejoin the Yankees by August. "Everything is great so far," Giambi said. "Better than expected." Giambi has been sidelined since May 30 after tearing tissue in the foot. He is hitting .262 with seven homers and 23 RBIs. New York first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz is fielding grounders while wearing protective gear for his broken right wrist, but hasn't been cleared to resume hitting . . . High-ranking Yankees officials, including general manager Brian Cashman, are scheduled to meet in Tampa with owner George Steinbrenner today to discuss potential moves before the July 31 trade deadline . . . Pedro Martínez resumed pitching to hitters after a 19-day hiatus, throwing 50 pitches in a simulated game against Mets minor leaguers in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Martínez had been on a planned break since throwing 50 pitches in a simulated game July 3. The 35-year-old righthander, who had surgery last October to repair a torn rotator cuff, threw 60 pitches in a bullpen session last Thursday . . . Infielder Ronnie Belliard and the Nationals agreed to a $3.5 million, two-year contract extension through the 2009 season.

Astros center fielder Hunter Pence, one of the leading candidates for National League Rookie of the Year, was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of an injured wrist. Pence hurt the wrist sliding into second base Sunday at Pittsburgh, and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks . . . Athletics reliever Huston Street was activated from the disabled list after missing 63 games because of irritation in his right ulnar nerve, but Oakland manager Bob Geren said Street would be eased back into the pitching mix, with Alan Embree continuing to close. The Athletics designated outfielder Bobby Kielty for assignment to make room on their roster . . . Rangers righthander Robinson Tejeda was optioned to Triple A Oklahoma, a move the team hopes will result in longer-term success when he returns. Tejeda is 5-9 with a 6.61 ERA, and just 2-8 with a 7.93 ERA in his last 14 starts . Lefthander John Rheinecker was recalled from Oklahoma . . . The Tribune Company's sale of the Cubs has attracted credible interest from about 15 parties, and a deal for the team and other assets is expected to top $1 billion, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters. First-round bids are likely due in early September, with a winner expected to be picked in October . . . Former St. Louis Brown Rollie Stiles, 100, believed to be the oldest former major leaguer, died in his sleep Sunday morning. A cause of death was not given. Stiles pitched in 1930, 1931, and 1933, compiling a 9-14 record with a 5.92 ERA. Obituary, Page D8.