Jones makes Ballpark debut as coach BY CARLOS MENDEZ league team. He had joined the staff on league instructor, would assume the man- Sosa, Gonzalez and Rodriguez in the Star-Telegram Staff Writer an interim basis last week after the retire- ager duties at Charlotte starting last night. minor leagues. Perhaps the most pleasant ARLINGTON - Bobby Jones is the ment of third-base coach Ed Napolean. Assistant coach Moe Hill was scheduled surprise was Sosa. winningest minor-league manager in the Jones, 50, a former outfielder who to at Tulsa last night and tonight. "With Juan, you knew he was going to manage Rangers' organization. spent parts of nine years with the Angels "Any time you're in the minor play in the big leagues. Sosa struck out If that doesn't impress Rangers fans, and Rangers, will work with the outfield- leagues, as a player or a manager, your 150 times for me one year and hit .220, maybe this does: Asked yesterday to ers, the Rangers said. He had been man- goal is to get to the major leagues," Jones .230," Jones said. "But his work ethic, his name the best players he has managed, ager of the Rangers' Double-A team in said. "Since my first year of managing in determination and drive, was outstanding. he laughed and said, "Sosa, Gonzalez, Tulsa since 1995, managed at Oklahoma '88, it's been a goal of mine to get back Of course, nobody could have predicted Pudge." City in 1994 and 1993 and at Tulsa in up here." Jones retired in 1986 as a .221 he'd hit 50 home runs. And he could fly. That short list - former Rangers out- 1991 and 1992. hitter with 23 home but holds He'd hit a comebacker to the pitcher and career runs fielders Sammy Sosa and Juan Gonzalez He has also managed at Charlotte and the Rangers' record for pinch hits (42). make it a bang-bang play at first. and catcher Ivan Rodriguez - demon- has a record of 832-866 with two cham- "He's been in the organization a long "Sosa is the same today as he was an strates the depth of Jones' roots in the pionships the Florida State league title time. It's good to see him get a chance,' 18-year-old. He has the same personality." Rangers' organization. He managed all at Charlotte in 1989 and the Texas Rodriguez said. "He knows a lot about And Rodriguez? three as in the minor at Tulsa in 1998. the He lot. He "Pudge was another very hard worker. Also the said He didn't pull the ball as much as he they came up League championship game. helped me a taught leagues. yesterday, Rangers me a lot about baseball. He's a great guy." Jones further cemented his Charlotte manager James Byrd will man- Jones, who signed his first profession- does now." Yesterday, place with the Rangers when he was age the team at Tulsa effective tomorrow al contract in 1967 with the Washington Carlos Mendez, (817) 548-5413 named a full-time coach with the major- and that Bob Miscik, roving minor- Senators, remembers the rising careers of cmendez@star-telegram.com