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Dante Bichette Won't Return As Rockies Hitting Coach

DENVER (AP) - Colorado Rockies hitting coach Dante Bichette says he wants to spend more time with his family and won't return for another season.

Bichette announced his decision Tuesday night before the Rockies played the Boston Red Sox.

"I have unfinished business with the kids back home," said Bichette, who has two sons that both play baseball. "Just getting too much of a tug to go back home and finish raising the boys."

Bichette rejoined the organization this year under first-year manager Walt Weiss. Bichette and Weiss were teammates for four years in Colorado.

This was the first major league coaching position for the 49-year-old Bichette. Colorado is hitting a league-leading .271 under his tutelage. Michael Cuddyer also is leading the NL in hitting.

"Your heart has got to be in it 100 percent," said Bichette, who was a four-time All-Star and runner-up for the 1995 NL MVP award. "I can't give that to the organization right now."

Asked if he would ever return to coaching on this level, Bichette grinned and said: "I'd be scared to try it again. It was time consuming."

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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