[Roxpert]

Originally Posted by rockieprogress

Roxpert, are you asking them to keep every player they develop? That's what I'm reading...

Wrong. Nowhere did I say that. RP, you don't seem to understand the negative connotations of what Monfort said publicly. He, in effect, is telling the team's fans that they shouldn't get too attached to their players since they will likely be gone once they can command large salaries. He is also sending the message to the players that they are being developed and if they produce, then they likely could get their huge payday....with another team! It's not practical to keep every player developed, but it's stupid to send the message to your kids that if they produce, the organization that raised you will likely not be the one that rewards you once you've earned the time needed for market-level contracts.

By his public statements, Monfort is declaring that this team will not endeavor to do much more than the Expos were known for.....have a great farm system, bring up young studs, and trade them away or let them go when they cost too much. Denver deserves better than that.

There is no reason to have a well stocked minor-league system, if you're going to keep the Holliday-Atkins-Cook's of the world.

That is patently absurd. Every organization should strive for a deep farm system if, for no other reason, the prospects can be utilized as trade chips in order to fill positions that the farm system can't. Even deep farm systems have weaknesses at certain positions. No successful major-league team stays that way for long by exclusively filling their rosters with homegrown players and fringe players from other organizations. They bring in key veterans as well.

The A's brought in Frank Thomas. Before that, Jermaine Dye, and others.

The Tigers last year brought in Kenny Rogers, and the year prior had signed Pudge Rodriguez.

Key veterans that cost money are needed to fill holes the farm can't.

If Cook has a successful season, sign him to a Contract, but if he doesn't progress, then trade him.

That's ridiculous. You are going to make 2007 Cook's "make or break" year with the Rockies? Why? Fact is that if Cook doesn't do that well, he may actually not be that expensive in the future, and is someone Monfort could afford to sign long-term.....just when Cook's leverage is at a low point.

Holliday? His value is at its highest, so he'll be gone. You know that.
So let me ask you, should the Rockies not develop any corner OF's because Holliday will be around for 7 more years?

Huh? Did I ever suggest that the Rockies NOT have organizatonal depth? Or that Holliday be signed to a 4-year extension beyond his sixth year? Truth is that we don't know how much higher Holliday's upside is, or how much he will cost when he's due for his big payday. He may even regress. OF COURSE you try to develop corner OF's.....it just gives you better flexibility to pursue multiple options in a sport with uncertainty.

If your opinion is that the A's, who've made the playoffs a lot lately, are nothing more than a meat factory?
Why should their fans stick with them then...

The A's should not be our model. The Tigers, Braves, and Cardinals are in markets comparable to our's, or at least to what our potential is. The A's share the Bay Area market with the Giants who have a far superior venue. When they move to Fremont, that may change. But for now, they thrive through the genius of Billy Beane, and the good fortune of being in a pitcher's venue and a 4-team division.

Tell me WHY you think the A's are wrong in their approach, and why a similar approach can't work here.

Please point out for our edification where I wrote that the A's model "can't work here"? Sure, it can. But it's not the optimal model in a market that can generate over $150 million of revenues with good management. I believe the Rockies generate $125 million of revenues now with a team that hasn't played a meaningful game in September since 1997. Imagine what they could generate with just a few consecutive years of contention (not playoff appearances, just contention for playoff spots late in the year). There is no necessity to follow the A's model, because the Rockies' situation is far better than it is in Oakland.

I suggest you spend less time defending Monfort's ill thought-out public remarks, and more time to understand what I actually wrote.