Quietest first day of Spring Training EVER

[Roxpert]

Not a single post on this board about this day, and Channel 9 did not cover it on the 10 o'clock news sports segment. No one really gives a hoot about the Rox and Spring Training this year, at least not yet.

Have the Rockies bored their fans into absolute apathy? It appears so.

Addendum: Heck, there isn't even any talk of BA's prospect list that came out today. Has SG even fallen asleep??

[hiaspire]

Shhh!!

[TheIncredibleRox]

We've all just been in a catatonic state of shock that our dear leader has been exposed.

I know the thread was closed for good reason, and I don't mean to rehash it, but how laughable was that post? As if somehow being a college student reduces your credibility. And plus, many/most of us already knew that. I'd be much more scared if HF were a 60 year old man. For the record, I'm about a year younger than he. Take that, lurker.

Anywho, I falied to renew my BA subscription as of yet, so I get to see the listed names but not all the juicy little breakdowns. I wish I could.

Three things that strike me:

--The most impressive part of that list are the names that aren't on it. We may not match up to other teams in terms of blue-chippers, but we have tremendous depth (especially with regard to positin players).

--Many people are stilll faaaar too bullish on Jeff Baker.

--The 'golden boy' shine is all but gone for Stewart. He can surely reclaim it, but he's failed to justify it since 2004. Not that his performance has been poor, but he's fallen far short of expectations after '04.

[Roxpert]

Rocky Mountain News - Denver and Colorado's reliable source for breaking news, sports and entertainment: Rockies & MLB

This shoulid liven things up around here. We are about to hear that DOD has been extended, and Hurdle isn't far behind. The quote I love from this article is the following:

"Clint is becoming a very good manager," Monfort said. "He has some things he wants to do differently, but that's just part of the adjustment process we all go through as we move toward our ultimate goal - winning."

Now, I wonder what Monfort's basis was for saying that Hurdle is "becoming" a very good manager. What evidence is he using to justify that? The team's 76-86 record despite having a .500 Pythagorean record? Their nondescript record from just before the All-Star break through the end of the season?? Or maybe, just MAYBE, Hurdle promised Monfort that he wouldn't BUNT as much anymore!

One thing's certain, if Monfort is valuing WINNING as a goal, he has no basis for associating winning with his current manager. I just hope his quote really represents the "dreaded vote of confidence".

[RMF]

I'm a college student in my 20's. Can I still post here? I don't want to upset the angry lurkers.

I know some people are making a big deal about the farm. O'dowds had 8 years of losing baseball. He'd better have something to show for it. I wouldn't really care if they extend Dan but I certainly won't be throwing any parties. A new GM probably couldn't handle working for Monfort. I'm interested to see what O'dowd does over the next 3 years.

I'm expecting average to slightly below average results.

I think O'dowd is a very average to below average GM. Top to bottom we've got a very average to slightly below average MLB team.

Clint must go.

The Sage of Lodo must be retired.

I don't really care about spring training because I feel like I've heard just about everything from this organization. I'm sure we'll get the usual hype stories. Stewart raked last year during ST. There will probably be lots of Hype. Until these guys do it on the field I'm going to remain calm. No matter how tantilizing the ST stories become.

Anyone else read that Franklin Morales is now 6 foot 3 inches tall? Apparently he's grown 3 inches over the last 3 years. Maybe this is the David Robinson effect and he'll top out at 6 foot 5.

Wouldn't that be great to have a 6 foot 5 power lefty out of nowhere? I wonder if the growth spurt has had anything to do with the control issues. Are his hands or forehead growing?

[RMF]

I'm really disappointed that HF closed the Curtain thread. I like to blow off steam and this is usually where I choose to do it. I appreciate everyone taking my posts with a grain of salt.

As I'm currently located in KS, I have a message for Heltonfan.

Dorothy wants her shoes back you phoney!

[hiaspire]

Originally Posted by Roxpert

This shoulid liven things up around here. We are about to hear that DOD has been extended, and Hurdle isn't far behind.

What the hell happened to this being their report card year?? What happened to finally getting to the point where people need to be accountable for wins?

I wondered why the management wasn't acting with more urgency this off-season knowing their careers might be on the line. Sounds like they really weren't on the line afterall. I posted that question in the BA Rockies prospect chat to TR but it didn't get addressed (a couple of other ones were, though, about our prospects).

If they sign these guys to extensions BEFORE the season and the team tanks it this year, there will be a riot. Or maybe not, because that will really be the last straw for many to stop caring entirely.

What the heck is wrong with making people EARN something. They made this same mistake before in giving these guys an extension before it was earned when there was no reason to prematurely.

The owners already believe next season will be successful. They always have spring optimism. DOD and H already have been awarded for the fine imaginary season that has yet to play out (other than our owner's heads). But let's not count it as successful before it happens. Losing cannot be acceptable, and ACTUAL results matter.

Heck, even just keep it quiet for now and don't pull any triggers officially until you are SURE that things are progressing nicely. Celebrate a strong first half by signing the extensions at the all-star break after the team is above .500 or something. Not now. Not after you already said jobs were on the line if the team didn't perform well. What kind of nonsense is this?

I can't stand the organizational constant path changes. It used to just be DOD, but now it is everyone. What was supposed to be a critical season to where the franchise took the next step toward accountability has now become nothing of the sort, and just acceptance for whatever happens. Yuk.

[CSM]

What would be the point of giving O’Dowd an extension now? Wouldn’t it be wise to wait until AFTER the season is over to decide whether or not to give him an extension? I mean, it’s not like a bunch of other teams will be courting O’Dowd next winter.

Job security is overrated IMO.



Anyway… back to the original topic of this thread….

Is anyone going to Spring Training this year?
I’m planning on being there March 9-15.

[hiaspire]

Originally Posted by CSM

Is anyone going to Spring Training this year?
I’m planning on being there March 9-15.

I went to Tucson a couple of years ago for the first time, and will finally be going back this season but getting a different look at things more from the Phoenix area. Hope to catch a couple of Rox road games. Will probably be there around March 24-29.

[GoldGlove]

Originally Posted by RMF

As I'm currently located in KS

Not to stray from the topic (more than already is), but out of curiousity, where in Kansas are you located?

[Roxpert]

Originally Posted by hiaspire

What the hell happened to this being their report card year?? What happened to finally getting to the point where people need to be accountable for wins?

I can't stand the organizational constant path changes. It used to just be DOD, but now it is everyone. What was supposed to be a critical season to where the franchise took the next step toward accountability has now become nothing of the sort, and just acceptance for whatever happens. Yuk.

HiAspire, this is one of those rare occasions where we agree 100%.

This franchise loses credibility with each passing week. You are right, Monfort has just contradicted himself by telling Tracy that DOD and Hurdle are in line for imminent contract extensions. This WAS supposed to be their report card year, according to Charlie himself.

I can't figure out what goes through Charlie's head. Is he delusional? Perhaps he's easily swayed by Clint's charm and O'Dowd's quick mind? Maybe he realizes that frontline managers and top GMs would cost more money.

Losing baseball franchises which lose for a nearly a decade have something wrong with them that go beyond their GM and field manager. The ownership and top management of perennial losers are usually the main problem, and it's no exception with the Rockies. Charlie, you and your franchise is a JOKE!

I guess this also validates the "power of prayer", at least when DOD and Clint join in with their bosses!!

[RMF]

Monfort is just a walking talking contradiction. You really have to wonder if he's taking his medication.

[Below C-Level]

I must admit that I just don't understand the people who post on this message board sometimes.

You all remind me of a guy whose longtime girlfriend has always been a little overweight. Then she goes on a big diet/exercise regimen- she loses 30 or 40 pounds. She's really looking pretty good. You think he'd be thrilled, right? So what does he do?

He dumps her, because she's fat.

[rockieprogress]

Thats why I'm here today.

I saw the words "Clint" and "good manager" mentioned in the same sentence and was wondering if GOD was talking to Charlie again...

With DoD, its a different story. A GM should be judged on what he does in the off-season (trading deadline trades not withstanding) and DoD has done what he could this past off-season. He'll probably get the extension because, IMO, he didn't do anything to to hinder the club from attaining success. Yes an argument can be made he didn't do much to help them, but that is subjective.

Clint on the otherhand has done nothing yet. He should be held accountable for what happens during this season, and any talk of extending his contract should wait until Sept at the earliest.


The other thread by the Wizard-of-Oz, was an interesting read.
Yes we all know that HF isn't that old.
There are few here that are asking him to provide input on whether the O'Malley's ran a club differently than the Monfort's are at present, but to say that age has nothing to do with understanding baseball is kind of shortsighted.
Neither the statheads, nor the understand by "experience" have an advantage in understanding baseball. They both have their uses.

[hiaspire]

Originally Posted by rockieprogress

He'll probably get the extension because, IMO, he didn't do anything to to hinder the club from attaining success.

I sorta get what you're saying if you look at things one way, but...

All of his wheeling and dealing that accompished nothing for years and just switching mediocre pieces around constantly didn't hurt us?

Destroying the golden goose of fan attendance and monster revenues because of decisions that lead directly to bad baseball didn't hurt us?

All his philosophical changes of direction over and over didn't hurt us?

His grand statistical projections for Jeff Cirillo didn't hurt us?

His calculations that Hampton and Neagle with their changeups were the best possible additions for this environment didn't hurt us?

Insisting on Buddy Bell as manager over owner objections and other preferences didn't hurt us?

Trading Bard and Gerut for Jacob Cruz didn't hurt us?

Trading Castilla while he still had a lot of value for Rolando Arrojo and Aaron Ledesma didn't hurt us?


DOD certainly did his best to ensure years and years of bad MLB baseball with very little strategic vision, and that resulted in a ton of very high draft picks. Give him credit for that, but I think there's more blame instead for the suffering caused on the field the past several years of mediocrity.

We can turn ourselves into the D-Rays if we aspire to have the best farm system in baseball (like they do) but it takes more than that to find success, and we've had NONE of it while the current team has been in place calling the bad shots.