This has obviously been a trying year for Rockies fans and there is little to no hope to salvage this year. There seems to be two distinct groups of people that are still interested in the Rockies and their approach to the team couldn’t be more different. The differentiation between these two groups made me wonder “what is a good fan?”
Camp #1 – The Believers.
These people are decked out in Purple head to toe, have nothing but positive things to say about the Rockies, encourage every player as they step to the plate and won’t give up hope on a game until the very last out. They make it to every game their schedule allows for and honestly think that the turn around is just around the corner.
When talking to these people it is easy to understand that they believe your team is your team. They don’t think a real fan can walk away when things get rough, just to jump on the bandwagon when things turn around as if they had been a fan all along.
Camp #2 – The Disenchanted.
These people take great satisfaction in every Rockies loss. They have a morbid fascination with each and every new way the Rockies find to lose. They think Tulo is fragile, Todd is too old, Cargo overpaid, Dex is unrealized potential and the pitchers can’t be described on a family friendly site. They are sure that Dan O’Dowd is the architect that has brought ruin to Coors Field and don’t believe Tracy can’t manage his way out of a paper bag. If they go to the games at all it is simply to voice their displeasure.
These fans think the Meat Brothers won’t bring about change unless the losses continue to mount and the fan base dwindles away. They find their only solace in a high draft picks (that O’Dowd is sure to spoil). They are not satisfied with the product at Coors Field and want the Rockies management to know through their booing and by closing their wallets.
Personally I think both camps have a tremendous amount of passion for the Rockies and want nothing but a string of world series flags to fly in Coors; but what is a good fan?
Is it the fan that stands by their team and enables the Monforts to keep up business as usual?
Is it the fan that spews vitriol and threatens the financial stability of the Rockies by refusing to support the product on the field in hopes of change?
I find myself firmly in the second camp, but does it make me a good fan? or a bad fan? are the enabling fans good for the Rockies or do they hurt the long term goals of winning a world series? These questions vex me this year. I wanted to get some other peoples thoughts.
Camp #2 here. At a game last season I got 2 free passes for a M-Th game in April, May or June. The only series in that timeframe I wanted to see was the Nats, and I waited until today to cash in the passes because I was waiting to see which game Strasburg pitched. Just got back from the Dugout Store where they claim the only tickets left are 1 row in the broiling sun in right field. I have used those passes in prior years for seats in the 3rd deck behind home plate, but they claim to have nothing left but 1 row in right field. Am I supposed to believe that this dreadful team has sold out a Monday night game?! Not only do they keep finding ways to lose games, they also keep finding ways to lose fans.
Bat Cat, we got some of those free passes too, and used them for a Wednesday game to see Seth Smith. Even though I remain loyal to the Rox, I admit we high-fived when Seth hit a 2-run HR in the first inning. It was a fun game even though the Rox choked and lost. By the way, we also had fairly crappy seats, row 20 in LF, but free is free.
I never leave a game until the last out is made, and I always arrive before first pitch. So there is some type 1 in me, but I’m morphing into type 2 this season.
I’m in Camp #2 as well. I love the Rox and love seeing them in Coors Field cathedral. I had planned to attend a week long homestand later this summer in hopes that I’d see a team in contention. Sadly, those plans have since faded and plan on visiting some friends in Tacoma instead. Hit em at the gates is what I say. I’ll still try and catch a few innings everyday on TV but that’s more to kind of see what circumstance will inevitably lead to our demise on any given night.
Still love Tulo and Cargo. Could do w/o Dex and Todd is indeed showing his age at the plate and should just retire. I want to see our young pitchers succeed but it’s just lost hope on that front as long as we have the coaching staff, scouts, and DOD in place. I take very little solace in losses but if that’s what it’ll take to enjoy the Rox again, we just have to struggle through it.
And to Bat Cat, I too find it hard to believe that there are not better seats available but I did hear on the radio broadcast a few days ago that the Nationals series was indeed a hot ticket and they were going fast.
And the fact that any ticket for this team is “hot” just makes me shake my head. It’s a clear message to the Monfarts that people (not fans) will still come to the ballpark of a 100+ loss team.
I honestly do not know anyone in Camp 1 and am not sure why anyone would be in that category. There is nothing positive about this team right now.
Camp 1 in my opinion are just very casual fans. They have no idea what’s going. Just read the Toyota talk comments. Full of camp 1 fans! Camp #2 here!
I am convinced the Toyota talk comments are just typed in by Drew, Jeff, Joel, and the others just posting jibberish and entertaining themselves (and providing lead-ins to stupid comments they can make in an attempt to display their “extensive” baseball knowledge). Along with the termination of all the management and coaching personnel, I think the entire broadcasting crew needs to go. I can’t stand listening to how GREAT the opposing pitchers look on nights the Rockies are entirely befuddled or hear them comment on how the Phillies have been one of worst teams in baseball in June. How about some realistic (not pessimistic) analysts who genuinely feel the same sting as the fanbase and provide a true account of this team and its play.
Camp #2 Fan.
It also depends on the timing. I was Camp 1 in April. I knew we had some weaknesses, but I was hoping things would work out. I believe in giving a team a chance. I encountered a lot of Camp 2 fans in April. In my opinion, a lot of “Camp 2 in April” fans are Negative Wizards who enjoy getting others riled up by predicting doom. Some of them also dig the shadenfreude of watching a team struggle.
At this point in the season how can you be anything but Camp 2? Fans should hold teams accountable. I don’t expect to win the WS every year, but I expect to see evidence that ownership is trying to put a quality ballclub together. I don’t see that currently.
At some point, if you follow a team, you have to get through a season like this. I hope it’s only ONE, and that we get to see some young talent develop over the year, despite suffering through a miserable season. But I need to see change, and I need to see it soon.
I told myself I was done posting until management is gone, but this subject is too close to my heart.
How about a Camp #3? The Boycotters.
I refuse to spend any more money on the Rox until a management change happens (except for a game I owe to a friend), and I find it extremely difficult to watch or listen to the worst (or close enough to not matter) team in baseball. The sound of JT’s voice is now worse than nails on a chalkboard as I think he has NO CLUE.
I still care how they do, and am absolutely disgusted when they find new & interesting ways to lose. BTW, I still wear my gear in support of the team (but not management).
I was a lifelong Giants fan until the run in ’07. That made me a Rox fan through and through.
Should I be regretting my decision? At least Giants management seems comitted to fielding a winner. The Meat Bros. just don’t seem to care, or something would’ve been done by now.
Sound off if you’re a Boycotter & let me know I’m not alone out here.
Hey Fig, you can boycott the team but don’t boycott us!!! We like hearing your insights…
I would like to think that most fans start the season as a #1, that is why we hang around all winter waiting for that all so exciting first pitch. But then as a season quickly goes from a dream, to a hope and a prayer, then to absolutely horrible I too have been transformed into a #2. It befuddles me as to why there hasn’t been any mgrs being held acountable. The Rockies don’t even to my knowledge have a National League Champions flag flying. They Painted it on the side a damn wall!! Oh how I wish we had different owners.