Cisco Kid posted this in the comments…i think it warrants its own post…thanks Cisco…
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A Message from Rockies CEO Dick Monfort
Dear Rockies Fan,
As we begin the second half of the 2012 season, it is our desire and commitment to improve communication to our Season Ticket Holders. A week ago we had our third Fan Forum call. We will continue to host these calls, but we have also decided to provide additional correspondence through email. The purpose will be to share with you the most current information regarding our team’s status and other details we think you should know on a timely basis. These emails will not be a forum for us to give you excuses. They are meant to be factual, open and transparent. There will be no specific timelines when these emails will be sent and they will primarily come from our General Manager, Dan O’Dowd.
As for the season, this is not the start that we had hoped for. Our commitment to winning has been questioned. Our efforts have never been about money, we want to WIN! I can honestly tell you that our desire and our only desire, is to bring you and the entire Rocky Mountain Region what you deserve, and that is a World Championship.
With that said, we know where our weaknesses lie and we have challenged everyone in the organization to get this fixed! Every loss is unbearable to me, but we have a group of young men who truly believe they can deliver on our goal.
It has been a tough three months and we have every expectation that things will turn around and we will deliver a much better performance in the second half. Your loyalty is greatly appreciated and not taken for granted.
Thank you.
Dick Monfort
Nice quote: “…we have a group of young men who truly believe they can deliver on our goal” Just one fan’s opinion but MFL Tracy and BIB DanO do not look all that young to me. And just for grins and giggles think about it – how much better off are the Rockies now than if the MFL Tracy had been replaced in late 2011 – could they really be that much worse?
Finally no excuses just more bs!
I think he is talking about the players being the “group of young men”
Honestly if you really really take an unbiased look at our team you would be hard pressed to think we would be tied with the Cubs for dead last in the majors…this isn’t a team full of sub-par players and yes, our pitching staff is pretty weak, but the team as a whole is not bottom of the majors bad.
So, sadly, i gotta agree that the team might turn it around the 2nd half…and, just as sadly, i think that in doing so ownership/management wont really need to take the good, long look at things like they should…it will just be a massive case of the ’07/’09 Rockies that “started slow” and “poured it on late”…
Jaredean,
I agree with you that this team may turn it around in the second half, but sadly Monfort will just use this as an excuse for standing pat and not make any management changes. It will be his way of saying “see, we’re not as bad as everyone says we are”.
yep, exactly my point…wont make the changes needed because he will be “proven right”
Someone named Shane had their own interpretation of the above letter and posted it in the DP comments section. Here it is-I thought it was brilliant:
Dear Sucker,
As we begin our annual nosedive, it is our desire and
commitment to ensure all you suckers continue to give me money. A week
ago we had our third Sucker Forum call. We will continue to host these
calls (we want your $!, Duh!!!), but we have also decided to provide additional correspondence
through email (more chances at more $! Yay us!). The purpose will be to try and convince you to give us money even though we have had absolutely no clue how to run a winning orgainzation from Day One. These emails will not be a forum for us
to give you excuses. We truly believe you will think we are honest in these statements because, well, you’ve proven to us year in and year out that you are a sucker. The emails will primarily come from our Sucker Manager, Dan O’Dowd.
As for the last decade, this is not the start that we had hoped for. Our
commitment to winning has been shown to be a fraud. Our efforts have never been
about money, we want to WIN! Our Sucker Manager just apparently has no clue how to make this happen without blind luck coming into play. I can honestly tell you that our desire and
our only desire, is to bring you and the entire Rocky Mountain Region
what you deserve, and that is seeing your favorite teams pound our AA pitching staff night in and night out.
With that said, we know our weaknesses lie everywhere and we have
challenged everyone in the organization to get to just quit. Every loss is
expected to me, but we have a group of young men who truly believe
they can deliver on our goal of making me more money.
It has been a lucrative ten years and we have every expectation that
things will continue as they have been and you will continue to deliver me more money over the next 10 years. Your loyalty is greatly appreciated and taken for
granted.
Thank you.
Dick Monfort
My message to Dick Monfort – Talk is cheap.
OK, in spite of this horrible season, DOD has to be given credit for some things… most of all, obtaining Colvin and LeMeiheiu (sp) for a washed-up Ian Stewart. All of a sudden, we aren’t talking about Blackmon or Wheeler anymore. Cuddy has been a great addition to both the field and locker room, I don’t care if they overpaid. He’s the kind of athlete I like to root for.
Pomeranz might just turn out to be a great pickup. White has bombed, but Drew for Ubaldo is not a terribly bad trade. Ubaldo is doing well, Drew is doing well, both teams are happy, so be it. And Drew is a lot younger and doesn’t have all those ‘at altitude’ games. I’m ok with that one.
So, that being said, I still think we need a new direction, though I would prefer it be ownership (though I have spent a minute or two with Dick Montfort and liked him).
I am all about building around Tulo and Cargo. Things turn around quickly in baseball with the right people pulling the strings. So build around Tulo, Cargo, Cuddy, Colvin, Drew, maybe Dex, maybe Friedrich, maybe Nicasio, maybe Chacin, maybe JDL, one of our utility IF guys (Nelson, Herrera or Pacheco), Drew, Brothers, Belisle and other bullpen parts.
With a respectable rotation and a consistent bullpen, this team would not be horrible. Oh yeah, I’d like a new GM and Mgr as well. Time to change the culture of leadership instead of blaming the locker room. They really suck right now, but it can be corrected with a few moves, rather than a fire sale. Starting with the guys that don’t take the field.
Agreed, Iggy. Tons of things have gone bad. This season is over. Will it take several years of rebuilding to contend? I don’t think so. Good things, cont’d:
- Nobody’s noticing, but this may be the year we emerge as the best outfield in baseball. 3 centerfielders, one hitting at an elite level, two others hitting at an excellent level. I don’t think Colvin or Fowler will hit this well for good, but even if they tail off some this is really looking good.
- Pomeranz looks like he’s ready to emerge as a front-end starter by next year.
- Tulo will be back, and even with his slow start this year he was the 3rd most productive offensive SS in baseball when he got hurt.
- Rosario gives every indication of being at least an average catcher, maybe considerably better, for the next 5 years.
- Nelson and Pacheco have shown flashes. I’m not confident about either being a starter, but at least one may break out.
- We have an explanation for why Chacin sucked, so there’s every chance he’ll return to first half 2011 form next year.
- Nicasio doesn’t have a serious injury, and he too may return to 2011 form.
- Cuddyer has been solid. Overpriced for a first baseman, but solid, and that’s where he should be the next couple years unless he’s traded.
- Brothers had a tough night, but he’s emerging as the guy we thought we might have.
- Belisle and Betancourt are about as stable relievers as you’ll find, and both are under contract next year unless we choose to trade one or both. And if so, that’s fine since they’ll bring good value.
- Arenado may be ready next year, and there’s a chance Rutledge will make it (I’m skeptical, but he may surprise me)
- Helton has had a rough year, but he’s been unlucky. I think he can be a plus bench player next year if he accepts that role.
- Friedrich has shown major league stuff. Starter or reliever? I’m not sure, but I’m convinced he’ll make it in some role if he stays healthy. White showed flashes. Outman showed nothing but may be a decent reliever if they convert him now.
- Francis may come back. Amazingly consistent. If you look at Fielding Independent Pitching (ERA taking out the luck factor), here’s his career from 2005 to now: 4.74, 4.38, 4.19, 4.81, 3.88, 4.10, 3.82. He’s lost some mph, but he’s the same old Jeff Francis. A solid guy who’s not intimidated by Coors, and he ought to be a great example for our young lefties.
- Money: Helton’s salary is now affordable: he only makes 6 million next year. Guthrie’s contract will be off the books. Trade Ramon Hernandez and you free up more money. CarGo and Tulo are still very bargain priced next year. Bottom line: money to spend, and it’ll make you better if you spend it wisely. Yeah, we need starting pitching, but we can trade for it by taking on some other club’s bigger contract pitcher and by signing a midline free agent. Oh, and what’s new: we still need a second baseman after Scutaro is shipped out.
- Our division still sucks. The Dodgers are falling back fast. The D’backs have their own troubles. The Giants’ run of incredible pitching health is ending: Lincecum is very hittable now, and the depth isn’t there anymore. The Padres have a ways to go. The opening is clear.
So there it is. Other clubs have done the worst to first thing. We could do it again. Given the salary advantages and Can O’Dowd do it or will it take a change? We’ll see.
Ag,you wrote the synopsis I’ve had running around in my head for a few days-just much better than I.Realisticily,the loss of Tulo for half the season,DLR’s setbacks,and numerous pitching injuries have magnified the shortcomings this team already had.The 3 outfielders you mention have already hit 40 HR’s,and Dex is in the top ten in Slugging along with Cargo.I believe Colvin would be too with enough plate appearances.It also seems to me he has been seeing a ton of pitches,ala the guy he is replacing in the lineup.I believe many of us only expected a .500 team,so factoring injuries I don’t know that even changes at the top could have changed things.The key,as you so eloquently stated,is what the hierarchy does going forward for a competitive team next year.
It’s amazing how many positive posts come out of just one win. We’re not really hard fans to please.
Question for those of you who watch more than I. Who should be playing right and who first if we go with Colvin and Cuddyer most of the time? Sometimes it’s Colvin and sometimes Cuddyer in right. I think Colvin is a better outfielder than 1st baseman but I thought it last night’s game, Colvin was at first. Any answers?
Did Tracy give any reason for Scuturo at 2nd instead of Nelson? I would think that we should give Pacheco and Nelson major playing time the rest of the season and see what they bring to the table. I know Pacheco isn’t the slickest of fielders but he’s basically learning on the fly. And he can hit. Not for power (at least yet) but Wade Boggs didn’t hit for power and he turned out ok. If Tulo returns healthy, next year instead of this, we don’t necissarily need a power hitting 3B. And if Tracy thinks (or is it DoD? doing the thinking) that Nelson can’t play short then let’s see if he can play 2nd. He’ s been a pleasant surprise to me. If he’s not an everyday 2B can he play short well enough to be our #1 utility infielder? I like Johnny H as a utility IF but frankly he’s a carbon copy of Nelson. Both with decent but not great speed. I think Nelson has more power and is a better overall hitter but Johnny H. is probably a better SS. We don’t know. Tracy and/or DoD seem to know and unfortunately they have more say in the matter than we do.
They are also the ones who thought Paulino was a relief pitcher rather than a starter and an Outman a starter rather than a reliever. So far they have been wrong on those two.