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Failure to make changes might hurt the Colorado Rockies more than they think

David Martin
David Martin
September 23, 2014
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dick monfort
Dick Monfort simply doesn’t get it.

Dick Monfort is fiercely loyal. Nearly everyone agrees on that.

That is what everyone says about the Colorado Rockies owner. That is why he hasn’t done what the owners of 27 other teams have done, some several times, since he hired Dan O’Dowd to be the general manager of the Rockies. Since 1999, when O’Dowd was brought on board, all but two teams have fired their GM’s. Both of those teams, the Yankees and the Giants, have won multiple World Championships under their current GM.

The Rockies, however, haven’t come close to winning two World Series in that time. In fact, over that course of time, O’Dowd’s Rockies have only had four winning seasons. They have been to the playoffs just twice, and they have failed to win a National League West title. In the same amount of time, every other team in the NL West has won that division at least twice.

In a stark contrast to the way the Rockies operate, on Monday, that Atlanta Braves dismissed general manager Frank Wren. This year is a huge disappointment for the Braves, whose lackluster offense and injuries killed their season. However, Wren was highly successful in his six-season stint.

The Braves had the talent to go to the playoffs. They are good enough to be successful. However, they simply failed to get the job done, and it was time for him to go. There were no excuses good enough to save Wren. It was success or nothing, especially after breaking the budget to sign Ervin Santana.

Bryan Kilpatrick from Purple Row penned a great piece highlighting some of the stark differences between the way the Rockies run things compared to the Braves.

While the majority of those who know Dick Monfort say that he is loyal to a fault, that word isn’t the proper term to describe the Rockies owner. The proper term that should be used isn’t loyal, it is stubborn. It isn’t that Monfort is loyal to O’Dowd and is willing to see his plan through, it is that Monfort is too prideful and stubborn to believe that the guy who he has put so much faith into isn’t good enough to get the job done.

The problem is that Monfort doesn’t know enough about baseball to even know where to look for a replacement, let alone realize that there are better candidates than O’Dowd and his failing philosophies. Monfort has to rely on his general manager to tell him about players and statistics and potential trades. The average baseball fan knows more than Dick Monfort about baseball. Monfort has never learned because he listens to O’Dowd and believes everything he says.

Oftentimes, fans will describe Monfort as a savvy business man, but not a good baseball man. While the latter half of that statement is correct, the first half couldn’t be further from the truth. Name one successful business man who knows nothing about the business that he or she operates. After being the principle owner for the past decade and a half, Monfort still doesn’t know anything about his competitors, the rules of the game, how free agency works, or the farm system. In a chat with fans on Twitter before the season, Monfort told fans that he was proud that the Rockies had the best farm system in baseball. That statement was related to the award that had recently been given to the club from Topps. That award is given to the organization with the most players of the week throughout the minor league season.

Winning players of the week awards is great, but it isn’t necessarily indicative of the best farm system in baseball. In fact, the cupboards have been very barren for several years in the Rockies farm until this past season in which a new group of prospects emerged to give the franchise hope.

The point remains, however, that Monfort had no idea what that award meant, and he had no reference point to why the Rockies haven’t been able to develop talent. If Monfort is such a great business man, it probably isn’t asking too much to believe that he actually should have a basic knowledge of how his industry works.

The problem is, Monfort doesn’t know baseball enough, and doesn’t understand fans enough to realize that while Coors Field might always have decent attendance, that at some point, Rockies fans are going to go away. Coors Field will always be a great place to spend a summer night, but if the product on the field doesn’t improve, the newly minted fans from the 2007 and 2009 playoff runs will find something else to do. The passion in Denver for baseball will be redirected to a healthier obsession, one that doesn’t make the person with the passion continuously angry.

Fans might still show up, but the amount of innings that they spend at the game will probably diminish, instead choosing to spend their time at the bars and restaurants around Coors Field.

Rockies fans have grumbled in years past, but the 2014 season was a boiling point for them. The asinine emails that Monfort sent out to the fan base was icing on the cake. It quickly became clear that the combination of O’Dowd failing at his job, with Monfort making baseball decisions when he clearly has no business even participating in the average fans baseball conversations, is the biggest problem that the Rockies face.

If Monfort believes that status quo is just fine, he is in for a big surprise. Colorado simply offers too many great entertainment options in the summer for baseball fans to continue to spend their time and money at Coors Field. Will the average fan still come out to games? Absolutely. However, instead of a season ticket package, or a mini-plan, those fans will choose to go out to the old ballpark four or five times instead of twice per homestand.

In years past, Rockies fans simply forgave and forgot about the transgressions of the Rockies over the winter. However, the flame of anger is different this year. It seems that the threat to not go to games anymore used to be an idle one. This time is seems serious. If the Rockies don’t make major changes, the fans might let Dick Monfort and his ownership team understand their disapproval by not wasting their time and money at Coors Field when the team has no chance to make a run and only makes excuses for it.

Dick Monfort isn’t loyal, he is stubborn, and he is going to pay the price for it if he doesn’t do anything at the conclusion of the Rockies season.

Follow me on Twitter @RockiesReview. Like me on Facebook, search “Rockies Review”

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11 Comments (9 conversations)

September 23, 2014

Idk I was thinking "stupid" or "jackass" were better ways to describe him.

September 23, 2014

My thinking on this topic is a little different…I believe this is Dick's hobby and he has his hand involved in everything. If he fires DOD then he needs to fire himself just as much as probably most decisions go through Dick.

This isn't a business venture as much as it is a pastime for him so if something doesn't work, lets try this or that. It's probably no different than the casual golfer trying on their own to improve their swing…Most times they fail equally as bad as Monfort.

This team has the potential to make so much money that I just don't get it…For example, this team last season was ranked 10th in attendance but 21st in ticket revenue. They heavily discount their tickets to get people in the door. Even the Marlins and their barren ballpark has more gate revenue. If Dick can treat this organization like a real business and truly put the right people in place to succeed, he can make a goldmine. Instead it is ranked 27th in value out of 30 teams.

Replying to

September 26, 2014

Although you need to get people in the door in order to sell expensive beer and hot-dogs. It is better to sell a seat cheaply than to allow it to remain empty and lose out on the ancillary revenue generated via concessions. That said we recently took a trip to see the Rocks play at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Tickets prices are WAY higher than at Coors Field as are the concession prices. If we had to pay those prices to watch baseball we would likely cut our yearly attendance in half to compensate.

Bottom line though O'Dowd has to go and while I wish the Monforts would sell to an ownership group with baseball acumen wishing for that would be a pipe-dream I'm afraid.

September 24, 2014

Very well written David

September 24, 2014

Monfort is pathetic, and he's made the Rockies the same thing! Nothing can be said anymore, as nothing seems to get through Monfort's thick skull! I totally agree with you…he just doesn't get it!! What kind of an uneducated, misguided owner would allow this to continue? Only Dick Monfort! If I was an up and coming player, as well as a star, like Tulo and Cargo, I'd want to get the heck out of this loser organization. Who would really want to play on a team when the season is over EVERY year by the time the fireworks fly on the 4th of July!? What a joke…and year in and year out Monfort does nothing…oh yeah, except belittle loyal fans!
Scott Nelson
nelsonfinancial@msn.com

Replying to

September 24, 2014

Same old, Same old!! You've hit it right in the head!! No division titles in 15 years, do something!! Trade somebody!! ACT!!

September 24, 2014

Monfart, give me a break, O'Dumb needs to go, Walt needs out. trade Tulo and Cargo if you can, most of the pitching staff needs to be replaced, and find hitters who can hit on the road, 20-56= terrible. and then get rid of Frazier and Husan. Nothing will happen, last place again next year Pepe Le Pew who is so stupid he flys into Denver twice a year to see a series and spends tons of money, 6 grand kids to games
. going tonight, live 6 blks from Petco beat the pedophiles tonight. Pepe

September 24, 2014

I agree with the fans will stop showing up. My wife and I had attended 15-20 home games a season until last year. Now it is 2 or 3 times a season. If no changes are made in the front office then next year will be 0. I know from talking to other baseball fans that I am not alone in this view.

September 24, 2014

Dick Monfort needs to sell the team, but, Denver baseball fans need a new direction – I would keep Tulo and Cargo because they are great role models for the children that come to the games – The pitching is the problem – If we go to a five man rotation, with Jorge De La Rosa as the ace, things will be easier – Keep Drew, George Frazier, and Jeff Huson as the play by play men in the booth – The Rockies have been here going into the 23rd season in 2015 – Fans will be patient, but time is ticking – Everybody, keep a positive outlook – Things will get be better, but, Dick Monfort needs to get out of baseball, and take Dan O'Dowd with him!!!! – Mike Burke

September 24, 2014

Monfort thinks he is god creating the Rockies in his own image. which means were destined to be worse than the Cubs. doesnt matter what we say he is not smart enough or cares enough to make the right decisions.Makes you wonder how he made all his money. I havent been to a game in two years cant foresee coming out until we get better management or maybe ownership. heck I used to watch every game televised didnt make through 12 this year. come on Mr. Monfort grow some balls get a real GM in here or sell the team before you turn it into one of those basketball teams that play against the Harlem globetrotters.

September 29, 2014

Fans are in denial;Monfart owns the team, he will stay. The rest of management must go- everyone. Finished 29th out of 30 teams, won 21 on the road. Can't hit on the road, anyone can hit at Coors. Tulo and Cargo terrible after the 7th inning and on the road. Must go to rebuild from the bottom. Pitching horrible. Keep these guys around,win 5 more at home and on the road you will have 76 wins. Be patient you say ; 5 winning seasons in the past 21. Duh Get rid of the homers ;the guy from Wyoming and the dope from Oklahoma. Fans deserve much better;but the only power they have is to stay away.

Pepe

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