Friday Morning Rockpile: Back Home

by Russ Oates on Apr 4, 2008 8:31 AM MDT in Rockpile

Well, that road trip in St. Louis was disappointing, to say the least. But we should put that out of our minds for now. The Rockies return home to celebrate last year's pennant win this weekend. We'll wait until tomorrow night to see the pennant unveiled. Today Joe Kennedy's widow and son will take the field before the game:

The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Kaige Kennedy, who is 16 months old and the son of the late Joe Kennedy, a former Rockies pitcher. Todd Helton, a close friend of Kennedy and his widow, Jami, will accompany Kaige on the field.

That'll be a great moment.

Todd Helton has the right idea that this Opening Day will be different than past ones:

"I always look forward to it because it is a chance for the fans and the team to reunite, and this one will have a little more meaning to it," he said.

Sure, it would have even more meaning if the team was celebrating a World Series victory, but when someone mentions the '07 Rockies season the first thought isn't going to be, "The Rockies lost the World Series." It's going to be, "Those 21 days . . ." The club's already seen the impact that run has had on ticket sales.

For those of you attending the game today, enjoy it! We'll expect your stories and photos about the Opener later today.

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Snowboarders as vanguards of the future.

I love this quote from Keli McGregor:

"I'm sitting in a Starbucks in Breckenridge this winter and a group of young snowboarders come in," McGregor said. "There were probably six or seven of them and four or five had Rockies caps on. For me, that's when it really hit me that, boy, things are changed. Snowboarders, with what they wear and how they put their outfits together, hats are a pretty big deal."

Using a sample snowboarders as a marketing metric. Excellent. I actually think it's got some merit.

I hope the Rockies start a long win streak today, it will be so unfortunate to lose this enthusiasm and the increased revenues derived from it by flopping out of the gate.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2008 8:38 AM MDT reply actions

Opening Day!!

I've already got my Rockies gear on and ready to go to LoDo. I can't wait to get back to that baseball atmosphere. My buddy and I are going to go to some of the bars down there and take it all in. The local sports radio shows are already brodcasting from there. We need a win today against the snakes.

'Cause my better's better then your better-Matt Holliday

by blake20 on Apr 4, 2008 8:43 AM MDT reply actions

Bars

That reminds me of an e-mail I received: The ESPN Zone by Coors Field is celebrating today starting at 10 a.m. Just in case anyone wants to go.

"Don't give up the ship!" - Capt. James Lawrence

by Russ Oates on Apr 4, 2008 8:48 AM MDT up reply actions

It's possible some people might get our tags confused.

by Blake20th on Apr 4, 2008 8:59 AM MDT up reply actions

It's already happened

It didn't register for me that blake20 was a different user from you until just now.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2008 9:04 AM MDT up reply actions

I'd be willing to change mine

I already tried, but I couldn't find how to. Can you tell me where to do that?

'Cause my better's better then your better-Matt Holliday

by blake20 on Apr 4, 2008 9:34 AM MDT up reply actions

I think we're just going to have to live with it

Even administrators like Russ and I can't change usernames. People will just have to get used to differentiating between the capitalized and uncapitalized blakes.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2008 10:04 AM MDT up reply actions

We should be able to keep it straight now.

I had gotten tired of that name anyway, especially since my name isn't blake.

The poster formerly known as Blake20th.

by NewMexicanSteven on Apr 4, 2008 12:06 PM MDT up reply actions

Okay now,

Now I've just got to remember that when I play Blake20th in our Yahoo! league, it's actually NewMexicanSteven.

Other than that, I think we're set.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2008 12:25 PM MDT up reply actions

Changed it there too.

We should be good.

The poster formerly known as Blake20th.

by NewMexicanSteven on Apr 4, 2008 12:42 PM MDT up reply actions

My local pub...

has hired a bus that will take us to and from the game. It'll get downtown at about 12:15. Plenty of time to wander around and soak in the atmosphere. I can't wait.

I'm kinka hoping the catcher situation plays out like last season in reverse. Not that I hope Torrealba falters. I just have a feeling that Ianetta's gonna hit well enough to merit more and more playing time as the season progresses.

by jlikesrockies on Apr 4, 2008 9:04 AM MDT reply actions

If yesterday's any indication,

You're probably right. I've been in the same boat, it's why I haven't made as much of the decision to keep Torrealba because I think Iannetta has the kind of bat to force his way into the lineup.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2008 9:07 AM MDT up reply actions

The definition of "Potential":

is "he ain't done it yet"

I hope Iannetta does come through. But I feel a lot more secure with Torrealba+Iannetta, then Iannetta+Bellorian.

What am going to do with all these "Jeff Baker for 2nd" bumper stickers?

by Redhawk on Apr 4, 2008 9:33 AM MDT up reply actions

Did I say get rid of Torrealba?

I'm just as comfortable with this set up as you are. I've said it before, but catchers are a position that I'd definitely rather have too much of than just enough.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2008 10:06 AM MDT up reply actions

Must have miss understood

I thought this: "the decision to keep Torrealba" meant there was a decision of keeping, or NOT keeping Torrealba. I'm not the biggest Torrealba fan and his complete lack of arm....but he's better then some MLB catchers. I actually hope Iannetta passes Yorvit too or at least pushes him. It means (hopefully) we get better at this position.

What am going to do with all these "Jeff Baker for 2nd" bumper stickers?

by Redhawk on Apr 4, 2008 10:36 AM MDT up reply actions

I like Yorvit's leadership

with the young latin pitchers (Jimenez and Morales), but I think Ianetta's upside is better for the future. I was pleased with the way Chris played yesterday. He just needs to keep it going when he gets his chances. I was surprised to see him in with Ubaldo on the bump though.

'Cause my better's better then your better-Matt Holliday

by blake20 on Apr 4, 2008 10:12 AM MDT up reply actions

Home Opener.

Well.. I've been waiting for this day since the end of the WS last year, I'm not able to afford that multi game package that the rox were offering for this weekend, so i bought just the single game tickets for today. I was hoping that the NL champion banner would be raised today and the rings would be given out today. BUT NO! the Monforts have gone and spread it over the whole weekend. The WS ticket thing was a farce and a fiasco, they lied to our faces over and over, saying server was attacked. And that they would be asking the CBI and FBI to look into it. But then this winter, never heard anything about the incident. Then i saw the article in the Post saying the Rox never did ask the CBI or FBI to do anything. I am a die hard fan, i go to as many games as i can, i was at the Double header against the dodgers with the other 10 people in the stadium. I was at the phila series and i was at NLCS, but now i am really angry that the monforts are going and making this into a big weekend, why not just do it all on Opening Day instead of spreading it out? not everyone can afford to buy 3 days worth of tickets at one time. Thanks again monforts, pushing me further away.

by ColoroxWS07 on Apr 4, 2008 9:19 AM MDT reply actions

Home opener

I've gone to several home openers in a row....but not this year. Too much money for just one game.

But pushing for the weekend? Or for higher ticket sales and prices in general? I can't blame the team. This is a business after all. They need to run the business side and make the most money they can, so they can keep the field product competitive. To my personal surprise, the Monforts and the Rockies have raised our payroll to around the major league average. So they are putting money into the on field product, and not just in their pockets.

Yeah, it sucks to not have money to see your favorite team. (I'm in the same boat as you are this weekend), but that's not the team's fault. And compared to other sports, baseball is still the cheapest ticket of the major sports.

Or you can join me at the Pepsi Center tonight, for $7 Crush tickets.

What am going to do with all these "Jeff Baker for 2nd" bumper stickers?

by Redhawk on Apr 4, 2008 9:30 AM MDT up reply actions

Crush games

I agree with you there, But i went to every Crush home game last year, and I have a sinking feeling the team won't be around more then this year. Look at the insides of the team and where they are going. All i am asking for is the Monforts think of the fans for one minute, I am not complaning about the raise in ticket prices, it is deserved. But the way they are handling the ticket situation does not seem to be the best.

by ColoroxWS07 on Apr 4, 2008 9:48 AM MDT up reply actions

I'm sort of in a different boat

I think spreading the celebration over the weekend will make more Rockies fans feel a part of things than the 50,000 lucky ones getting into today's game. As for the ticket fiasco, the FBI wasn't contacted by the Rockies, but there's an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into the malware that was used to marshal the legion of computers needed to swamp the system last year and should anything ever come of that, the ticket fiasco would count as evidence. It was poor judgment on the Rockies part to stick with a company ill equipped to handle that, but it's not a lie to say the servers were attacked.

by Rox Girl on Apr 4, 2008 10:25 AM MDT up reply actions

I went to Sunday's Crush game

and the Can was maybe, a 1/3rd full. That's the sad thing about Arena Football. Lots of interest, then it fades after the new wears off, and teams move or fold. I've said this may be the last year for the Crush too. And one kiss of death (at least in the olden days like 10 years ago) is when a team can't get a radio contract....like the Crush don't have one this year.

And the in Rocky Mtn News this morning, not one word about the Crush game tonight.

What am going to do with all these "Jeff Baker for 2nd" bumper stickers?

by Redhawk on Apr 4, 2008 10:29 AM MDT up reply actions

Home Opener

I'm pretty sure they spread things out over the whole weekend for people (like me) who can't make it to the game today, but can go on the weekend days. Personally, I'm going on Sunday and am glad I can see them get their rings. It's not to make people buy three days of tickets, it's just giving more people the opportunity to be a part of the celebration. At least, that's how I see it.

Every day is a Holliday!

by free7694 on Apr 4, 2008 10:14 AM MDT up reply actions

Very excited...

I'll head down as soon as I can, which will be earlier than I thought. I can't wait! I'm most looking forward to the atmosphere, though if they win, that'd be a plus. :)

Contracting a BAD case of senioritis...

by Squeaky on Apr 4, 2008 9:42 AM MDT reply actions