Wednesday Morning Rockpile: Rockies Like Lions...

by Rox Girl on Jul 2, 2008 11:43 AM MDT in Rockpile Comment 15 comments

Well, according to our fearless leader, at least, who sees a lot of similarities between the Lions of aught seven and the Rockies of aught six. A key difference that Hurdle somehow left out was that the Lions -according to a Google search, since I really don't know much about it- had cleaned house in their coaching ranks before what had been a sorry franchise was able to turn around. I mean, just a minor detail

As good as Aaron Cook has been for us in the past, I was somewhat surprised to find out that yesterday was his first career shutout. If he continues to pitch like he has for us this season, it shouldn't be his last. Hurdle indicated that Cookie will be going to Yankees Stadium for the Rox, which was probably a no-brainer even if somebody else was the All-Star manager.

As could usually be expected this time of season, despite Brian Fuentes' fiasco Monday night, the Rockies reliever is actually getting more interest from teams wanting to make a trade. The Cedrick Bowers call-up from yesterday should be a sign that the Rockies are seriously considering divesting themselves of their current closer, as if Bowers is successful the Rockies would have that security blanket of a lefty in the pen that every manager seems to demand.

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Today

is the last day to vote for the All-Star game…so go vote.

And when you see the 25 votes for W. Tavares, and 15 votes for J. Nix and then 10 write in votes for Jeff Baker at 2nd…it was me.

I miss baseball. Can we fire Clint Hurdle and Dan O'Dowd now?

by Redhawk on Jul 2, 2008 11:53 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

If you see

25 write-ins for Iannetta that was me

Die-hard Rockies fan. On the bandwagon since 7/6/93. Not giving up my seat. EVER!

by rockiesfan4ever on Jul 2, 2008 2:09 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

God no..

as a hardcore fan of both teams I can say that if the Rockies are anything like the lions we are royally F’d.

Matt Millen makes O’Dowd look like a Rhodes Scholar, though the mutual practice of hiring useless retreads that the two franchises frequently do is somewhat disturbing

InToddwetrust

by InToddwetrust on Jul 2, 2008 11:56 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I think

Hurdle has become delusional. Now he offers advice to fans when he can’t solve his teams problems.

by DieHardRox on Jul 2, 2008 1:00 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

This month

Is O’Dowd’s chance to prove his worth. Some very difficult decisions need to be made, and we’ll see how he handles them. Frankly, I expect him to do what he’s been doing for awhile now—nothing of interest. Trading Fuentes is a no-brainer, as would be shopping/trading guys like Yorvit, Baker, Barmes, Podsednik, all relievers not named Taylor, etc. Moving those guys around is of no moment. We need decisive, smart action here, and I doubt we’ll see it.

by Teekalong on Jul 2, 2008 1:16 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Remember

Clint Hurdle won’t get fired, because, in Dick Monfort’s words, “We don’t do that. It’s not going to happen. It’s not productive[.]”

"Keep your head down, and inch toward daylight." - Blade of Tyshalle

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Jul 2, 2008 2:10 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

This is just the dreaded “vote of confidence”

I don’t know how keeping a manager who’s teams are constantly under performing is considered “productive”

by wolf213 on Jul 2, 2008 2:16 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That article

made me cry. THIS is what is wrong with this organization. There is no, and I mean ZERO expectation of actually winning. The Steinbrenners go nuts…..ours doesn’t care if we are the worst team in baseball.

I miss baseball. Can we fire Clint Hurdle and Dan O'Dowd now?

by Redhawk on Jul 2, 2008 2:18 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

those people at.....

www.monfortsmustsell.com should get their website going again. I noticed last year that it was only AFTER that site got active and lots of publicity that the team started doing better. Their 7 game winning streak after their 18-27 start coincided with the public outcry for the owners’ heads. It was almost as if they were circling the wagons over at 20th and Blake, and the players responded with their bosses backed to the wall.

The Rockies have not responded well to expectations this year, but did quite well responding to adversity last year. Maybe that’s the mindset that will get them out of their hole. Anyone know the webmasters of that website? I’m serious.

by GoRoxGo on Jul 2, 2008 5:09 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

i would never compare the Rox

to detroit. The lions have not played for a league title since 1957, and lost the 91 NFC title game. At least the Rox did play for the WS last season. But I can see where there is ineptitude in the ownership and front office for the Rox

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jul 2, 2008 3:00 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

No comparison

A comparison of the ownership of the two organizations might be appropriate (both having stubborn, stupid owners who fans hate) but comparing Dan O’Dowd to Matt Millen is totally without merit.

O’Dowd has shown the ability to identify talent (or hire people who can do so) and to improve the talent level of the organization. He has done so under unfavorable competitive conditions (both due to the nature of the leagues in question and because of the constraints set by Rockies ownership). Even with a wealthy owner an a league that encourages parity Matt Millen has failed over and over again to properly identify or acquire talent.

O’Dowd has built an organization that has the talent to compete. Who he hires or fires to coach his franchise can actually make a difference. Matt Millen could hire Vince Lombardi and the Lions still couldn’t compete because Millen is an inept talent evaluator and an incompetent GM.

Now that I think about it, comparing anyone to Matt Millen is unfair.

by MADness on Jul 2, 2008 6:11 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

surprised this hasnt been posted

clint hurdle in yesterdays press conference when asked how he would respond to increased criticism of the team, as expressed by e-mailers to newspapers:

"Stop coming, then. That's the best statement you can make," Hurdle said. "We are a no-excuse ballclub, and we are not making excuses. We are trying to get it right. . . . If you don't believe in the club, you don't believe in the club. Did you believe in it last year and now you don't? That's your issue, and I understand that, and I appreciate it. But e-mails are just that." 
http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_9759731

hurdle is right. theres no excuse this team should be playing this bad with the talent they have on the roster. so we’re not allowed to criticize the team and either show up and take the lumps or not support the team at all?

by purplesocks on Jul 2, 2008 7:04 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

that didnt turn out well

lets try that again. heres what he said:
“Stop coming, then. That’s the best statement you can make,” Hurdle said. “We are a no-excuse ballclub, and we are not making excuses. We are trying to get it right. . . . If you don’t believe in the club, you don’t believe in the club. Did you believe in it last year and now you don’t? That’s your issue, and I understand that, and I appreciate it. But e-mails are just that.”

by purplesocks on Jul 2, 2008 7:05 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing like

Woody Paige to take a comment out of context and run with it.

"Keep your head down, and inch toward daylight." - Blade of Tyshalle

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Jul 2, 2008 9:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Being a fan of both

the Lions and the Rockies, believe it or not, I think any comparison to Millen is completely out of line. In fact, I think O’Dowd is one of the more impressive people we have in the FO and I don’t understand the heat he always takes. Has bulit a solid farm system despite monetary constraints in signing the best player available. They have really done well w/ the international players and I think we have many solid young arms right now. He has hired some very good scouting people and put a respectable team together using almost nothing but homegrown players. Call it what you want, flukie or lucky, but they were in the WS last year w/ zero high priced FA signings. I like the talent we have coming through the system, although I would agree we are short on position players right now, and maybe upper level arms, but that will get better.

I can agree w/ some bad managing by Hurdle, although I would argue that most any manager would have trouble winning w/ the types of performances we are getting from the middle of the lineup and inconsistent starts from guys like Francis that we are expecting more from. I always hear that he needs to get guys motivated, maybe so, but these guys are big leaguers for crying out loud, if they need a cheerleader everyday then they should go back and play high school ball.

I don’t know about ownership yet, although they are cheap, they did step up in the offseason a little and I would like to see what they do over the next few years and how the Rocks perform. Maybe this year is an aberration and not last year in this “new” foundation of building from within. The bottom line for me, its not management or FO, or maybe even ownership, but pure and simple underperformance from the thing that matters most, the players.

by smokinRox on Jul 3, 2008 8:29 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs