FanPost

Was Reggie Jackson prophetic about Coors?

Reggie Jackson had a memorable quote when he came to Denver as an adviser with the New York Yankees for a pair of exhibition games against the Rockies to open the new Coors Field in late March 1995...

"These guys will never win a championship here, you CAN'T PITCH."

Obviously, he didn't mean you couldn't pitch an outstanding game at Coors, but it was more the baseball-wise insight that working at altitude wears a staff down over the long haul to the point where championship level consistency is nearly impossible to achieve. Of course, this has been the overriding question with the Rockies franchise since Day 1. Can a major league team win consistently, including a championship, playing home games a mile above sea level?

I have been a huge supporter of Dan O'Dowd in trying to systematically solve this dilemma -- I've even gotten into flame wars defending him on this site and others. However, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that O'Dowd has run his course in Colorado and should be dismissed at the end of the season. Dan has sincerely tried - I respect his knowledge and drive immensely - but there comes a time in sports (and life) when it's just time to move on.

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

In This FanPost

Teams