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By education and experience - Accountant with a specialty in taxation. Formerly a CPA (license has lapsed). Masters degree in law of taxation from University of Denver. Now retired. Part time work during baseball season as receptionist & switchboard operator for the Colorado Rockies. This gig feeds my soul in ways I have trouble articulating. One daughter, and four grandchildren. I share the house with two cats; a big goof of a cat called Grinch (named as a joke for his easy going "whatever" disposition); and Lady, a shelter adoptee with a regal bearing and sweet little soprano voice. I would be very bereft if it ever becomes necessary to keep house without a cat.
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Coors Field Nugget Nine - middle market baseball
A day or two ago, Eric wondered how the Rockies could justify the loss of Matt Holliday. I doubt if any of you will be surprised to hear that the answer comes down to money.
Holliday, with the help of his agent Scott Boras, was holding out for a LOT of money. For the 2008 season, Holliday came to terms with the Rockies for a one year extension of his previous contract, but for 2009 the two parties could not see eye to eye.
So he signed with Oakland, and in exchange the Rockies acquired outfielder Carlos Gonzales, and pitchers Huston Street and Greg Smith. We haven't seen much of Smith, but Cargo and Street have been integral parts of the Rockies 2009 success.
Dave Krieger, in Saturday's Denver Post, writes that the move was widely perceived as a salary dump by the fans. And that certainly is one way to look at it. Holliday turned down an offer of $72 million over four years. That would have been a little less than a quarter of the entire team payroll for 2009 - for ONE player.
The owners of the Rockies could not see raising their offer as a prudent move. And their decision is also closely tied to the strong farm system operated by the Rockies, and the depth and skill of their scouting operation. Altho Cargo is not "homegrown" Seth Smith is. His bat provided many impressive hits at crucial moments throughout the season, and he filled the roster in left field (Holliday's former ground) quite nicely.
A strong farm system means that the ownership does not need to be held hostage by one player holding out for as much as he can get. (Although Holliday probably didn't see his moves in that light, his agent is widely perceived as a "take no prisoners" type of bargainer.) If a Matt Holliday goes to play elsewhere, a Seth Smith is waiting. If a Garrett Atkins (former starter at third base) enters a frustrating slump in performance, an Ian Stewart is ready to show his stuff.
Krieger also notes in his column that the trades have reinvigorated the clubhouse atmosphere - new faces, hopeful newcomers anxious to prove their worth as well as fit in, have changed the chemistry of the team and provided a new sense of camaraderie.
Middle market baseball simply must keep the economics of the situation in mind. The seemingly boundless numbers of potential ticket buyers are just not available in cities like Denver and in areas like the Front Range of Colorado.
Instead of finding their strength in big ticket players and in limitless ticket sales, the management of the Rockies finds it in depth, in training and development, and in teamwork on the field.
Holliday, with the help of his agent Scott Boras, was holding out for a LOT of money. For the 2008 season, Holliday came to terms with the Rockies for a one year extension of his previous contract, but for 2009 the two parties could not see eye to eye.
So he signed with Oakland, and in exchange the Rockies acquired outfielder Carlos Gonzales, and pitchers Huston Street and Greg Smith. We haven't seen much of Smith, but Cargo and Street have been integral parts of the Rockies 2009 success.
Dave Krieger, in Saturday's Denver Post, writes that the move was widely perceived as a salary dump by the fans. And that certainly is one way to look at it. Holliday turned down an offer of $72 million over four years. That would have been a little less than a quarter of the entire team payroll for 2009 - for ONE player.
The owners of the Rockies could not see raising their offer as a prudent move. And their decision is also closely tied to the strong farm system operated by the Rockies, and the depth and skill of their scouting operation. Altho Cargo is not "homegrown" Seth Smith is. His bat provided many impressive hits at crucial moments throughout the season, and he filled the roster in left field (Holliday's former ground) quite nicely.
A strong farm system means that the ownership does not need to be held hostage by one player holding out for as much as he can get. (Although Holliday probably didn't see his moves in that light, his agent is widely perceived as a "take no prisoners" type of bargainer.) If a Matt Holliday goes to play elsewhere, a Seth Smith is waiting. If a Garrett Atkins (former starter at third base) enters a frustrating slump in performance, an Ian Stewart is ready to show his stuff.
Krieger also notes in his column that the trades have reinvigorated the clubhouse atmosphere - new faces, hopeful newcomers anxious to prove their worth as well as fit in, have changed the chemistry of the team and provided a new sense of camaraderie.
Middle market baseball simply must keep the economics of the situation in mind. The seemingly boundless numbers of potential ticket buyers are just not available in cities like Denver and in areas like the Front Range of Colorado.
Instead of finding their strength in big ticket players and in limitless ticket sales, the management of the Rockies finds it in depth, in training and development, and in teamwork on the field.
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