Books and other stuff I feel like discussing
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.
Mood:
Let down
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Coors Field Nugget twelve - it's over
It's over. The fat lady sang. And perhaps the most appropriate cliche of all, the cookie crumbled.
In the fall of 2007, I had some scornful observations when the Diamondbacks walked in a run to give a playoff win to the Rockies. Well, the shoe is on the other foot now, the Rockies dealt themselves out of advancing to play the Dodgers with some hasty, too eager batting, and most miserably of all, a blown save. Huston Street's second blown save since early June, and it comes in a decisive playoff game.
Denver Post columnist Dave Krieger commented on Tuesday morning that with the exception of Carlos Gonzales, the younger members of the Rockies lineup were just plain trying too hard when up to bat. When viewed side by side with Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies, our shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's impatience was costly.
Replays shown over and over again also make clear that several decisions by the umpire crew were in error, and cost the Rockies more than once. Not too much anyone can do about that - the umpires are always right, even when they're wrong. But it heightens the feeling of "what might have been" and increases the melancholy.
I worked the clock around on Sunday, signing in at noon, and not starting out to my car until after 12:30 in the morning. Then came an arduous half hour waiting to get out of the parking lot. For some reason, the parking staff refused to allow me to make a right turn to access the most convenient exit. I didn't press the issue and I wished a few minutes later that I had. I was tired, very tired, however not too tired to realize that staying awake at the wheel was going to be a challenge. I made it home safely, but of course then couldn't sleep right away!
The Sunday crowd was late arriving, with a high percentage of perceptions altered by celebratory alcohol after an unexpected Broncos victory. The access gates were crowded and the people waiting to get in growing surly and unpleasant. The cops on duty were working hard to keep things under control, and often not succeeding. It was cold, very cold, and most people had bags stuffed with blankets and extra jackets. All bags needed to be emptied and examined under the rules of Major League ball, and it was very slow going. It was a very long, and increasingly unpleasant afternoon and evening.
Monday's atmosphere was much better. The sun was shining, and with a 4 pm first pitch on a Monday with work commitments, the crowd arrived in easy stages, and while we were braced for a repeat of Sunday's ugly crowds, it didn't happen.
So now, the comments are filled with observations about where the ownership goes from here. Renewal of GM Dan O'Dowd's contract along with manager Jim Tracy are widely predicted to take place without incident. Third baseman Garrett Atkins has probably played his last game as a Rocky. More distressing to me are predictions that right fielder Brad Hawpe (who was on the NL all star team in July) might be headed out. He has a terrific arm, and while he was in a batting slump the last weeks of the season, it seems a stretch to decide the team could do better with another player. I'm never included in any conferences about who to keep and who to let go, much as I would like to have my input considered! Oh, well.
I'm never ready for baseball season to be over. Never. And I will follow the league playoff games with interest. Always root for the National League, that goes without saying. But here in Denver, it's over. And even if I didn't need one more reminder - the back page of Tuesday's sports section in the morning paper was a full page, orange and blue spread hawking Bronco's paraphernalia. Sigh.
In the fall of 2007, I had some scornful observations when the Diamondbacks walked in a run to give a playoff win to the Rockies. Well, the shoe is on the other foot now, the Rockies dealt themselves out of advancing to play the Dodgers with some hasty, too eager batting, and most miserably of all, a blown save. Huston Street's second blown save since early June, and it comes in a decisive playoff game.
Denver Post columnist Dave Krieger commented on Tuesday morning that with the exception of Carlos Gonzales, the younger members of the Rockies lineup were just plain trying too hard when up to bat. When viewed side by side with Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies, our shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's impatience was costly.
Replays shown over and over again also make clear that several decisions by the umpire crew were in error, and cost the Rockies more than once. Not too much anyone can do about that - the umpires are always right, even when they're wrong. But it heightens the feeling of "what might have been" and increases the melancholy.
I worked the clock around on Sunday, signing in at noon, and not starting out to my car until after 12:30 in the morning. Then came an arduous half hour waiting to get out of the parking lot. For some reason, the parking staff refused to allow me to make a right turn to access the most convenient exit. I didn't press the issue and I wished a few minutes later that I had. I was tired, very tired, however not too tired to realize that staying awake at the wheel was going to be a challenge. I made it home safely, but of course then couldn't sleep right away!
The Sunday crowd was late arriving, with a high percentage of perceptions altered by celebratory alcohol after an unexpected Broncos victory. The access gates were crowded and the people waiting to get in growing surly and unpleasant. The cops on duty were working hard to keep things under control, and often not succeeding. It was cold, very cold, and most people had bags stuffed with blankets and extra jackets. All bags needed to be emptied and examined under the rules of Major League ball, and it was very slow going. It was a very long, and increasingly unpleasant afternoon and evening.
Monday's atmosphere was much better. The sun was shining, and with a 4 pm first pitch on a Monday with work commitments, the crowd arrived in easy stages, and while we were braced for a repeat of Sunday's ugly crowds, it didn't happen.
So now, the comments are filled with observations about where the ownership goes from here. Renewal of GM Dan O'Dowd's contract along with manager Jim Tracy are widely predicted to take place without incident. Third baseman Garrett Atkins has probably played his last game as a Rocky. More distressing to me are predictions that right fielder Brad Hawpe (who was on the NL all star team in July) might be headed out. He has a terrific arm, and while he was in a batting slump the last weeks of the season, it seems a stretch to decide the team could do better with another player. I'm never included in any conferences about who to keep and who to let go, much as I would like to have my input considered! Oh, well.
I'm never ready for baseball season to be over. Never. And I will follow the league playoff games with interest. Always root for the National League, that goes without saying. But here in Denver, it's over. And even if I didn't need one more reminder - the back page of Tuesday's sports section in the morning paper was a full page, orange and blue spread hawking Bronco's paraphernalia. Sigh.
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