I attended the Rockies-Padres game on Saturday, which quickly turned into a noncompetitive affair as Colorado once again found themselves completely outclassed by their opponents. Typically when I attend games physically, my goal is to talk to players, coaches, and other staff and get their opinions on various aspects of the game.
That was not my only goal on Saturday.
Instead, I walked the concourse of our beautiful Coors Field ballpark and talked to you, the fan. I asked people what their thoughts were on various aspects of the team, and they were all honest… brutally so.
The general sense of apathy was apparent from the jump. Of the nine groups — about 15 total people — I interviewed, only two said they still actively follow the team. The rest were simply out for a good time.
“I just come for the food,” one fan said when asked about why they still visit Coors Field.
“We come out in the nice weather to have some beer, munch on some nachos, and watch a game.” When asked about whether they care about wins and losses, another opined that they “just want to see a close or good game. Wins or losses don’t really matter anymore.”
It became immediately clear through my conversations with these fans that, to them, the individual, on-that-day experience was far more crucial than the long-term success of the club.
When asked, just three fans could name current Colorado players, and none could name a minor league talent or prospect. While it’s true that those of you that frequent the Purple Row message boards probably have more knowledge of the team’s MiLB system than the average bear, I was still surprised that not a single interviewee had any insight or interest in the Rockies of the future.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Now, 15-odd people is certainly not indicative of the overall fandom’s thoughts, but it was an interesting glimpse.
While the team’s on-field work was consistently rated poorly, there were positives to be taken from my travels. There’s no doubt that fans still love and appreciate the park that we call home, and that it’s as good a reason to stay engaged as any.
“We love to do the theme nights,” said one respondent. “Grateful Dead Night is our favorite.”
Theme nights were mentioned a few times, with Star Wars Night and Harry Potter Night being the most mentioned. Other fans appreciate the general atmosphere, such as one group of out-of-staters that were impressed with the culture of Coors.
“The fans are super supportive,” one of them said. “Regardless of (the team’s) win-loss ratio, it’s awesome. We love to sit out amongst them.”
Considering what they’ve gone through in recent seasons, Rockies fans have to be considered among the most loyal of them all. That includes the sweet couple I spoke with that have been there since the beginning.
“We’ve been fans since 1995,” they told me. “We were season ticket holders for a long time.”
What changed?
“When Arenado left.”
Yeah, there are some that are still feeling burnt by the departure of the franchise cornerstone third baseman. Rightly or wrongly, the front office’s decisions weigh heavily on the minds of these fans, regardless of how closely they’ve followed the team’s exploits in recent seasons.
“(The front office) needs to spend money on free agents,” said one pundit. “They don’t have much for trade value, so the only way to get back to the playoffs is to get outside help.”
Is that really the best route back to the postseason? Hard to say, but it was an option mentioned by more than half of the people surveyed.
Even with an albatross contract such as Kris Bryant’s to deal with, some believe that Colorado would do well to open the check book even more. It’s apparent that there is a perceived lack of appropriate allocation of funds from the team’s higher-ups, and whether fair or not, there’s work to do to earn the fanbase’s trust back in that regard.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
There wasn’t a ton of shocking revelations or hot takes to be found in my conversations with these fans, who again do not speak for or represent all of Rockiedom.
Still, when speaking with all of these people, the one thing every single one had in common was the air of resignation. Be they longtime loyalists, out-of-town tourists, parents, teenagers, or any other designation, the mood was largely that of indifference and general “it is what it is.” In a season such as this, maybe that’s to be expected, as there have been precious few highlights to attach to.
Still, it’s a shame that such insouciance seems to be the default setting for Rockies faithful.
As the season rolls on and Colorado continues its long, long path back to relevance, we can only hope that some spark will light the flame of Rockies fans and bring them to Coors, not just for the free shirts and the nachos, but for the excellent play of their hometown team.
★ ★ ★
On the farm
Triple-A: Tacoma Rainiers 6, Albuquerque Isotopes 3
The Rainiers offense would not be denied as they touched up Albuquerque’s arms just enough to get the victory.
Jack O’Loughlin allowed three runs (two earned) over five innings, while the Rainiers used six pitchers in total to keep the ‘Topes quiet after an early three-run lead in the second inning. Ezequiel Tovar and Tyler Freeman, on rehab assignments, went a combined 1-for-9 in the loss.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 1, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 0 (Game One of doubleheader)
Binghamton Rumble Ponies 3, Hartford Yard Goats 2 (Game Two of doubleheader)
The Yard Goats and Rumble Ponies split their doubleheader, with both games featuring strong starting pitching.
The first game was highlighted by the tag team of Sean Sullivan and Bryce McGowan, who tossed seven combined shutout frames and allowed just three hits. The sole run of the game occurred when Juan Guerrero scored on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning.
The second contest saw the Yard Goats steal six(!!) bases, but they couldn’t quite capitalize on their opportunities as they finished 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Carlos Torres, Mason Green, and Carson Skipper pitched well, but Binghamton’s bullpen was just a bit more effective.
High-A: Spokane Indians 5, Eugene Emeralds 3
A four-run sixth inning propelled the Indians over the Emeralds in Wednesday’s latest contest.
Michael Prosecky’s three-run, six-inning start was solid enough to set Spokane up for success. Aidan Longwell provided the power, as he led the way with a two-hit, three-RBI performance. He also walked and scored on his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth inning.
Single-A: Fresno Grizzlies 3, Lake Elsinore Storm 0
Fresno’s pitching relay masterfully calmed the Storm as they shut out Lake Elsinore on Wednesday.
The Grizzlies’ four pitchers and allowed just two singles through their excellent nine innings of work. Offensive highlights included RBI hits from Blake Wright and Kevin Fitzer, while Robert Calaz tripled and scored on a subsequent error.
Fitzer and Daniel Cope each collected two hits in the victory.
★ ★ ★
On the internet
Rockies fire the wrong people after a record-breaking year in futility (Letters) | Denver Post ($$)
Speaking of fan interaction, Patrick Saunders has been doing a fan mailbag for quite a while, and in this newest entry in the series, he hears from Rockies followers as they react to the dismissal of manager Bud Black.
Rockies’ turnaround on ‘all of our shoulders,’ Freeland says | ESPN
Kyle Freeland has always worn his heart on his sleeves, and has an unabashed love for his hometown state. It’s been hard for him to bear the Rockies’ continued struggle this season – harder than most. As such, it’s somewhat inspiring to hear him discuss the mindset he has as he and his teammates continue to try to turn things around.
★ ★ ★
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