Saunders: Without changes, the Rockies are headed toward fan apathy – The Denver Post

Apathy is a sports franchise’s worst enemy.

Just ask the Pittsburgh Pirates.

They play in PNC Park, universally acclaimed as one of baseball’s most beautiful ballparks. The Pirates made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, from 2013-15, and although they didn’t do much in the postseason, they were embraced by the Steel City. In 2015, the Pirates averaged 30,846 fans per game at PNC.

In 2019, when they lost 93 games, the Pirates averaged 18,412 fans per game, ranking 27th in the major leagues.

I hope the Rockies are paying attention, because fan apathy can strike in LoDo, too. I already feel it.

With the pandemic still limiting crowds at Coors Field, it’s impossible to gauge what the attendance could be. However, I get a lot of emails from longtime Rockies fans and many of them have told me that their anger about the Nolan Arenado trade has dissipated, but they simply don’t care as much about the Rockies as they used to.

That’s not a good sign.

In 2005, the year I moved from the Broncos beat to cover baseball, the Rockies finished 67-95 and averaged 23,944 fans at Coors Field. It was the only time they failed to draw at least 2 million fans for a full season. By 2005, the newness of Coors Field had worn off and the poor product on the field was reflected in the drop in attendance.

The difference between now and then, of course, is that in 2005 the pieces were in place for Colorado’s three-year run of very good baseball, which began with the World Series trip in 2007.

The 2021 Rockies, more than two years removed from almost winning their first National League West title, don’t have those pieces in place.

When Bill Schmidt was introduced as the interim general manager last week, I asked him if the Rockies were “rebuilding,” a term that owner Dick Monfort and former GM Jeff Bridich bristled at when I asked the same question following the terrible 2019 season.

“I wouldn’t use the term ‘rebuild,’ ” Schmidt answered. “I think there are some pieces here that are going to help us going forward. We are always going to be a draft, sign, and develop organization. That’s who we are.”

Schmidt is a sharp baseball man. He was a good choice as interim GM because he’s someone who can clean things up in the Rockies’ front office.

But Schmidt’s comment, “That’s just who we are,” struck a negative chord with me. Yes, the Rockies are a draft-and-develop franchise, but it seems to me that they need a fresh perspective. The “Rockies Way,” is not working.

Although new team president Greg Feasel will take umbrage with my opinion, I believe the franchise needs some bold, fresh voices, and some outside perspective. The Rockies are considered by many in the industry as the most insular in baseball.

Sure, the “Party Deck” in right field at Coors Field is great. Brats, beers, Dippin’ Dots and funnel cakes on a perfect Colorado summer night will always be a treat. And the All-Star Game is coming in July, giving baseball another boost in LoDo.

But what then? The Rockies are on pace to lose 100 games for the first time in franchise history. I don’t think that will happen, but even a 90-loss season is only going to increase disinterest.

The Rockies are nearing a major crossroads. They have a chance to venture down a new road or follow the same old path. A path, I fear, that will lead toward apathy.

Source: Read Full Article