KRIEGER: Monfort: Rockies' fall began in spring
By Dave Krieger, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published October 10, 2008 at 10:58 p.m.
Drew on Baseball
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Looking back, the failed attempt to sign Matt Holliday to a contract extension during spring training was the beginning of the Rockies' unraveling this season.
At least, that's how CEO Charlie Monfort sees it. He mentioned this Friday when I asked if the Rocks would make any further attempt to sign Holliday to a contract beyond next season.
"We're not going to try to do anything in spring training again," he said. "That was too much of a distraction. I think that helped lead to our downfall.
"You hate to say that something you do in spring training, you can't regroup from that and turn the page and move on. You would think you could. But I think that was a big distraction and it took away from the preparation for the task at hand, which was going to be huge, coming out and trying to defend the crown, because you knew everyone was going to be shooting for you."
I mentioned that the Rocks and Holliday did a good job of keeping the talks private at the time.
"I think the team knew that there were discussions going on and when those discussions didn't prove to be fruitful, everyone sort of said, 'Oh, wow, is Matt going to be here?' rather than just worrying about what they needed to worry about, and that's being the best they could be at their position."
Monfort is not alone in this view. Jeff Francis, Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki had all signed multiyear contract extensions. When the talks with Holliday broke down, the momentum toward keeping the young nucleus together came to a sudden stop. It wasn't quite one for all and all for one anymore.
In fact, some in Rockies management think Holliday's performance - he failed to reach 30 home runs or 100 RBI for the first time in three years - was a product of the pressure he felt after turning down at least $72 million.
One theory popular in the team's offices suggests it represented a basic conflict of values within Holliday that tormented him early in the season. Was he a small-town guy like the Padres' Jake Peavy who would be happier taking less money to stay in a smaller market where he was comfortable? Or was he a big-time star enthusiastically partnering with agent Scott Boras to maximize his earning power? When I spoke with him near the end of the season, he clearly wanted fans to know he was not after the last dollar, even as he offered a critique of the Rocks' offer that seemed likely to have come from Boras.
In retrospect, the breakdown with Holliday was part of a general malaise that came over the team in the spring. A scathing internal review concluded manager Clint Hurdle was too lax in spring training, mainly concentrating on keeping players healthy.
As a result, Hurdle's job performance was the focus of a long organizational meeting last week that preceded the announcement of changes in his coaching staff.
"As for preparation, I think Clint'll tell you he thought that last year they proved they could handle the pressure, they could handle being prepared to play, having the fire in the gut to play," Monfort said. "And as he looks back over the season, I think he'll tell you that maybe he gave them a little more credit to handle that than he should have."
Hurdle basically agreed with the criticism of his performance. It was not a case of the manager being told to choose between his job and his staff. Hurdle made the coaching changes with the exception of strength coach Brad Andress, who was an organizational decision.
With both Hurdle and general manager Dan O'Dowd going into the last year of their contracts, Monfort suggested at least Hurdle has something to prove.
"I think it's a telling year," he said. "I still feel comfortable with the strength we have in the farm system, and that'll have to continue to prove itself for Dan to warrant his position, which I think so far it has. We had a nice, long meeting with Clint and I think Clint assessed himself very well about what he needs to do different. And we'll see. They both have a year left and we're willing to let it play out and see how next year goes."
So there will be no Opening Day contract extensions this year?
Monfort laughed. He told me two years ago he would let O'Dowd and Hurdle work the final year of their contracts, but he and his brother, Dick, changed their minds and awarded them two-year extensions on Opening Day. That decision looked pretty good when the Rocks went to the World Series last year.
"I think I told you once not to plan on that and then we did it," Monfort acknowledged. "But I don't see it. We really haven't talked about it. That's something we'll talk about over the course of the next month. I would say that on Clint's side, he's prepared to come into the season knowing that he's got a year left and we'll see if we can make the adjustments at that level that we need to make.
"With Dan, we haven't really even talked about it and we'll just sort of take that one as the offseason progresses."
Monfort said he and the front office might have been naÃve thinking they could bring the same young group back from the stunning run of '07 and expect it to pick up where it left off.
And he included O'Dowd's admitted mistakes in constructing the pitching staff on his list of what went wrong, although the strength of the farm system seemed to outweigh those mistakes in Monfort's mind.
"Maybe we were a little wide-eyed if we thought we could come in with basically the same team and pull off the same effect, but I think what happened is, starting out we just didn't live up to the expectations and we never did seem to gain our confidence and gain our footing," he said.
After two years of slow starts, Rockies spring training will be run differently next year. Hurdle will be expected to emphasize effort and execution and bring a club north ready to compete.
But before the club gathers in Tucson, many other decisions will have to be made. Standing pat is not the option it was a year ago. The Rocks need pitching. And if they can't come to an agreement with Holliday, they will have to entertain trade offers for him as he enters the last year of his contract.
"Hopefully, we'll have some time to sit down and see if we can do something going forward this winter," Monfort said of Holliday's situation. "And if not, I guess we just see how the season plays out."
Monfort confirmed again that the Rocks will not be issuing "megastar" contracts of the type that hamstrung them earlier in the decade. He also said the slumping economy and fragile financial system could affect leaguewide revenue projections and spending going forward.
"It's going to be a tough offseason," he said. "We knew last offseason would be a breeze compared to this one because we have a lot of tough decisions to make. We want to keep this organization competitive and keep it at the top.
"It didn't turn out the way we wanted this year, so we've got to regroup, figure out how to make the team better and still try not to bankrupt the system. The economic picture is pretty frightening but, hopefully, we can overcome it and be ready to roll next spring."
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October 11, 2008
4:31 a.m.
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FrictionSoul writes:
So in a nutshell the World Series went to their head and Hurdle did nothing to show them how to handle it.
As for Holliday, actions speak louder than words: Matt first, team second. Good luck with your new team. Good luck convincing them that this year was an aberration. Good luck getting the money that Boras thinks you could have had based on last year's numbers. Good luck getting respect back from your friends on the team while they shake their heads and mutter something about how this is all a business and they would do the same thing if in your shoes.
You dug this hole. Just thought I'd mention in case Hurdle hadn't.
October 11, 2008
7:48 a.m.
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RockiesWin writes:
Talk, talk, talk. We want action!
October 11, 2008
9:39 a.m.
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RDenver writes:
Rockies learned (hopefully) their lesson with Neagle, Hampton, and even Todd Helton. Signing a player to a long term contract is not healthy for the rest of the team. Helton' s a great guy but he has a bad back and the Rockies are on the hook for 3 more years. Too pay Holliday $22 million a year for 7 years (at least) is professional suicide. I use to respect Holliday but when he said it isn't about the money and then turns down $13-$18 million for 5-6 years..well...I am like FrictionSoul ...'enjoy your next team Matt'.
October 11, 2008
10:01 a.m.
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SteveC writes:
"It's not about the money but $18,000,000 a year isn't enough"
October 11, 2008
11:07 a.m.
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mkcampin2 writes:
to r denver,
helton is not only a great guy ,but you forgot to mention he is the best player to ever play for the rockies
October 11, 2008
12:33 p.m.
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wiscbum writes:
I'd rather hold on to the current nucleus, if possible, and then trade Holliday, since that's the kind of $$ involved.
Atkins can stay at 3b, play 1b if needed and then convert Stewart into a LF ... for now.
Barmes proved to me he will be a good 2b, combined with Tulo out there... that would be a great tandem.
I keep reading how Tavares has gotten himself in the doghouse, but the dude almost swiped 70 bags, and wasn't even starting at times in August and September. That's valuable speed.
Here's what I would see the lineup as (in hitting order)
CF- Tavares (r)
2b- Barmes (r)
LF- Stewart (l)
3b- Atkins (r)
1b- Helton (l)
C - Ianetta (r)
RF- Hawpe (l)
SS- Tulo (r)
P-
If Tulo continues to bounce back, then move him up. In addition, if Helton bounces back, throw him in the 2 hole and slide everyone up.
The Rox would get a luxury few teams have... alternating between lefties and righties.
Pitching issues still need to be addressed too. Who's the starters? Francis, Jiminez, Cook, DeLaRosa if he remains consistent... "if" being the operative word. Who's the 5th? Hirsh? He's struggled since the Spring injury.
Bottom line... go ROCKIES!
October 11, 2008
1:04 p.m.
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Hayduke1 writes:
The fall began when the Monforts bought the team. Winter sat in under Hurdle. It will be a long, long, time until we see spring again with this franchise.
October 11, 2008
9:25 p.m.
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den2mke writes:
I've seen absolutely no one discuss the one big alteration the Rockies did make in the off-season to the nucleas of the club: Letting Matsui go.
I didn't like the move from the beginning, as it seemed to me they were always in a better position to mfr runs with Kaz on base before the bigger bats. But I'm not sure it doesn't look even worse now and am just curious why no one's talking about it.
October 12, 2008
6:20 a.m.
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ColoradoSportsFaninTexas writes:
The Rockies weren't ready to play last season.... It appeared as if they still had a World Series "hangover", and they started out poorly, and never recovered....It is up to the manager to recognize when to "motivate" his players, and Hurdle failed to do that...
The players seemed to feel like they could "turn it on" any time they wanted, and they would win...But they seemed to be surprised when it didnt work out that way...
Failure to sign Holliday to a long term deal may have been a distraction to the team, and affected the teams chemistry, but the bottom line is that the Rockies didnt produce when they had numerous opportunities to do so. Hitters can point to poor pitching, and pitchers can point to lack of timely hitting,as things to put blame on...but however it is faulted, the Rox still underachieved...
It now appears as if the Rox have come to a critical junction...They need to make some tough business decisions...What to do with Holliday, Atkins, and Fuentes....The Monforts either need to pony up more cash, or reverse their policy to sign players to long term deals, or they need to make some wise trades...
Here is my solution: First of all, they need Helton to either re=work his contract, or retire...He seems reluctant to redo his contract, but perhaps if he comes to believe that his back injury just isnt going to let him perform at the level that he is accustomed to, than perhaps he should move on to the next chapter of his life...I am sure the Rox can find a position for him within the organization...(hitting instructor?). If they can do this, than they can use the money to pay Fuentes or Atkins...Holliday seems intent on getting at least a 7 year deal, so maybe they can trade him for an "ace" pitcher...Throw in the selfish, whining Taveras to sweeten the pot....Monforts need to pony up the cash to entice Atkins to stay...If they can work all this out, than Atkins can move to first base, Stewart takes over at 3rd base, Spillborghs or Baker can take over in Left Field....and if the Rox pitching can improve with the addition of an "ace",... than it probably wouldnt matter who is managing the Rox at that point...
October 12, 2008
6:50 a.m.
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ColoradoSportsFaninTexas writes:
den2mke....
Its a good question, as to why there is very little mention of the loss of Matsui...I am not sure why....No doubt his loss hurt the Rockies, (even though they wont admit it...) Matsui was a good man to have in the 1 or 2 hole...Good speed...good bat control...good defense....
The only reason I can think of as to why there isnt a lot of talk about his loss, is because there was a general feeling that Matsui wasnt in the Rockies long term plans when he was acquired...I think the public was led to believe that he was a risky acquisition to begin with, since he was coming off injury...and that he would only be around for a year or two until Jayson Nix was ready to take over at 2nd Base...and we all know how THAT turned out...
Losing Matsui was a big blunder by the Rox....if do-overs were allowed, I think the Rox would have reconsidered, and kept Matsui penciled in as their regular at 2nd base for many, many years....
October 12, 2008
7:16 a.m.
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ColoradoSportsFaninTexas writes:
Hayduke1....
I agree with your comment about the Monforts....I just am not sure that they are willing to spend the money, and do what it takes to put together a winning team....They can still claim that they are in a small market area, but I KNOW that they made a considerable amount of money when the Rox got to the World Series last year...and yet, it appears as if the Rockies will lose Holliday, Atkins, Fuentes, or perhaps all three....
The Monforts may claim that they dont have the financial resources to keep this team together, or make additions which will improve them....If this is true, than I say they should open up the accounting books, and prove it....If they wont do this, than that only reinforces my opinion that the M brothers are just in it for the money...I guess the beef business isnt enough for them... The Monforts need to get out of baseball, and let someone else with deep pockets come in and give the Rockies fans what they deserve, and that is a winning baseball team.....