MLB Franchise Notes: D'Backs' Hall Gets 10,000 Twitter Followers, Fans Get $10 Tix

D'backs President & CEO Derrick Hall announced Sunday on Twitter that the team will offer $10 tickets for select lower level seats during upcoming home games as a thank you for helping him reach 10,000 followers on the social media website. In addition, half of the proceeds from the $10 ticket sales will benefit the Valley of the Sun United Way’s efforts to #EndHunger in Maricopa County (D'Backs).

PUSH THE PRODUCT: In Chicago, Gordon Wittenmyer notes the Cubs' front office has "assembled the worst team in the majors to date," and the "relentless selling of Wrigley Field from the business side of the operation is creating a perception of franchise priorities that seem to take the baseball product for granted, if not push it into second-citizen status." Wittenmyer: "At best, it shows a lack of regard and respect for the baseball team and the baseball customers paying close to the top ticket prices in the game. At worst, it’s greed gone blind" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/25).

REIGN OF TERRIBLE? In Denver, Woody Paige wrote this season is a "referendum" on Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd -- the "failed, supreme, supposed commander of the Pet Rox." Paige: "So, at last, The Dan must go." Rockies Owner, Chair & CEO Dick Monfort has said that O'Dowd "is baseball's best general manager." But Paige wrote, "Everybody else knows The Dan is the worst GM." He has "been a flop," and his "drafts have been dissected and disrespected." If Monfort would read the "lists of drafted players, free-agent signings and trade acquisitions during The Dan's reign of terrible, he would fire the general manager immediately" (DENVER POST, 6/24).

GIVING HOPE: This morning’s edition of NBC’s “Today” featured Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez and P Andy Pettitte to promote the fourth year of the Yankees' “Hope Week.” Rodriguez said the players are going “into the community and doing some great things for some really great people and also, we’re just trying to basically convey a message to the whole community to go out and volunteer.” Rodriguez: “From our organization, the thing that makes me the most proud is that from the Steinbrenners to our clubhouse kids, everybody’s involved and it’s something we take a lot of pride in.” Pettitte said, “It blows me away to see how selfless people are out there and are doing wonderful things and it’s a chance for us to kind of celebrate that for them and to honor them” (“Today,” NBC, 6/25).