Rockies Owner Dick Monfort on Thursday during a radio interview "seemed to start assigning blame" to Senior VP/Major League Operations & Assistant GM Bill Geivett and Exec VP, Chief Baseball Officer & GM Dan O'Dowd for the team's 40-55 start to the season, according to Nick Groke of the DENVER POST. Monfort, appearing on Rockies flagship station KOA-AM, said, "I don't know how our record got to be where it is. ... People say, ‘Replace the GM.’ OK, that’s easily said. But you’ve got to have a person that in your mind will do you a better job." When asked who is responsible for the team's start to the season, Monfort responded, "You would have to say it’s Bill Geivett. He’s responsible for the major-league team. Now, the talent that gets into the Major League team, is the responsibility of scouting and development." He said of whether the team will make front-office changes before next season, "That's a decision we make later" (DENVERPOST.com, 7/17).
PATIENCE WEARS THIN: In Denver, Adrian Dater writes under the header, "Rockies Losing Support From Fed-Up Fans." Rockies partial season-ticket holder Thomas Wilson said, "We won't be buying tickets next season. If we do go, we'll buy from StubHub or maybe scalp cheap tickets or overpay for opening day. I want the Rockies to do well, but I can't justify the expense anymore." Dater notes for fans such as Wilson, Monfort's recent actions "were the final straw in withdrawing their financial support of the team." Wilson said of Monfort, "He takes advantage of what an awesome sports town Denver is. I thought it was very 'king in the tower' of him. 'I know what you want and you want a party deck and a club atmosphere at the ballpark, and if you don't like it, don't come.' Well, I might not stop going entirely; you've turned a guy who used to love going to games into someone who has given away most of his tickets to co-workers who honestly feel the same way. We all love the game of baseball too much to not go, but it doesn't mean I have to support this front office" (DENVER POST, 7/18).
