Rockies Owner Dick Monfort and GM Jeff Bridich "reached out to season-ticket holders with an enthusiastic letter that spoke in glowing terms of the club's future," according to Patrick Saunders of the DENVER POST. In the letter, which was dated Oct. 12, Monfort wrote "most ticket prices will be unchanged" in '17. Monfort: "Was 2016 the start of something good? Yes. ... I am excited for what lies ahead." Monfort "hinted that the club is open to increasing its payroll," which was about $111.6M last season, the "highest in franchise history." Monfort: "You have invested in us and we will continue to invest in you, both in terms of growing our player payroll and providing the best service and ballpark experience in sports." Regarding ticket prices, Monfort wrote, "Going into 2017, we will keep our average Season Ticket price among the lowest of all 30 Major League clubs, but we will make moderate increases in a few seating areas, keeping the majority of our ticket prices the same" (DENVER POST, 10/14). Saunders wrote Monfort's letter "sounds like a promise" to grow the team's player payroll. Saunders: "I hope the Rockies follow through, because the time is right to make a playoff push. The window is open, but for teams such as the Rockies, it can close in a hurry" (DENVER POST, 10/15).
WE CARE: In San Jose, Daniel Mano noted MLB Giants President & CEO Larry Baer on Thursday "sent a heartfelt note to the team's season-ticket holders" after they were eliminated from the postseason. Baer wrote, "The final weeks of the season encapsulated so many of the reasons we're energized about diving into the work of putting another playoff caliber team on the field in 2017." He added, "We will pursue every opportunity and commit the necessary resources to field the best possible team to get back to the playoffs in 2017" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/14).
