In Denver, Mark Kiszla writes Rockies Owner Dick Monfort "tries to run" the team "like a family business, which is cool if a bit naive." It is "not unusual to hear Monfort refer to baseball players in the Colorado clubhouse as his 'kids.'" That is "nice, until money gets confused with love or respect." Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado is a 28-year-old who "understandably bristles if treated like a petulant child for having the nerve to disagree with the direction" Rockies Exec VP & GM Jeff Bridich is "taking the franchise." Monfort "thinks his money should buy him loyalty." Kizsla: "Whether you're a player who questions the direction of the franchise or a businessman who doesn't play ball on Monfort's terms, he tends to drop you like a hot potato" (DENVER POST, 1/23).
CALIFORNIA LIVING: ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez noted with the Raiders' new practice facility in nearby Henderson, Nev., "not expected to open until June, the team will hold its offseason training program" in Alameda, Calif., and hold training camp in Napa, "before making the move, so long as the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium" is ready. Team officials said that the stadium is 80% complete, and construction is "on schedule" (ESPN.com, 1/22).
BRAVE NEW WORLD: The Braves on Tuesday signed free agent LF Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $18M deal, and in Atlanta, Eric Jackson noted his salary "brings the Braves' projected Opening Day payroll to $150,814,375, which is currently the 11th highest in the league." It is the "highest opening payroll in franchise history and a noteworthy jump from the payroll at the end of last season at $143,947,963" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/22).
