Not renewing my ticket package.
Barring some sort of move in the positive direction within the next few days when the renewal period ends, I will be letting it go.
Last year I took the big leap from buying individual tickets to investing and prepaying for a ticket package.
The apparent disinterest in making roster improvements (addition by subtraction doesn’t impress me) makes this decision pretty easy for me.
Are any others not renewing? Or conversely are others optimistic still?
I hear ya, progmatinee. I invested in a 20 game package last year, but decided I will not be purchasing another package this year. Probably the main reason for purchasing them last year was to get dibs on playoff tickets. Unfortunately, we all saw how last season unfolded for the Rocks, and, without major improvements to the team this offseason, I don’t think they’ll be headed that way this year . Thus, I will be putting my hard earned money elsewhere this season.
On a side note, was there ever a final decision on what’s going to happen with this site come 2012?
I let mine go after they quit at the end of the 2010 season. We’re working on a site Eric. Jaredean will be constructing it
I’ve agonized over it, but I will be renewing our season tickets. I suppose the ability to renew at last years price sealed it for me. I blame Jim Tracy for most of the Rockies woes. I figure he will either rediscover the manager he is or he’ll be gone in May. But, if this year is as miserable and as void of entertainment as last year, 2012 will be my last.
I am looking forward to seeing the new site. Is it on track for unveiling in the near future?
I’ll be buying my 10 pairs of tickets as part of a 25 game package just like in the last few years. I understand the frustration of the others, but I take my son to half of the games, and the creating of memories with him at Coors Field, even if the team isn’t great, beats the alternative of not going to any games by a longshot.
And, I haven’t given up on next year.
As one of my all time favorite baseball players has famously said – “de ja vu – all over again!” Now I know that a right handed hitting corner (1B, 3B, LF & RF) hitter has been a priority for DanO to acquire well since M Holliday left town and G Atkins went all Wigginton on us. If you are keeping track at home, that’s been a few years now.
However just to refresh your memory – last off season the Rockies were reportedly “in on” V Martinez, M Napoli, M Young, D Uggla (2B) and J Willingham. What the Rockies ended up with was J Lopez, Wigginton and Giambi (LH?).
This year the Rockies are reportedly “in on” M Prado, M Cuddyer and J Willingham. And yet so far the Rockies have acquired A Brown (gone?), B Wood (why?) and Giambi (WHY!!!). Last year I honestly was OK with acquiring Wigginton for “ONE” year, and absolutely hated the acquisitions of J Lopez and Giambi (just doesn’t solve the problem!).
OK DanO here’s the deal without acquiring M Prado AND J Willingham, this off season will officially become a disaster! And yes I know we need an “innings eater” starting pitcher too, but the Rockies have an endless stable of AAAA starting pitchers – someday we might just have to get lucky!
So yes Prog – the Rockies have the same GM and the same Manager, and somehow they believe that the fans expect to see a substantially different result – not going to happen would be my guess! This is SO frustrating to watch slowly unfold without any substantial results AND yes Virginia the Rockies DO have the money to do better than this!
Everybody loves a winner. If you only go to the ballpark if your team has more than an even chance to win the game / the pennant / the World Series, then you’re not much of a baseball fan. You’re a fan of winning.
There are so many other reasons to go to a Rockies game: It’s baseball, it’s the best baseball within at least 600 miles, it’s a great ballpark, and the Rockies make an extraordinary effort to ensure an enjoyable experience. Additionally, the other teams that come to town bring a variety of talent and personalities – you’re not just watching the Rockies.
So, yeah. Go spend your money on something that entertains you.
I’ll be there win, lose or draw. I go because I love baseball, I love hanging out at the ballpark, and I love hanging out with my fellow baseball fans. I’ve missed an average of 8.75 games / season over the last four years. and I’m always there until the last out.
Me personally, I need the owners to actually commit to their product and not count people who just want to enjoy a day in the sun.
Losses happen to every team and I don’t leave the park mad if they lose, but if they aren’t trying to improve, then it doesn’t deserve the commitment.
The Monforts lick their chops when they hear from people like Douglas. Easy money.
I don’t mind going to games in which the Rockies lose, but I hate games with dead crowds. I saw a lot of games in 2011 with dead crowds. I assume it was a case of “Give me something to cheer about an I’ll get loud.” I can understand that attitude, but I wasn’t rolled that way. So for me I will definitely keep going, but how often is as much up to the faithful fanbase as it is the team.
I’d rather enjoy a truly competitive season, but I love baseball, Rox or not.
If the Rox management won’t put the best team that is affordable on the field, I’ll just be at less games… that’s all there is to it.
Wow. Interesting feelings. I guess I have a different perspective, for a few reasons.
I TOTALLY understand the post from Douglas and agree. I love baseball and Coors is one of the very best parks in the country. Call me easy money too.
I could get on my soapbox about what its like being a Rays fan and supporting them over the years but I won’t. Through thick and thin …. mostly thin.
Bottom line … it’s your hard earned money. If you don’t want to pre-pay and save a few bucks then don’t. There is always round 2 for packages mid season.
I’m not one of those folks who demands boycotting the team because the product is not up to my expectations, but “if you don’t like them when they are losing then you aren’t a baseball fan” is total bs and simply excuses the Monforts from any responsibility in putting a good product on the field.
The end result of a game or a season isn’t really what I’m basing my cancellation on.
Out of 30 teams only 1 will win it all. I’m not so demanding that my team needs to be the one to win. Hell, I’m a fan of Cleveland sports as well, trust me I know losing and have accepted it as inevitable! lol Its still very entertaining either way.
BUT…from a financial investment standpoint, I need to know that the ownership is taking my money and investing it correctly. The EFFORT to win needs to be there, not the win itself for me to be satisfied with the product.
I personally find it a slap in the face of fans to see a team constantly cutting corners and not REALLY making winning the top priority.
I already renewed my “Guys Night Out” ticket package. I believe the definition of a real fan is one who goes to the games through thick and thin. The definition of a fair weather fan is one who buys season tickets only when they are winning.
There can be a very rare exception that will cause me to not renew season tickets. Perfect example is the Dodgers’ McCourts using the Dodgers as his personal piggy bank to finance his own luxurious life.
I’m quite surprised that some of the ITRs are not renewing the tickets based on the “misses.” What about the “hits” – acquiring CarGo in a trade along with Street for Holliday, drafting & locking up Tulo who is a potential Hall of Famer, signing Yorvit Torrealba to our team, trading Jason Jennings for a trio of players (Hirsh, Taveras, Bucholz) that did well for us while Jennings went nowhere, acquiring Jamey Carroll, acquiring Pomeranz-White-Gardner, traded for Fuentes, and there were other moves that I didn’t mention (too numerous to list here). Point is we quickly forget the good moves the Rox made and focus only on the “misses” of our transactions.
It is okay to have constructive criticism, but it is not ok to react negatively to a point of giving up the season tickets. If we are doing a fair amount of constructive criticism, then it is only fair to the Rockies organization that we do a fair amount of complimentary “great move” comments which we don’t do enough these days.
great thread.
Guess I’m in the vote with my money category. I mean I want to stay away, but I can’t stay away from the ballpark. But I have this deep festering resentment that I’m hust some sucker for the corporate clowns who play saps like me for the money, charging us as much as the market will bear. I wonder how much tickets and concessions will go up in price next year? I honestly don’t mind the Rockies losing games as much as I mind the stupidity(sorry, trying to stay nice)of some of their moves. Really, how DOD keeps his job has to be one of the great mysteries of all time. It aint to hard to imagine how it must go in the offices of other teams GM’s when a call comes in from DOD. Do they check the caller ID, and then just smurk and not even bother to pick up the phone?
It really appears to me that the Monfort’s and DOD are just business people looking to balance maximum profits against lowest possible operating costs. I appreciate the fact that baseball is a business to them. But to us it’s still a game.
Already giving the Ubaldo trade a positive grade, RMH? Way too soon, IMO.
Didn’t grade the Ubaldo trade a positive one; saying that we made the moves; you overlooked the fact that the Montforts and DOD were going to give Ubaldo big bucks this year. By trading Ubaldo away, it gave the Rockies three pitchers AND the cash to be able to spend (that otherwise would have used on Ubaldo) to get a top tier pitcher or a top tier position player. It’s not even December and you’re already saying the Rox are doing nothing this winter.
Prog, the Rays are a classic example. Would you ever be able to rationalize being a Rays fan if you were from the St. Pete area? Based on what you have stated I would say no. I totally get you want some effort in getting the best product on the field. That’s understandable. Do touyou really believe Mr. O’Dowd was happy with the outcome last season? No. I think you will see him much more cautious this offseason. He has already accepted responsibitly fir some of the stuff last season.
We’ll see RMH, we’ll see. To me, making payroll cutting moves and “talking” about using it more wisely elsewhere is exactly why I’m not renewing right now.
Talk is cheap. I want action.
If they go out and actually SPEND those savings I’ll change my mind and renew.
To my eyes it looks like the Rockies are figuring they’ll just cut payroll and they have a WIN WIN.
1)they either have a great season aided by cheap rookie replacements or
2)they miss the playoffs and say, “no worries, we cut the payroll!”
Maybe I am a fair weather fan, I believe in reciprocation.
Mike, that goes for fans as well. From an outsiders view the Rays fans don’t seem to reciprocate back to their team.
“I want action.” Signing Tulo to lifetime contract and CarGo through 2017 is not action????? Obtaining two first round picks(Pomeranz & White) is not action? Having the best Latin American development system is not action? Telling Wiggy that he is not good enough to be an everyday player is not action?
I am a glass is half full optimist and you must be a glass is half empty pessimist. We’ll see how 2012 turns out, but it can’t be any worse than it was last year.
Tickets – It is way more than worth the price of admission to watch Tulo putting on highlight reel plays look routine while batting clean up. Same goes for CarGo. Watching these two guys alone are worth more than a ticket package for me.
I certainly respect all of those things to various degrees.
Personally, I don’t value locking up already locked up players as highly as others, but I acknowledge it took “action”.
I also don’t value deals primarily motivated by cost savings as highly as others might either.
We can really get into the discussion, but to be brief, I personally don’t see stuff like the Ubaldo trade or the Matt Holliday trade as “great” moves. There is no denying that the return for Holliday TURNED OUT to be outstanding… and for Ubaldo it may be the same, but the motivations for the trades were not “to win the World Series.”
For me, I look at moves teams like the Phillies and Cardinals make as comparisons. Almost every move they make is with the intention of winning the World Series.
Can we really say the same thing about the Rockies…really?
I’m a big fan, I watch all the games on TV when I’m not there. I cheer at all the good stuff, I pace around during the stressful moments. I’ll still probably go to several games.
For me, the cheers I give the players are signals to them how I feel about them. The ticket package purchase or lack of is a signal to the management of how I feel they’re doing.
I’ve been away for awhile. Hello ITR. And sad to say, soon goodbye.
Reading through the responses, I have to agree mostly with Julian. My son and I used to go to the Denver Bears several times a year. We have lots of memories from those days. I would not trade those memories for a winning season.
I used to share season tix (81 games) with friends. My job now has 75% travel, so I don’t buy season tix anymore. But I do plan on picking up a package again some day when I’m no longer traveling. My son now picks up a package and takes me to games… That is fun, let me tell ya, when your son calls and invites you to a game.
Sure, it’s more fun to watch a team fighting for a pennant, but given a choice to go or not to go, I’ll go. And if they’re winning, I’ll go to more games.
So if you want to go to x number of games, a package will save you some money. And I doubt very few folks on this thread will not go to some games. Even Prog will go to some games. He loves baseball way too much. Why not save some money?
It’s good to agree to disagree. You certainly have valid points. The Rockies are just being more cautious than the other teams about making moves to win the World Series after their historical gaffe signing Hampton & Neagle to lifetime contracts that turned out to be major duds. That set the franchise back a good ten years to put together a winning team. A major market like NY and Philadelphia can afford to make major mistakes and keep right on spending. Mid market teams certainly can’t afford that mistake unless they want to bet on one number on a roulette and hope to win a big payoff. Not going to happen after the Neagle/Hampton fiasco.
I’m looking around at the other mid-market teams. Most good mids have two studs on long term contracts and at least one top shelf pitcher (see Holliday/Pujols/Carpenter, Prince/Braun/Gallardo). We have them (Tulo/CarGo/Ubalbo). We failed last year because Ubaldo failed and we are trying to get his replacement. We only needed average production out of 2B/3B/LF and they were major sinkholes that we did not forecast. I’m seeing the Rockies working hard to get a top pitcher and at least two everyday proven position players.
That said, don’t be surprised if we don’t get a pitcher that we’ve been kicking the tires on (Wandy & Oswalt), we will still end up with a decent pitcher. His name is Trevor Cahill from Oakland.
Rocky Mountain High, I completely disagree when you say, “It is okay to have constructive criticism, but it is not ok to react negatively to a point of giving up the season tickets.” It’s absolutely ridiculous for you to say what is okay and what is not okay on how people wish to support their team.
It always cracks me up when people tell other people that they’re not “real fans” because of this or that, when, in reality, people can follow and/or support their teams however they want (see Douglas’ post of: “Everybody loves a winner. If you only go to the ballpark if your team has more than an even chance to win the game / the pennant / the World Series, then you’re not much of a baseball fan. You’re a fan of winning.”) Sorry I don’t fit your definition of a “fan”, Douglas.
I consider myself a HUGE fan of the Rockies. In fact, I follow every level of their organization extensively and truly love tracking their roster moves, drafts, trades, etc. However, when I stated that I will, most likely, be spending my money elsewhere this year is strictly from a person financial standpoint. I am a husband and father of two and am the sole breadwinner in the household. And just because I’m not renewing my 20 game package does NOT make me any less of a fan than anyone on this tread.
All that being said, I will be attending as many Rockies games as I can this year and will probably watching upwards of 100+ on television.
As one of the “old guy posters”,and living in Longmont,I have never been to more than half dozen games in a season-and that ended when Congress made it illegal for RTD to run buses to all home games!But to defend Prog,et.al.in a roundabout way,what does it say when this “die hard”baseball fan STOPPED WATCHING EVEN WHEN FREE!I admit cable isn’t quite free,but I believe my ROOT sports channel was a free by product of other channels I’m paying for.My point is I’m debating dropping the service for both the Nuggets[what Nuggets?]and my beloved Rockies.The last 6 weeks I’d tune in an inning late-they’d be losing-and they would appear lifeless-and I would be off to network TV.More often than not,I’d check back from time to time to no avail.I do understand the father/son connection,I too was lucky enough to have that experience.But for straight up financial decisions I agree with Prog.The ROX have not tryed hard enough too compete-on the field or off.Tulo/Cargo great moves,but than management didn’t follow thru with the remaining moves to complete the process,and so far have failed miserably at securing anyone we’ve pursued this off season!
I’ll go to games when tickets are given to me, or when the Rockies start to show that they aren’t happy with mediocrity. Until then I won’t be spending any more $$$ to support this perennial also-ran.
I’m with prog on this topic. And don’t even dare calling me a fare weather fan.
I went to my share of Bears and Zephers games and enjoyed the heck out of them. In fact, at times I wish we had them instead of the Rockies. Again, I said at times. For me, it is not really about wins or losses or even about the ownerships commitment. Though at times I do get sucked into all of that. For me it is all about realized potential and the degree in which my team is realizing it. This is what has made the Rockies so enjoyable over the years and the thing that made last year so dreadful.
Prog has never seemed to me to be anything but a passionate and loyal Rockies fan. It’s not as if he’s going to go off next summer supporting whatever happens to be next year’s trendy team (the new Epstein-led Cubs?) or something.
Ticket packages are an investment and commitment of both money and time. I think he’s clearly stated his reasons for not feeling the organization is worthy of such a commitment at this time, and it seems reasonable to me, even allowing that it’s also reasonable to disagree with Prog about the direction of the club.
I’d also say it’s good to remember that this front office has done fairly well considering what they’re working with. As disappointing as the end of 2010 and pretty much all of 2011 was, the past several years have brought us the 2 best seasons in franchise history and 3 of the 7 .500 seasons in club history. 2 recent 11-game win streaks (those streaks occurring within even better 21 of 22 and 17 of 18 runs). That might sound like I’m damning with faint praise, but the team is working in a relatively new market for baseball, and is trying to assemble a consistent winner in a small to mid-revenue market and an extreme hitters’ park. Historically, those are fairly difficult things to do.
When one fan gives up and ends their season tickets, it gives a new fan a shot at enjoying all the games. I can understand that it’s hard to keep a high level of enthusiasm, but I’m sure the next person to pick up the seats will be more energetic and passionate at games.
That might make even a little bit of sense if the games were selling out now.
It happens so seldom, but once again I have to also agree with Prog. It is not that we don’t still love baseball and the Rockies, it is that the owners seem determined for some reason to sell this market and its fan base short.
Denver is by no means a “small” market MLB city, just check the attendance figures for 2011 compared that to the other teams in the MLB. This market is at a solid “mid” market for the MLB and could easily support a payroll of $100m if the owners would commit to putting a winning club on the field.
I have applauded DanO many times for various moves such as the Holliday trade, DLR trade, and recently the Lindstrom trade. However the facts are that the number of poor trades have far out numbered the few solid moves that DanO has made – and God knows he has enough years to make a ton of those moves.
It might trite to say this, however if the owners and DanO can somehow put a winning club on the field – the fans will come. The lack of aggressiveness to provide a decent MLB product and a winning atmosphere – well therein lies the real problem.
DP article today is a reality check. Objects of O’Dowd’s trade or free agent attention include (with my commentary):
C Ramon Hernandez. Because it’s really important to bring in a much older, more Latin, and probably at least as expensive (if not more so) version of Iannetta. Presumably that would allow O’Dowd to trade Iannetta. Improved Spanish-language communication with Ubaldo will bring his fastball back, right? Oops. Forgot about that. Well, he’ll help Drew Pomeranz learn Spanish. “Cerveza” is beer. Will come in handy on Drew’s next frat trip to TJ. Whatever. Consider me underwhelmed.
SP Mike Pelfry. Well, there’s your worse-than-league-average innings eater.
SP Jeremy Guthrie. Actually kinda sorta your league average innings eater. The closest you’ll see me to getting excited over this bunch. Two cheers for Jeremy Guthrie!
RP Latroy Hawkins. He’s thrown 48 and 16 innings over the last 2 years. He’ll be 39 next month.
Prog, isn’t that enough to get you to renew your season tix? What, you wanted more? How selfish of you …
RP Jonathan Broxton. Had minor elbow surgery in September. Maybe that’s what was holding him back. Probably not. The NL version of Joba Chamberlin. I’d take a flyer if he comes cheap. Then again, so would a dozen other teams, so he probably won’t.
When the news surrounding the Rockies is so slow that THOSE are the topics of conversation its speaks to how little investment the management truly wants to make in the team.
You don’t win the jackpot playing the penny slots, guys.
If I were Dan O’Dowd I wouldn’t waste a second thinking about signing pitchers. Let Huston and Betancourt battle for the closing spot. Trust in the fact that Nicasio and De La Rosa will return and pitch well. While we wait for them, Hammel, White, Pomeranz, Chacin, and someone else will do just fine.
Now for the real problems!!!! The Rockies lineup is below average power threat, batting average, speed, and on base percentage.
I would do what it takes to make a deal for one of these players at 3rd base in this order would be the order of priority: Youkilis, Wright, Mike Young, or Prado GET IT DONE!!!
I would also liked to have Sizemore!! But would now move fast in aquiring one of the following for outfield: Willingham, Cuddyer, or I would even think outside of the box for a trade with the Cubs for Soriano or Royals for Jeff Francour.
2nd base I would role with EYJ until he either proved he is worthy or sign someone before trade deadline to move him to utility.
By adding someone that I mentioned at 3rd base, Left field, and EYJ at second would improve all aspects of the Rockies offense and would drastically change the look of this club.
Youkilis would make the most sense to me because he could play 3rd this season, then slide over to first next year(or when Helton gets hurt) I know the Rockies have said that they aren’t interested, but Aramis Ramirez would seem like someone who could do the same.
Its frustrating because if you really look at it all that this lineup needs is 1 more good bat, the rest of the pieces could probably fall into place from there.
The players that you listed are not what they are after. I read about three days ago that they were going after better players than what you listed above. The action will start to get a little livelier when the winter meetings start next week. I bet Martin Prado gets moved next week; hopefully it’s the Rockies that win the sweepstakes. The Rox are still looking at Oswalt. Johnny Gomes was one right handed bat & OF they were looking at. If I’m a bettor, I’m betting that Seth Smith is the first man moved out to “lighten” up the heavy lefty hitting.
FYI, Broxton signed one year contract with KC Royals today.
RMH, I expect to see the Rockies do something at the meetings.
I’m not sold on trading Iannetta and signing Ramon Hernandez, depending, of course, on what the Rockies get for Iannetta. We can trade Chris next July if by then Rosario has shown that he can be the starter.
I know that we are shopping Street, but there may not be that many takers because of the price tag. Betancourt had a great second half of the season last year and became the closer. I’m not convinced that he can repeat last year, and at his price tag he probably is attractive to a lot of teams. So, if we could get a much better player in return for Betancourt, and fill a need, I would certainly entertain offers.
Does anyone have any reports on how our guys are doing in winter ball (other than regarding EY)? Have we heard anything regarding CarGo’s wrist?
I predict the Rockies trade Stewart, Street and Iannetta for at best some low grade prospects that they’ll end up cutting a few months or a year later with minimal big league impact. All in the name of, as Troy Renck puts it, “club’s desire to change the team’s makeup, if not its personality.”
Change for changes sake. Who cares what the return is, just get them off the roster as fast as they can.
Is that how winners do things, I don’t think so.
Is this team in rebuilding phase? Are we looking 2, 3, 6 years until another playoff spot?
Even if they don’t move Iannetta, why put his name out there with the caveat if they sign some over the hill mediocre catcher?
This team is so all over the board.
Waving the paper fan at you, prog. LOL. We don’t really know what the thinking is behind all the possibilities. Ianetta was offered to the Angels and what if we get a Martin Prado like player back in return or an innings eater like a Dan Haren? (I know Ianetta is not enough for Haren, just throwing examples out there.) Huston Street might be offered to get a starting pitcher especially in Baltimore. What’s so wrong with getting Ramon Hernandez? Would you rather have a Matt Pagnozzi or Jose Morales? We’ve got Wilin Rosario pretty much ready to go and Hernandez (and Pacheco)is just insurance for him. If we ship Ianetta, it frees up more money to go after big fish. Ditto for Huston Street. We can live without Street as we have Bettancourt, Brothers, Belisle, Lindstrom, and Matt Reynolds.
I’m so ready for the winter meetings to start next Monday. I do not believe the Rox will leave the meeting without a transaction. Wouldn’t be surprised if we’ve got at least two or three moves.
As mlbtraderumors put it: “Iannetta, 28, has more value to the Rockies than any other team, because he can void his 2013 club option if traded.”
That’s right. It was also right with respect to Ubaldo.
So what does that mean? It means that the quality of the player the Rockies received for Ubaldo was basically based on this:
(Ubaldo’s free agent market value for 2 months of 2011 + 2012 + 2013) – (the remaining value of his contract over the same time period).
In other words, they got nothing in exchange for giving up the right to exercise a club option (at what projected to be well below the market rate) for 2014.
And now they’re planning to do the same thing with Iannetta.
Why?
RMH…how about the Rockies sign or trade for your so called “big fish” and then dump the salary of Iannetta, Smith, Street, Wigginton, etc?
Right now they wait…and wait…and wait while the better players settle somewhere else and the Rockies look at scraps like Hernandez. If he floats your boat thats cool, I need a little more than that to be impressed.
We have a better chance to get big fish by using trading chips than using the free agency market.
We might have already reeled in one big fish (Pomeranz), but too early to know. Need a veteran slugger or innings eater so we don’t have to roll the dice with newbies like we did last year at 2B and 3B.
I got to this thread a bit late and I thought I would throw my two cents in. I had partial season tickets for 5 or 6 years and saw 15-25 games each season. Most of the time it was great but frankly after awhile the product got diluted and while I love baseball and I love Coors Field, I got tired of the beer going up $1 every season (or at least it seemed to). I loved the passion of the Rockies fans who believed in Coors Field magic even when down by 8 runs with two out in the 9th.
But I got tired of too many games when it was too cold or too hot, A 15 to 8 day game in the middle of July when you are sitting in the sun was no fun.
So now I pick and choose. If it’s nice weather and I have time I’ll go. I can always get a ticket, usually for less than face value. Frankly the reason I originally bought in to season tickets was to be able to go to the All-Star game and Opening Day’s. Been there, done that. I love the magic of Opening Day but frankly I don’t like Opening Day fans, most of whom (at least in this cranky old man’s mind) are not baseball fans but are there to be seen and/or get drunk. Maybe not most of the fans, but many of the fans.