Inside the Coors Field gates Sunday, fans accepted the afternoon’s promotional giveaway. With noticeable haste, many pulled the purple Colorado jersey out of the clear covering to check the name on the back.
“CUDDYER” was spelled right.
With that, hopes were dashed of placing it on eBay as an “error” oddity.
This came the afternoon after 15,000 promotional jerseys came with “TULOWIZKI” on the back — a dubious salute to the shortstop who spent Sunday showily attending a game at Yankee Stadium, detouring from his trip to Philadelphia to visit Dr. William Meyers.
Tulowitzki’s explanation to The Denver Post — that he was honoring his idol, Derek Jeter — made sense. But I used the term “showily” because in this age, and Tulowitzki had to know he would be spotted, and that it would add fuel to the speculation that his days are numbered with Colorado.
The announced attendance for the Rockies’ 7-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday was 40,382, impressive even if many were drawn to see country star Sara Evans perform in a postgame concert. About 15,000 persevered through the nearly four-hour game and a 40-minute stage setup to to catch her performance. Concert and fireworks-driven attendances count too.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped Colorado to 9-26 since June 15. A schoolboyish botching of a sixth-inning rundown was a factor in the loss. Plus, it was unfathomable that DJ LeMahieu would be trying to steal third with the Rockies down two runs with one out in the eighth inning, and when he was thrown out, that was another nail.
This is becoming more bizarre every day. Owner Dick Monfort’s hypersensitivity to criticism from fans was stunning. The Rockies are evolving from inept to farcical, from mile-high quirkiness to becoming the butt of national derision.
It’s not their fault that on back-to-back days, the jerseys handed out were those saluting injured stars. In fact, it highlights the reality only the unfair won’t acknowledge: The injury toll has been truly extraordinary. Still, when bad luck or ill fortune happens to savvy organizations, the damage at least is mitigated rather than contributing to unmitigated disaster.
I hesitate to make much of the TULOWIZKI flap because if someone like a $28,000-a-year promotions assistant is made the scapegoat, it would be unfortunate. I hope the ownership is as supportive and loyal to that person as it has been to the baseball front office. The problem is that regardless of whose fault it is, the jersey gaffe doesn’t seem at all surprising. Perception matters, regardless of the degree of its accuracy or even fairness. This has reached the point where even the farcical and amateurish isn’t considered at all shocking.
Yes, I’m aware of the clichés spouted this time of year.
One: Now that the Broncos have begun training camp, and now that media and fan focus has shifted, the Monforts are off the hook and all they have to do is count the money.
Two: Even more than before, Coors Field for the remainder of the season belongs to giddy customers with a tourist mentality and low expectations, and aren’t sure if “6” is the third baseman or shortstop.
There’s some truth in all of that. But why does it have to be that way?
The season continues, and so should the scrutiny. Scrutiny from the media. Scrutiny from the fans who show up, whether they came down from Casper for a game or two or whether they’re the local folks who have cut back their visits, but make no apology for still enjoying the major-league ballpark experience. You don’t have to be a sap to continue to go to the park, especially if the tickets were purchased long ago. And scrutiny from those who are disgusted and aren’t going back to Coors Field for the rest of the season.
There is little chance of this organization realizing it has reached the tipping point — where continued ineptitude and the lack of offseason overhaul of the front office risks the success of the financial model — if nobody seems to care enough to speak up once the Broncos get through a week of training camp.
Terry Frei: tfrei@ denver- post.com or twitter.com /TFrei
