Bush League Move from the Colorado Rockies Taints Individual Award
By Joe Morrone
Sep 26, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau hits a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies miserable season came to an end with yet another loss. Back in spring training, owner Dick Monfort predicted the Rockies would win 96 games. He had the 96 right, too bad that was the number of losses.
The Rockies play on the field was bad but what they pulled this past weekend was embarrassing and they should be ashamed of themselves.
Rockies outfielder Justin Morneau entered the weekend leading the National League in hitting, and the Rockies decided to sit him for both games to ensure that he would win the batting title. Now they are celebrating and promoting it as some great accomplishment.
That’s a joke and Major League Baseball should step in and take the title away; I understand they can’t but what a complete blunder from the Rockies. This is not a shot at Morneau who, I’m guessing, wanted to play. He’s that type of competitor.
No, this is all on the Rockies who are so desperate for good news that that have to rig a batting race. Now instead of hearing the Rockies talk about the dumpster fire of a season, we are going to hear why we should be celebrating a batting champion.
Does Morneau even want the award? Any self-respecting athlete would not want to win an award like that. Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros won the American League Batting Title after demanding to play on Sunday. The Astros were going to do what the Rockies did and hole Altuve out to guarantee he would win the title, but he would have none of it. That’s what competitors do! By the way, Altuve went 2 for 4 on Sunday and won the title.
Again I don’t know what role Morneau had in this fiasco but if he agreed with it, then he should be ashamed as well. Are the Rockies also handing out orange slices in the seventh inning?
I imagine the Rockies are at some pizza place tonight handing out participation trophies because everyone tried so hard. Monfort is probably standing at a podium telling everyone how great they are.
I don’t want to hear about some batting title that wasn’t earned, I want to hear about changes to the front office, I want to hear some anger and resolve to get better.
Instead we will be besieged with goodwill stories about Morneau and how things will be better next season.
The season was a disaster but that can be forgiven, if not understood, bad seasons happen every year in every sport. However the garbage the Rockies pulled this weekend to ensure that one of their own won a batting title cannot be forgiven, ever.
It’s embarrassing and the Rockies must be called out for it. Have some guts and compete for awards and achievements or get out of the business.