Since mere words can hardly tell the story of the 2009 Rockies, let the numbers do it.
Of the nine players who jogged out of the dugout to start Thursday’s playoff clincher vs. Milwaukee, every one had come through the Rockies’ farm system. So did Franklin Morales, who worked the final inning in relief of Aaron Cook.
Ten out of 10.
The Rockies do it the old-fashioned way. They grow their own.
If Rocktober ’07 vindicated ownership’s decision to go in-house for talent, this season reaffirmed it.
“We’ve told you all along how we’re going to do this, to build from within,” said Rockies co-owner Dick Monfort after the victory. “It starts with (scouting director) Billy Schmidt with the drafting, and it goes right through the development people. It doesn’t get any better than doing it this way.”
“I can’t say enough about it,” co-owner Charlie Monfort said. “It’s more emotional now because you see most of these guys coming through our system rather than the free-agent business. It means more when they’re your guys. It’s just unbelievable to see how these guys have turned their season around.”
How does this year’s playoff berth compare to 2007 for the Monforts? It’s a different emotion. Less shock, more satisfaction. Fewer 11th-hour theatrics, more grinding it out over the long haul.
“It’s different because these guys came together over a long period of time,” Charlie Monfort said. “The whole thing in ’07 just burst upon us. These guys struggled at the beginning of the season, but we thought this was a good team and it was. They had a lot of adversity, but you know what? They proved they can handle it.”
“I think you savor it a little more because we were prepared for it,” Dick Monfort said. “We weren’t prepared for the play-in game in 2007, much less for winning it.”
The Rockies of ’07 came up short against Boston in the World Series. This year? It’s a different team, one without Matt Holliday in the middle of the lineup, but the men signing the checks like their chances.
“We’re not New York, and we don’t have Albert Pujols or Matt Holliday, but I like our position,” Charlie Monfort said. “Two years ago, we were discounted because of our pitching depth, but now we’re a much more experienced team. We’re a better team than two years ago. Those guys will tell you that because of our pitching. Watch out for us. Our pitching is much deeper.”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck contributed to this report.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
