The Rockies have become everybody's favorite underdog. First they had a scorching finish to the regular season, forcing (and winning) an epic one-game playoff with the Padres. Then, undaunted by playing the favored Phillies, they won the first two games on the road to put the Phillies on the ropes. But if that wasn't enough, well, there's this -- from the Denver Post:
Manager Clint Hurdle revealed today that the players, of their own accord, voted a playoff share to Amanda Coolbaugh, the widow of Tulsa Drillers coach Mike Coolbaugh.Make no mistake, we're not talking about chump change -- as the Post points out, if the team goes on to win the World Series, a full share could be as much as $362,000. On a team like the Yankees or Red Sox, that's what's left between the cushions of the clubhouse couch, but the Rockies ranked 25th out of 30 with a modest $54.4 million payroll this year, and 30% of that ($16.6 million) is going to just one player, Todd Helton. For about half the guys on the team, $362K would represent a 50% (or more!) increase to their 2007 salary. Seriously, if you don't have a horse in this race, how can you not be cheering for the Rockies right now?
Coolbaugh, the Drillers' first-base coach, was killed when a line drive struck him in the head during a game earlier this summer. Tulsa is the Rockies' Double-A farm team.
[...]
"I was passed on the information that they voted Amanda Coolbaugh a share - a full share - which I found speaks to their awareness, speaks to their passion, speaks to every good thing about them," Hurdle said.
Previously on FanHouse:
Tulsa Drillers Coach Mike Coolbaugh Killed by Foul Ball
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-05-2007 @ 3:38AM
Peter said...
Wow that is extremely heart-warming. I've been rooting for the Rockies in the NL since the playoffs started but this just takes the cake. Kudos to you guys, seriously, this team is both modest in it's accomplishments and philanthropic in it's actions, you guys are great....
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10-05-2007 @ 3:42AM
Peter said...
Err, I meant modest about it's accomplishments, not in them. Unlike the Yankees they don't expect the playoffs to just fall into their laps, they have heart and they have integrity and they don't take anything for granted, and they deserve the respect of true baseball fans for what they've done and how they've acted in getting there.
On another note, screw the Yankees, I hope Cleveland destroys you, you're the worst fans in baseball.
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10-05-2007 @ 3:53AM
SB said...
Wow, AOL Fanhouse is pulling an ESPN on us. "How can you NOT be rooting for them right now?"
That phrase pisses me off more than almost any other. If I wasn't a Rockies fan to start with, I would immediately begin rooting against the team that got that treatment, and I can see why there's a lot of people rooting against Colorado. ESPN, CBS sports, CNNSI, and even AOL Fanhouse are shoving Colorado down our throats as the lovable underdog.
Go take a look at Beatpaths.com - apparently, it's not really a surprise that Colorado has made it this far.
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10-05-2007 @ 4:58AM
fan said...
as a phillies fan.after the last two days i have to take my hat off to them.great team a agood bunch of guy's.they just win and don't shoot there mouth's off.there a class act
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10-05-2007 @ 9:26AM
Sue said...
As a Mets fan, I also tip my hat to this team. If the Mets had half of the Rockies' spark, they would have easily won the NL East. Since the Mets aren't playing, I'm with the Rockies all the way!
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10-05-2007 @ 1:27PM
Bill said...
At last the Umps finally could see a home run when it happens. Tulo's ball in the flowers (first inning) was one of the first they called right. I wonder if the Cubs/Dbacks can hear the train a coming.
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10-05-2007 @ 11:15AM
jimmyb said...
As a 4-year Colorado resident, the Rockies have not been easy to love up until now. But their selflessness on and off the field will make many new fans for years to come. It doesn't even matter how far they go in the postseason. Welcome to "Rockies Nation!"
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10-05-2007 @ 11:54AM
tobrien28 said...
The Phillies are between the Rocks and a hard place. I don't care who was favored coming in i always root for the underdog and two games behind that is the Phillies. GO YANKS/PHILLIES/CUBS.
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10-07-2007 @ 6:19PM
Reese said...
The only Rockie I had even heard of a week ago was Todd Helton ~ a class act, and a great hitter.
These guys are a joy to watch. And Jimmy Rollins, who had to be dying inside, is a world-class human being for taking time during his post-game interview yesterday to praise Kaz Matsui.
Their roll is reminding me a lot of the one the White Sox went on to finish the '04 season.
After Sept. 23, those White Sox went 18-3, losing the three games by a total of four runs.
Of course, their fate was reversed on that same date, when the Chicago Sun Times held themselves accountable for messing with the team's mojo by running a "Magic Number" feature a mere couple of months into the season.
As I pointed out, that particular stat should never even be thought about, much less printed ~ with anything more than two weeks of regular season play remaining.
The White Sox had been in freefall for weeks. The fans were certain the team was gonna blow it. Just goes to show what can happen when people hold those around them A C C O U N T A B L E .
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