Matt Belisle Says It All In One Quote

Updated 9/28/12 at 5:27 P.M.

The “you can’t pitch in Coors Field” narrative is back. This year’s staff finished with an ERA just south of 7.00 at home. That is dreadful, to be certain. Here is my question:

Don’t worry, Matt. I won’t misquote you. Image: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Would they have been that much better if their home field was not Coors Field? Doesn’t this staff stink everywhere?

Sure, Coors Field is a hitter’s park. Nobody will ever argue that. But it is not impossible. Just listen to Matt Belisle, the Rockies’ most reliable relief pitcher:

“It can’t be a crutch or an excuse for why we don’t do well…If the mind-set has shifted, it has to shift back. It’s about having an attitude. If we are going to have guys who mentally break down because of the surroundings, then we don’t want them.”

Did Matt Belisle just call out management? If that’s not what he meant, then I am borrowing his quote and calling out the Rockies front office.

If we are going to have guys who mentally break down because of the surroundings, then we don’t want them. That includes guys in charge who break down and put bizarre pitching rotations in place, guys in charge who actually speak to the media about how the rest of us don’t understand, and guys in charge who defend the work they have done with a baffling lack of accountability when their team is going to be the worst in franchise history. I’m looking at you, Dan O’Dowd (and Bill Geivett).

If you’re going to mentally break down because of the surroundings, then we don’t want you.