We are lucky enough to have watched some world-class athletes compete on these teams through their history, and lately some of the ownership groups have brought these athletes back as coaches and front-office personnel. Everyone is completely aware of the hiring of John Elway as VP of Football Operations for the Denver Broncos and all of the success that  move brought. After that our Colorado Rockies hired Walt Weiss and Dante Bichette to guide the team from the dugout as well as continuing to use Vinny Castilla and Eric Young in front office roles, all key pieces to earlier success of the Rockies. And yesterday the Avalanche hired the winningest goalie in franchise history and two-time Stanley Cup champion, Patrick Roy, as their head coach and VP of hockey ops just a week after shaking up their front office and giving the former Avs Captain Joe Sakic more say in the day-to-day operations.

The move to bring in old players as front office gurus is not unparalleled, but to have this many teams run by former players in one city may be. Even more unheard of is the fact that non of these men have had any former Big 4 (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) coaching/executive experience before being hired. So what is really going on? Is this just a publicity stunt to sell more tickets? Are we as fans falling for a ruse? Or do these compile some of the most ingenious hires in professional sports, and we as fans are going to have the luxury to watch it unfold in our backyard?? Only time will tell.

May 8, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; A general view during the fourth inning between the New York Yankees and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The one thing missing from all of this is decision making entitlement to hires in the Colorado Rockies organization. It was no real secret that one of the reason’s former manager Jim Tracy was unhappy and left was due to the fact that he was handcuffed by GM Dan O’Dowd and right-hand man Bill Geivett. That is why a managerial hire like Walt Weiss is low-risk — the decisions he is allowed to make are not to the same level as most typical major league managers. It appeases fans, gives them a familiar face, and allows Geivett to continue to make decisions such as the ridiculous 75-pitch limited 4-man rotation of 2012. Ok maybe that wasn’t solely Geivett’s idea but I refuse to believe an old-fashioned baseball mind like Tracy’s could’ve dreamt that up.

I am not necessarily calling for heads in the Rockies front office, because the city of Denver has called for O’Dowd’s head for years to no avail. However what would it hurt to follow the lead of the Avs and Broncos, and give some day-to-day decision making authority to a former Rockie? The answer is, it wouldn’t. Now not just any player would do the trick, it would have to be on the level of a John Elway or Patrick Roy. A winner, a future hall-of-famer, and competitor. In the course of Rockies’ history there is only two players that fit that bill: Todd Helton and Larry Walker. With Helton nearing the end of his career, and Walker enjoying his life after baseball it is possible neither of these fellas would be interested in a VP of Baseball Operations title immediately.. but what would it hurt to try? Perhaps the Walt Weiss experiment will be short-lived, even though he has guided this team above expectations in the first quarter of his first season, opening the door for a Helton manager/VP option a couple of years down the road. Perhaps Weiss will have great success in the coming years and become that person who can step up into more day-to-day responsibility. Perhaps the Monfort’s along with their chief minion O’Dowd will never cede any power or responsibility to anyone else, ever, and will continue to see 2-3 millions fans walk through the gates and Coors Field each year, lining their pockets. We may never know but it would be fun to find out.

Again, only time will tell if the Avs and their decisions this week can follow the Broncos lead and climb back to being a relevant franchise in the sports world once again. As an avid Rockies fan I am more than ready to see the Rockies become relevant at all and step away from the mediocrity that has plagued them for years. The question is, when will it happen? There is no time like the present.

Leading off the smattering of roster moves were two DL designations made by the Rockies and two free agent signings, none of which are earth-shattering. Right-fielder Michael Cuddyer was placed on the 15-day DL with a flaring neck injury. From everything said about the injury, it sounds like Cuddy knows his body and told the club he would need some time off. The other DL move sent starting pitcher Jeff Francis out for 15 days with a groin strain. Yeah, right. He’s got a groin strain like I have a receding hair line — the possibility is there but highly unlikely. I am not accusing the Rockies of cheating, there is probably some sort of injury to Francis’ groin. However I do think the Rockies were very quick to pull the DL trigger on a struggling Francis.

The two free agent signings were both pitchers, Sean Gallagher and Cole White. White has spent all of his career as a reliever bouncing around the minors, and all of it with the Royals. He has a career ERA of 3.50, not very great for a reliever. He is currently with the AA Tulsa Drillers and has appeared in 3 games already. Mr Gallagher is a major league veteran who has spent his career as a starter for the Cubs, A’s, Padres, and Pirates. In other words, he is a journeyman. However he hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2010, and his AAA ERAs of 4.92+ the last two years are not really appetizing. However, the Rockies took a gamble on the 27 year old and placed him with the AA Drillers as well. Gallagher has appeared in one game giving up only 2 hits and no runs over 7 innings. Prior to being signed by the Rockies Gallagher pitched 4 games for the Sugar Land Skeeters (yes, the same Skeeters that Roger Clemens pitched for), tossing up a 2.05 ERA in 22 IP. So there is a glimmer of hope with this signing.

May 18, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood (32) is greeted in the dugout after being relieved during the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The transactions that really get me are the options, and there were plenty of them this week. I always get a kick out of the quick trips up I-25 that a lot of AAA players have to make while a part of the Rockies organization, and this week was no different. Rob Scahill got the call-up when Francis hit the DL, and he appeared in 2 games, pitched 5.1 innings, gave up only 2 hits and no runs… and was promptly sent back down to the AAA Sky Sox. Thank you sir, now please go somewhere else. I understand the move made room for Tyler Chatwood to start in Francis’ rotation spot, and you’d like to maximize exposure at the big league level…but you have to feel a little bad for Scahill. Welcome to Coors Field Rob, now pack your bags. Chatwood made the most of his call-up also, throwing into the sixth inning and holding the Giants to only one run.

Other call-ups from Colorado Springs included outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who took Cuddyer’s spot in the roster, and DJ LaMahieu who was brought up after Reid Brignac was designated for assignment. There is a lot going on in that sentence isn’t there? First off, Blackmon has long deserved a spot on the big league roster (in my opinion) and has only been left out due to some lingering injuries and the fact that every time you want to send Eric Young Jr packing, he comes up with 2 doubles, a stolen base, and 3 runs scored. Blackmon has done nothing but make a case to keep him on the big league roster since coming up, batting .267 with 4 runs and a home run in only 16 plate appearances. On top of that, why wouldn’t you want someone on your roster who’s middle name is Cobb?? GIVE ME ONE REASON!

Bringing up LaMahieu was arguably long over-due. The Reid Brignac experiment was a complete failure as Brignac never found his stroke in Denver. In 53 plate appearances he hit .250 with 4 runs and 1 home run. In a word, dismal. In another word, Blackmon. What makes this whole transaction interesting is that the Rockies found a trade partner for Brignac in the New York Yankees. Yes, the same Yankees who recently took on embattled third baseman Chris Nelson after he was DfA’d by the Rox. Seriously New York, who else can we sign and then pilfer your piggy bank with? I have never, ever been a Yankees fan so sending them our wash-ups feels pretty darn good. It feels much better than sending a player to the San Francisco Giants and watching him win the NLCS MVP award and earn a World Series ring… sorry I’m still bitter.

Overall, the Rockies’ roster carousel was at full speed this last week and hopefully some of these guys will end up sticking to the 25-man roster. If not, we’ll soon have a pretty decent AAA club full of major league talent to watch in Colorado Springs!