Class Takes a Holliday

The Rockies traded Matt Holliday to the Oakland A's this week for a high-ball closer (never a good idea in Denver) who doesn't close any more, a starting pitcher who went 7-16 last year (penciled in as a 4th or 5th starter on a team that is filled with 4th or 5th starters) and an outfielder who has issues with plate disipline (lots-o-k's). Three things that bode well for life at Coors Field. Goodbye Matt Holliday, hello spare parts and a great big fu*k you to the Colorado Rockies ownership group and front office.

Would Holliday have signed long term with the Rocks? Probably not. He has douche bag extraordinaire Scott Boras as his agent and Boras likes his clients to test the open market to get a big-assed contract. Fine. That is the system and mid-market teams like Colorado have little chance to compete with the big fish in the free agent game.


Owner, Charlie Monfort, blaming the crappy 2008 season on contract negotiations with Holliday is brutal and classless. The team sucked because the pitchers, Jeff Francis, had horrible years (sorry Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez, half years), Spilborgs was your best, and only, clutch hitter and the injury bug bit the team pretty hard. The future contract of a guy signed through 2009 didn't play a part. If you can't afford to pay him be honest with Holliday and the fans and just tell the truth. It shows professionalism and class that are sorely lacking in the current sports world. Professionalism and class, two things that the Rockies front office are lacking.

Matt Holliday plays the game the right way. He respect the game, he does not showboat, he hustles out the routine plays and he gives back to the fans. I have watched him sign autograph after autograph before Sky Sox games never complaining, never trying to avoid the task and even asking the crowd, "did I get everyone?" Class, and a hell of a ballplayer. He will be missed.

Good luck with the A's! Hope that you make a whole sh*tload of cash with your next contract. You are one guy who truly deserves it. Good luck, goodbye Matt Holliday.