OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Mile High Dreams: Colorado Rockies Expansion Saga

Fantasy Skipper · 08-02-2025, 11:49 PM

Final Game Recap & Spring Training Close
The Rockies wrapped up their spring training schedule with a 10-4 loss to the Reds. The final score was secondary to the team's bigger goals: a final tune up for the players. As the closed their first spring training with a 15-15 record, Manager Dusty Rhodes and his coaching staff now face their most difficult task yet.

The Final Word from Manager Dusty Rhodes
Manager Dusty Rhodes addressed the media after the final game, acknowledging the journey and setting a firm look toward the future.

Dusty Rhodes: "We finished the spring with a 15-15 record, so you can't be mad about that. It's a testament to the hard work and resilience of these young men. The final score today doesn't matter. What matters is the work we've put in, the progress we've made, and team we've built. We've seen some great things from guys like Sandy, Jeff, and Kevin. We've also had our challenges, and we know we're a work in progress. But now, spring training is over. The time for evaluation is done. It's time to play for real. We're going to put those uniforms on for real and go out there and compete."

The Roster Crunch: Who Stays and Who Goes to the Minors?
With the exhibition season behind theme, the real work begins for the front office and coaching staff. General Manager Caleb Thorne, Manager Dusty Rhodes, and their team must now finalize the 25-man roster that will head to Denver and ultimately Montreal for Opening Day. This process is filled with tough decisions, as the team's spring training performance and the front office's long-term vision clash. The teams final record of 15-15, as seen in the final stats, gives them a solid foundation to build upon. However, they've also had some tough losses and the reality of a new franchise. Players who have performed might not fit the long-term plan, while others, whose spring may have been lackluster, may still be viewed as key parts of the franchise's future. The young GM and the manager will need to work together to navigate this critical phase.

Isabelle "Izzy" Garcia, The Denver Post
"The Rockies' inaugural spring training was a success, not necessarily in terms of wins and losses, but in what was accomplished. The team, under the unconventional guidance of GM Caleb Thorne and the steady hand of Manager Dusty Rhodes, found its identity. The exhibition games gave the front office and coaching staff a chance to evaluate the expansion draft pics and to see how they would gel as a unit. Standouts like Alomar, Jr. and Jeff Blauser cemented their place in the lineup, while some young arms showed promise. The season-ending injury to Sterling Hitchcock was a major blow, but it also force the organization to adapt and begin to build depth immediately. This team is ready. The real test begins on Opening Day, when they have to settle on a final roster and compete at a major league level for the first time."

"Mile High Mike" O'Connell's Final Spring Training Rant
"Mile High Mike" O'Connell, Denver Sports Radio
"The spring training games are over, folks! It's finally happening! We've seen a few wins, we've seen a few losses, but who cares! It's all just practice, right? What I've seen is a bunch of guys who want to be here, who are learning to be a team, and who are ready to prove the doubters wrong! I'm telling you, this team has grit! The real season starts in a few days, and I've got my tickets. I've got my jersey. I'm ready to watch our boys take the field. It's time for some real Colorado Rockies baseball!"

08-02-2025, 11:49 PM	#28
Fantasy Skipper Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2025 Posts: 112	Spring Training Come to a Close Final Game Recap & Spring Training Close The Rockies wrapped up their spring training schedule with a 10-4 loss to the Reds. The final score was secondary to the team's bigger goals: a final tune up for the players. As the closed their first spring training with a 15-15 record, Manager Dusty Rhodes and his coaching staff now face their most difficult task yet. The Final Word from Manager Dusty Rhodes Manager Dusty Rhodes addressed the media after the final game, acknowledging the journey and setting a firm look toward the future. Dusty Rhodes: "We finished the spring with a 15-15 record, so you can't be mad about that. It's a testament to the hard work and resilience of these young men. The final score today doesn't matter. What matters is the work we've put in, the progress we've made, and team we've built. We've seen some great things from guys like Sandy, Jeff, and Kevin. We've also had our challenges, and we know we're a work in progress. But now, spring training is over. The time for evaluation is done. It's time to play for real. We're going to put those uniforms on for real and go out there and compete." The Roster Crunch: Who Stays and Who Goes to the Minors? With the exhibition season behind theme, the real work begins for the front office and coaching staff. General Manager Caleb Thorne, Manager Dusty Rhodes, and their team must now finalize the 25-man roster that will head to Denver and ultimately Montreal for Opening Day. This process is filled with tough decisions, as the team's spring training performance and the front office's long-term vision clash. The teams final record of 15-15, as seen in the final stats, gives them a solid foundation to build upon. However, they've also had some tough losses and the reality of a new franchise. Players who have performed might not fit the long-term plan, while others, whose spring may have been lackluster, may still be viewed as key parts of the franchise's future. The young GM and the manager will need to work together to navigate this critical phase. Isabelle "Izzy" Garcia, The Denver Post "The Rockies' inaugural spring training was a success, not necessarily in terms of wins and losses, but in what was accomplished. The team, under the unconventional guidance of GM Caleb Thorne and the steady hand of Manager Dusty Rhodes, found its identity. The exhibition games gave the front office and coaching staff a chance to evaluate the expansion draft pics and to see how they would gel as a unit. Standouts like Alomar, Jr. and Jeff Blauser cemented their place in the lineup, while some young arms showed promise. The season-ending injury to Sterling Hitchcock was a major blow, but it also force the organization to adapt and begin to build depth immediately. This team is ready. The real test begins on Opening Day, when they have to settle on a final roster and compete at a major league level for the first time." "Mile High Mike" O'Connell's Final Spring Training Rant "Mile High Mike" O'Connell, Denver Sports Radio "The spring training games are over, folks! It's finally happening! We've seen a few wins, we've seen a few losses, but who cares! It's all just practice, right? What I've seen is a bunch of guys who want to be here, who are learning to be a team, and who are ready to prove the doubters wrong! I'm telling you, this team has grit! The real season starts in a few days, and I've got my tickets. I've got my jersey. I'm ready to watch our boys take the field. It's time for some real Colorado Rockies baseball!"