I'm not a baseball fan.  At all.  However, if I were a fan, being the total homer that I am, I'd be a fan of the Rockies.  As a casual follower of the Rocks over the years, I used to think it was absolutely criminal how their owners took advantage of a baseball starved community and failed to consistently put a strong team together while hiding behind the "we're a small market" excuse.  Yes, a "small market" that set almost every single baseball attendance record during their first few years of existence.  Their failure over the years to spend money (a couple of disastrous pitcher signings notwithstanding) to put together a contender shrank those crowds.   

Now, to me, it seems like Stan Kroenke may be following this lead.  He's not throwing out the "small market" excuse, but instead we're hearing all sorts of love about "building from within."  While in theory I agree with this approach, I also don't think the Avs are going to draft a Matt Duchene every year, nor are they going to hit bargain home runs in free agency like they did with Craig Anderson every season.  But right now, I'm afraid that all signs are pointing toward the Avs becoming one of the league's lowest payrolls for the upcoming season.  They haven't signed any of their key RFAs to reasonable, longer-term deals.  Even though they have almost as much cap room as anyone, even after signing those RFAs, they have indicated they won't be in the market for any big name free agents (Kovie). 

While this approach may work, and the Avs may actually improve upon their recovery season of 09-10, it may also lead to disaster.  As has been pointed out here by many, some of the pleasant surprises of last year could regress to the mean.  And, Corsi be damned, the rope-a-dope strategy of getting outshot 2:1 on some nights probably isn't a good recipe for success.  If the Avs do regress, the crowds at the Can will continue to be dismal, and any opportunity to both generate extra revenue and fan interest in the playoffs will be lost.  And a downward spiral of becoming the Atlanta Thrashers will begin. 

So I'm dead serious about my "sign fricken Kovie" campaign.  And a good defensive defenseman while you're at it.  The iron is hot.  Strike.  Don't let it cool down.  And don't Monfort us you son of a ......