thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Colorado’s Safe2Tell reports 4% rise in suicide tips last school year as overall volume fell during

Colorado’s Safe2Tell reports 4% rise in suicide tips last school year as overall volume fell during pandemic

The number of potential suicides reported to Safe2Tell rose 4 % during the 2019-20 school year , according to the Colorado program ’ s annual report , which provides for the first time a more detailed look at what happens after tips are made to the anonymous reporting system .
Safe2Tell recorded 3,821 reports about students at risk of suicide , up from 3,668 such reports during the 2018-19 school year .
And in at least 35 % of those cases , the student was sent to counseling either in school or with a mental health professional , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the program ’ s annual report .
The increase in suicide reports during the last school year is additionally notable because the overall number of reports to Safe2Tell declined 7 % to 20,822 during that period as students moved to remote learning at the start of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Coloradans have felt the deep impacts of the pandemic as we navigate these unprecedented times together , ” said Essi Ellis , director of Safe2Tell , in a statement accompanying the release of the report Tuesday .
Safe2Tell is a statewide anonymous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior .
It was created to address youth violence in Colorado , but in recent years the program has seen more and more students reaching out to report classmates at risk of suicide .
Previously , Safe2Tell only provided additional information about responses by detailing the number of self-reported mental-health tips that were transferred to Colorado Crisis Services .
But that ’ s a small fraction of overall reports ; in the 2019-20 school year , Safe2Tell received 137 such tips , and of those , 15 were transferred to the crisis line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the outcomes of Safe2Tell reports follows reporting by The Denver Post that found little public accountability about what happens after authorities respond to tips , because of a lack of information collected by the Colorado Attorney General ’ s Office , which runs the program .
A 2014 state law also limits the public release of such information .
The Post also reported that while Safe2Tell is fielding more reports about children and teens at risk of suicide , police are among those acting on the reports — a response that experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health .
The data about what happens after Safe2Tell reports are received that ’ s included in the 2019-20 annual report has not been made public before .
The attorney general ’ s office declined to provide it to The Post when the newspaper requested it during the reporting of its Crisis Point project over the last year .
Lawrence Pacheco , spokesman for the attorney general , previously told The Post that local authorities “ are not required to report this information to Safe2Tell , and the limited information we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general , incomplete and not useful to gain a broader understanding of outcomes.
” In 2018 , state lawmakers passed a bill providing Safe2Tell funding to hire a data analyst .
The legislation also required the program to create an annual report analyzing data from the program , including a summary of outcomes and actions taken after tips are made to Safe2Tell “ to the extent the information is available , ” beginning in late 2018 .
Safe2Tell hired a data analyst in mid-2019 , Pacheco said , and is now able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its annual reports .
State officials have said that when Safe2Tell receives tips , they are sent to schools and law enforcement — and it ’ s up to local officials to decide who and how to respond .
The additional outcome data provided by Safe2Tell this year is limited .
It doesn ’ t reveal how often police respond to mental health crises compared to medical professionals or school officials .
It ’ s also unclear how complete the data is , since the attorney general ’ s office has said local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this information back to the program .
A tip also can have multiple outcomes .
For example , a suicide report can lead to a welfare check , parents being notified and mental health counseling .
What the data does show is that of the outcomes that were reported back to the program last school year , at least 2,052 resulted in welfare checks conducted by either school officials or police following a tip about someone at risk of suicide .
And in 2,803 cases , parents were notified after a suicide report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sent to counseling either in school or with a mental health professional in the community , according to the report .
Mental health experts argue that data on what type of help was offered to students after a Safe2Tell response — and knowing who responds to the reports — is important so that officials know whether the teens are receiving mental health care and what barriers remain to getting help .
“ It ’ s moving in the right direction in identifying are tipsters getting an appropriate response to what the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Denver-area mental health policy consultant .
“ It still doesn ’ t tell us what happened .
Are people safer at the community level ?
Are there fewer suicides because of this ?
” Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox .

The number of potential suicides reported to Safe2Tell rose 4% during the 2019-20 school year, according to the Colorado program’s annual report, which provides for the first time a more detailed look at what happens after tips are made to the anonymous reporting system.
Safe2Tell recorded 3,821 reports about students at risk of suicide, up from 3,668 such reports during the 2018-19 school year. And in at least 35% of those cases, the student was sent to counseling either in school or with a mental health professional, according to information included for the first time in the program’s annual report.
The increase in suicide reports during the last school year is additionally notable because the overall number of reports to Safe2Tell declined 7% to 20,822 during that period as students moved to remote learning at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Coloradans have felt the deep impacts of the pandemic as we navigate these unprecedented times together,” said Essi Ellis, director of Safe2Tell, in a statement accompanying the release of the report Tuesday.
Safe2Tell is a statewide anonymous tip line for students to report concerning behavior. It was created to address youth violence in Colorado, but in recent years the program has seen more and more students reaching out to report classmates at risk of suicide.
Previously, Safe2Tell only provided additional information about responses by detailing the number of self-reported mental-health tips that were transferred to Colorado Crisis Services. But that’s a small fraction of overall reports; in the 2019-20 school year, Safe2Tell received 137 such tips, and of those, 15 were transferred to the crisis line.
The release of more detailed data about the outcomes of Safe2Tell reports follows reporting by The Denver Post that found little public accountability about what happens after authorities respond to tips, because of a lack of information collected by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, which runs the program. A 2014 state law also limits the public release of such information.
The Post also reported that while Safe2Tell is fielding more reports about children and teens at risk of suicide, police are among those acting on the reports — a response that experts said can traumatize students struggling with their mental health.
The data about what happens after Safe2Tell reports are received that’s included in the 2019-20 annual report has not been made public before. The attorney general’s office declined to provide it to The Post when the newspaper requested it during the reporting of its Crisis Point project over the last year.
Lawrence Pacheco, spokesman for the attorney general, previously told The Post that local authorities “are not required to report this information to Safe2Tell, and the limited information we have from those agencies that do report is general, incomplete and not useful to gain a broader understanding of outcomes.”
In 2018, state lawmakers passed a bill providing Safe2Tell funding to hire a data analyst. The legislation also required the program to create an annual report analyzing data from the program, including a summary of outcomes and actions taken after tips are made to Safe2Tell “to the extent the information is available,” beginning in late 2018.
Safe2Tell hired a data analyst in mid-2019, Pacheco said, and is now able to provide a more detailed data summary in its annual reports.
State officials have said that when Safe2Tell receives tips, they are sent to schools and law enforcement — and it’s up to local officials to decide who and how to respond.
The additional outcome data provided by Safe2Tell this year is limited. It doesn’t reveal how often police respond to mental health crises compared to medical professionals or school officials. It’s also unclear how complete the data is, since the attorney general’s office has said local officials aren’t required to report this information back to the program.
A tip also can have multiple outcomes. For example, a suicide report can lead to a welfare check, parents being notified and mental health counseling.
What the data does show is that of the outcomes that were reported back to the program last school year, at least 2,052 resulted in welfare checks conducted by either school officials or police following a tip about someone at risk of suicide.
And in 2,803 cases, parents were notified after a suicide report, while in 1,334 instances a student was sent to counseling either in school or with a mental health professional in the community, according to the report.
Mental health experts argue that data on what type of help was offered to students after a Safe2Tell response — and knowing who responds to the reports — is important so that officials know whether the teens are receiving mental health care and what barriers remain to getting help.
“It’s moving in the right direction in identifying are tipsters getting an appropriate response to what the need is,” said Sarah Davidon, a Denver-area mental health policy consultant. “It still doesn’t tell us what happened. Are people safer at the community level? Are there fewer suicides because of this?”
Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--$5.6 million grant to help pay for work along Southwest Chief rail route between Colorado and New Me

$5.6 million grant to help pay for work along Southwest Chief rail route between Colorado and New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Amtrak a $ 5.6 million grant for track improvements and other @ @ @ @ @ Colorado along the Southwest Chief passenger train route between Chicago and Los Angeles .
The @ @ @ @ @ upgrading 12.4 miles of rail near Lamy , N.M. , replacing thousands of ties south @ @ @ @ @ another section of track and removing loose rock in Raton Pass and other locations , @ @ @ @ @ , the projects will result in higher speed limits for trains and reduced maintenance costs @ @ @ @ @ Other funding for the project will include nearly $ 5 million set aside by Amtrak @ @ @ @ @ the New Mexico Department of Transportation , the Albuquerque Journal reported Tuesday .
The work @ @ @ @ @ 2021 and be completed in 2022 .
The BNSF Railway and the Rio Metro Transportation @ @ @ @ @ the work in New Mexico .

ALBUQUERQUE — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Amtrak a $5.6 million grant for track improvements and other work in New Mexico and Colorado along the Southwest Chief passenger train route between Chicago and Los Angeles.
The grant will help pay for upgrading 12.4 miles of rail near Lamy, N.M., replacing thousands of ties south of Raton Pass and along another section of track and removing loose rock in Raton Pass and other locations, the department said.
Other planned work includes rebuilding railroad bridges and grade crossings.
Together, the projects will result in higher speed limits for trains and reduced maintenance costs, the department said.
Other funding for the project will include nearly $5 million set aside by Amtrak and $1 million from the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the Albuquerque Journal reported Tuesday.
The work is scheduled to begin in 2021 and be completed in 2022. The BNSF Railway and the Rio Metro Transportation District will perform much of the work in New Mexico.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Get Cooking: How to use up summer’s bounty

Both of my parents died in 1999 ; she in April , he in September .
Fifty years of marriage plus nine kids equaled a whole lot of stuff to catalog , sort through , redistribute among the family .
Among which was an enormous wooden trunk , dome-topped , lashed in iron straps and rivets .
Totally “ Treasure Island.
” My mother had filled it with one thing only , although many specimens of the same : each and every Gourmet magazine to which she had subscribed , likely as soon as she had moved to Denver from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one of my younger brothers , he even more strapping than I , could not lift the trunk without first moving out the magazines in phases .
I believe that the heaviest object on the planet is a 45-cubic foot agglomeration of clay-coated magazine paper .
Our mother wanted to keep the famed magazine ’ s recipes , many of which she had cooked for us .
But not one of which she ever had thrown away .
I remember her once saying , about any specific recipe in hand and therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just in case I want to make this.
” The trunk was not the sole trove .
She collected thousands of recipes , scissored from newspapers mostly , stuffed in drawers , layered like pommes Anna .
She also wrote dozens of her own , many inspired by those from chefs from whom she had taken cooking classes over the years , plus the many that she herself composed for her own cooking school .
Of these recipes in their accumulation , what I remember most is their inviting perfume , of aging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soaked up , dried and thus kept , and with the inks of both her pens and typewriter ribbons .
Ever since that time , I have been in love with recipes , with reading them , writing them , playing with them .
Recipes work for us in different ways .
In point of fact , I tasked ( to use the modern term ) this week ’ s recipe explicitly to work for me .
Next week , I write about the history of the recipe and how both the term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
Oftentimes , a recipe solves a problem , much more than merely “ what ’ s for dinner ?
” Over the past three years , I have made today ’ s recipe six or seven times , tinkering with it each time , sharing it with friends who very well may have handed me its main ingredient : a zucchini as large as a bazooka launcher .
As such , it remains perfect porridge for this gardening season ’ s end .
I still spy such beasts about ( as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recipe , such as beans long on the pole , or wrinkled peppers , sweet or hot ) .
I am proud to say that the recipe , many times over , has been very well received .
At the outset , this recipe resulted from my thinking that the ginormous summer ’ s end vegetable can not be merely an American issue .
And of course , it is not ; all lands grow gardens .
The foreign places from which I took inspiration–Chile , Italy ( of course , Italy ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name ) , Brooklyn —also grapple with old or overgrown vegetables .
So , in my fashion , this recipe is a melding of several different recipes , kick-started by one of my favorite recipe writers , Samin Nosrat of the New York Times who wrote the great cookbook “ Salt Fat Acid Heat.
” The first few go-arounds on this recipe , I would suggest that the anchovies were optional , getting people ’ s wariness for these misplaced eyebrows .
However , I must insist that you use them ; they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taste of fish simply disappears ; trust me ) .
Vegans and vegetarians can get by with vegan fish sauce or even some Umami All-Purpose Seasoning , a delicious dry flavoring from the Boulder-based company Seed Ranch Flavor Co. Substitutions for ( or , indeed , additions to ) the zucchini , in total to amount to 2 pounds of vegetables : other summer squash ( yellow squash , chayote , pattypan , crookneck ) ; long beans , green beans , pole beans ; sweet peppers , yellow or red , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these latter , only a judicious amount .
• 1 very large zucchini ( you want to end up with just over 2 pounds of trimmed flesh , seeded if necessary and with some , though not all , of the peel removed ) • ¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes ( such as Urfa or Aleppo ) • 1 cup tomato sauce , or the same quantity of peeled ripe tomatoes , crushed • Healthy pinches of dried green herbs ( oregano works , so do herbes de Provence or thyme ; rosemary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flat-leaf parsley , chopped , or chiffonade basil , for garnish Cut up the zucchini into 1-inch thick chunks .
Place a colander in the sink , sprinkle the chunks with the salt , tossing to mix well .
Let sit for at least 30 minutes , up to 1 hour .
( Do not rinse . )
Then , lay and roll the chunks over paper toweling to dry them somewhat .
In a large Dutch oven or similar pot over medium heat , add the olive oil , garlic , anchovies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just sizzling , lower the heat and cook until the garlic is golden and the anchovies have dissolved , 5-7 minutes .
( Do not brown or burn the garlic . )
Add the tomato sauce or tomatoes , parsley , herbs and basil , stirring .
Add the dried-off zucchini pieces and mix everything well , bringing the lot up to a good simmer .
Cover the pot .
Lower the burner to the lowest possible flame and cook for up to 2 hours , stirring every half hour in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as to break up the ever-softening vegetables , using a heat diffuser over the burner if it helps .
The total time will depend on how gnarly the vegetables were at the beginning .
Remove the lid ; turn up the heat .
Let any obvious water boil off and stir the vegetables gently a time or two , until there ’ s a sauce of sorts coating the vegetable pieces , about 10 minutes .
Serve warm or at room or ambient temperature , garnished with the chopped flat-leaf parsley , alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as steamed brown or white rice , orzo pasta , or cooked bulghur wheat .
Bill St. John can be reached at bsjpost @ gmail.com .

Both of my parents died in 1999; she in April, he in September. Fifty years of marriage plus nine kids equaled a whole lot of stuff to catalog, sort through, redistribute among the family.
Among which was an enormous wooden trunk, dome-topped, lashed in iron straps and rivets. Totally “Treasure Island.”
My mother had filled it with one thing only, although many specimens of the same: each and every Gourmet magazine to which she had subscribed, likely as soon as she had moved to Denver from her native Belgium in 1949.
I and one of my younger brothers, he even more strapping than I, could not lift the trunk without first moving out the magazines in phases. I believe that the heaviest object on the planet is a 45-cubic foot agglomeration of clay-coated magazine paper.
Our mother wanted to keep the famed magazine’s recipes, many of which she had cooked for us. But not one of which she ever had thrown away. I remember her once saying, about any specific recipe in hand and therefore about all recipes she kept, “Just in case I want to make this.”
The trunk was not the sole trove. She collected thousands of recipes, scissored from newspapers mostly, stuffed in drawers, layered like pommes Anna. She also wrote dozens of her own, many inspired by those from chefs from whom she had taken cooking classes over the years, plus the many that she herself composed for her own cooking school.
Of these recipes in their accumulation, what I remember most is their inviting perfume, of aging paper, mottled with cooking liquids long soaked up, dried and thus kept, and with the inks of both her pens and typewriter ribbons.
Ever since that time, I have been in love with recipes, with reading them, writing them, playing with them.
Recipes work for us in different ways. In point of fact, I tasked (to use the modern term) this week’s recipe explicitly to work for me. Next week, I write about the history of the recipe and how both the term and the writing of recipes developed over time.
(I also thank you for the many instances of your requesting recipes from me, or thanking me for a particular publication of one, even for suggesting emendations. The recipe is our most shared experience, isn’t it?)
Oftentimes, a recipe solves a problem, much more than merely “what’s for dinner?”
Over the past three years, I have made today’s recipe six or seven times, tinkering with it each time, sharing it with friends who very well may have handed me its main ingredient: a zucchini as large as a bazooka launcher. As such, it remains perfect porridge for this gardening season’s end. I still spy such beasts about (as well as other felicitous elements for the recipe, such as beans long on the pole, or wrinkled peppers, sweet or hot). I am proud to say that the recipe, many times over, has been very well received.
At the outset, this recipe resulted from my thinking that the ginormous summer’s end vegetable cannot be merely an American issue. And of course, it is not; all lands grow gardens. The foreign places from which I took inspiration–Chile, Italy (of course, Italy; that’s where zucchini got his name), Brooklyn —also grapple with old or overgrown vegetables.
So, in my fashion, this recipe is a melding of several different recipes, kick-started by one of my favorite recipe writers, Samin Nosrat of the New York Times who wrote the great cookbook “Salt Fat Acid Heat.”
The first few go-arounds on this recipe, I would suggest that the anchovies were optional, getting people’s wariness for these misplaced eyebrows. However, I must insist that you use them; they add gobs of umami (and the taste of fish simply disappears; trust me). Vegans and vegetarians can get by with vegan fish sauce or even some Umami All-Purpose Seasoning, a delicious dry flavoring from the Boulder-based company Seed Ranch Flavor Co.
Long-Cooked Vegetables
Substitutions for (or, indeed, additions to) the zucchini, in total to amount to 2 pounds of vegetables: other summer squash (yellow squash, chayote, pattypan, crookneck); long beans, green beans, pole beans; sweet peppers, yellow or red, or other more spicy-heat peppers, although of these latter, only a judicious amount.
Ingredients
1 very large zucchini (you want to end up with just over 2 pounds of trimmed flesh, seeded if necessary and with some, though not all, of the peel removed)
1 rounded tablespoon kosher or sea salt
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
8 cloves garlic, peeled and halved
2-3 anchovy filets
¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes (such as Urfa or Aleppo)
1 cup tomato sauce, or the same quantity of peeled ripe tomatoes, crushed
½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
Healthy pinches of dried green herbs (oregano works, so do herbes de Provence or thyme; rosemary is a bit strong)
10 medium fresh basil leaves, torn
More flat-leaf parsley, chopped, or chiffonade basil, for garnish
Directions
Cut up the zucchini into 1-inch thick chunks. Place a colander in the sink, sprinkle the chunks with the salt, tossing to mix well. Let sit for at least 30 minutes, up to 1 hour. (Do not rinse.) Then, lay and roll the chunks over paper toweling to dry them somewhat.
In a large Dutch oven or similar pot over medium heat, add the olive oil, garlic, anchovies and red pepper, stirring. When just sizzling, lower the heat and cook until the garlic is golden and the anchovies have dissolved, 5-7 minutes. (Do not brown or burn the garlic.) Add the tomato sauce or tomatoes, parsley, herbs and basil, stirring.
Add the dried-off zucchini pieces and mix everything well, bringing the lot up to a good simmer. Cover the pot. Lower the burner to the lowest possible flame and cook for up to 2 hours, stirring every half hour in order to combine the flavors but not so vigorously as to break up the ever-softening vegetables, using a heat diffuser over the burner if it helps. The total time will depend on how gnarly the vegetables were at the beginning.
Remove the lid; turn up the heat. Let any obvious water boil off and stir the vegetables gently a time or two, until there’s a sauce of sorts coating the vegetable pieces, about 10 minutes.
Serve warm or at room or ambient temperature, garnished with the chopped flat-leaf parsley, alone or over anything you think works such as steamed brown or white rice, orzo pasta, or cooked bulghur wheat.
Bill St. John can be reached at bsjpost@gmail.com.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Rockies Mailbag: Will Dick Monfort fire GM Jeff Bridich? Frustrated fans want change at 20th and Bla

Rockies Mailbag: Will Dick Monfort fire GM Jeff Bridich? Frustrated fans want change at 20th and Blake.

Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag .
We had a number of questions — and a lot of rants and long-winded complaints – from frustrated fans regarding Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich .
I ’ m going to limit the discussion to two .
After another atrocious season , Bridich is firmly cemented as the worst executive in baseball , and possibly in major North American sports .
How many more years do you think he has before ( owner Dick Monfort ) realizes what the rest of us have known for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — Will , Erie If the Rockies are going to make a switch and fire Bridich , how soon can we expect it ?
If not , how soon can we expect them to tell us he ’ s staying ?
Any idea on his contract ?
— Blake , Denver Will and Blake , I ’ m going to handle your questions together .
First of all , I do not think Monfort is going to fire Bridich .
Would I be shocked if it happened ?
No , but I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the worse executive ” in North American sports , I don ’ t think that ’ s true and there is no way to measure it .
I think that ’ s hyperbole from a frustrated fan .
Anyway , here are a few reasons why I think Bridich will remain as the Rockies GM : 1 .
Monfort is very loyal and thinks of the team as his family .
He likes continuity and normalcy in his operation .
He doesn ’ t like change .
I ’ m not saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it ’ s the current reality .
2 .
The Rockies went to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 2017-18 , something the franchise had never done before .
I believe that bought Bridich a lot of good will .
My contention , however , is that the Rockies failed to capitalize on their window of talent and opportunity .
We all know that is why Nolan Arenado was upset with the organization .
But a lot of that rests on Monfort ’ s shoulders .
He holds the purse strings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing over the last two seasons , the abbreviated , 60-game season bought Bridich some time , at least in Monfort ’ s eyes .
As for Bridich ’ s contract , I don ’ t know the money of the deal or the length of it .
I don ’ t think anyone in the media has that information .
How ’ s that Rockies monument to runners left in scoring position in front of Coors coming along ?
— Jeff , Elizabeth Jeff , what were you thinking ?
Replace the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Blake ?
Maybe they could introduce new “ RISP Hotdog ” at Coors Field — all bun , plenty of mustard , but no meat .
But there is no question that lack of key hits doomed the Rockies in 2020 .
A handful of big hits could have turned the season around .
They would have taken the pressure off and produced a few more wins .
That ’ s all it would have taken to get the Rockies into the expanded postseason this fall .
Patrick , thanks for your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be particularly hard this year .
Question 1 : How will the reduced revenue from COVID-19 affect the Rockies ( and other “ have-nots ” ) as compared to the Dodgers ( and other “ haves ” ) ?
Question 2 : How do other MLB organizations view the Rockies ?
— Tony Frey , Highlands Ranch Tony , let ’ s start with question No .
1 .
The Dodgers annually lead the majors in attendance , so having no fans might hurt them more than the Rockies .
But I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tip baseball ’ s financial landscape much in either direction .
More and more , baseball teams make their money through TV and internet streaming deals .
Your second question is very broad and difficult for me to answer .
I think the Rockies are considered a first-call organization and I know that manager Bud Black is well-liked and well-regarded around the game .
Agents have told me that the Rockies can be difficult to deal with , but agents always have an agenda , so I take that with a grain of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ void left by Keli McGregor ’ s untimely death set the Rockies back ?
It feels like Monfort is extremely loyal to his charges , which is to be admired , but there ’ s also no one in his ear that he trusts , telling him change is needed .
— Kevin M. , Littleton Kevin , McGregor died more than 10 years ago , so I don ’ t think we can still talk about a “ void.
” However , I have said for some time that I believe Monfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside the organization – to add a fresh and different point of view .
I also think it would take some duties off of Monfort ’ s shoulders .
Hi Patrick , I read your very good analysis Sunday of what went wrong with the Rockies both this year and last and I value your insight .
Your analysis of the lack of effectiveness of Bridich was spot on .
I was hoping for a similar analysis as to the effectiveness of Black .
It seems to me that sportswriters give him a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black is a gentleman , knows his X ’ s and O ’ s , knows all the clichés and is very good at stating the obvious .
But there is little evidence I can see that he holds his players accountable for bad base running , missing the cut-off man or getting picked off first .
At times they looked like a high school team .
Black is a players ’ coach to a fault and too much old school .
How many times this past year did he leave a starter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six runs , all the while his team was struggling to score ?
Or , not sitting Arenado or Charlie Blackmon or Story down when it was obvious they needed a break but the player didn ’ t want it .
I think a change is needed .
We need fresh ideas .
Thanks .
— Bruce Dickinson , Louisville Bruce , you ’ re not the first one to accuse me , and other writers , of giving Black a free pass .
I think there is some validity to that charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man and he ’ s good at answering questions without making waves .
He does that on purpose .
Having said that , I have spoken with Black enough times off the record , and off camera , to know that he has a fiery side and I know that he ’ s not afraid to take players to task .
Black , however , is never going to throw one of his players under the bus in public .
He sees no benefit in doing so .
Believe me , when Ramiel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McMahon throws to the wrong base , they hear about it .
We just don ’ t hear about it .
Kyle Freeland has told me that Black can be pretty harsh when it ’ s needed .
Black was not perfect this season .
I believe , given how bad some of the Rockies relievers were , that he should have pushed the envelope with his starters a little more .
I wondered why he stuck with Daniel Murphy at first base as long as he did when it was apparent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dynamic fielder and was hurting the team with his poor defense .
You mention that he should have sat Arenado , Blackmon and Story more often , but I would counter with this question : what were his alternatives ?
Is it time for a total rebuild ?
Outside of Story , Tapia , Josh Fuentes , Tony Wolters , Garrett Hampson , Freeland , German Marquez , Antonio Senzatela and Jon Gray , is there anyone else in their future plans ?
Yes , I left off Arenado ( who doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blackmon ( DH only ) and David Dahl ( injuries ) .
The most important addition should be a team president .
What coaches will not be invited back ?
Thanks for another great year of coverage in the most difficult of situations .
— Robert Emmerling , Parker Robert , I ’ ll start with the last things first .
As I mentioned above , I do think the Rockies should hire a team president , though I have no idea if that will happen .
As for dismissing coaches , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnover , there almost always is .
The hitting coaches , Dave Madigan and Jeff Salazar , might be under the gun given Colorado ’ s poor offensive production , but I ’ m not going to speculate on their jobs .
As far as future plans , I ’ m betting the Rockies will attempt to re-sign Kevin Pillar .
He ’ s exactly the kind of player the team likes and he showed he can handle the spacious outfield at Coors .
Right-handed reliever Mychal Givens will be back and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think he ’ s in limbo .
There are no guarantee the Rockies will trade him or even attempt to do so .
He ’ ll make $ 35 million next season and you have to wonder if a team will want to pick that up , particularly since Arenado can opt out after 2021 .
He also has a no-trade clause in his contract .
I would imagine it would be difficult to sign Story to an extension , while keeping Arenado .
Is it fair to assume the Rockies are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not happy with the organization ’ s current state ?
What are the odds this happens this offseason ?
Are the interested teams going to be the usual suspects ?
( Cubs , Cardinals , Dodgers , etc . )
— Jon , Aurora Jon , as I mentioned above , the Arenado situation is in limbo .
Story , due to make $ 17.5 million next season , could be the more tradeable player .
But , as Black likes to say , “ It takes two to tango , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the Rockies were able to pull off a decent trade for Arenado and get some quality pieces in return , I believe they would do so .
That could open the door for a long-term deal for Story , who is a free agent after 2021 .
But does Story want to stay in Colorado or would he prefer to test the open market and have more control of his destiny ?
I don ’ t know that answer to that .
In retrospect , the Rockies were only three wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did they not exhibit a sense of urgency , as seen by using unproven players ?
— Judy Frieman , Denver Judy , I ’ m going to disagree with you on this .
The reason the Rockies tried so many “ unproven players ” is because they did feel a sense of urgency .
They were trying to figure out a lineup that could produce runs on a consistent basis .
The proven players , such as Arenado , Story and McMahon failed to come through with runners in scoring position .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as did Blackmon .
If Black had found a productive lineup , he would have stuck with it .
As it happened , one of the “ unproven ” players who ended up having one of Colorado ’ s best seasons was rookie first baseman Fuentes .
Hi Patrick , I know pitching at altitude has always been blamed but what are the records of someone like Clayton Kershaw , Johnny Cueto ( when SF was good ) , Randy Johnson ( with Arizona ) , etc.
, at Coors Field ?
Guys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitched here a lot throughout their career .
I ’ d be curious if it affects them or if they ’ re better pitchers on better teams and therefore win more at Coors Field .
My hunch tells me it ’ s the latter .
Conversely , are our “ best ” pitchers that much better on the road than at home ?
Lots of variables here but still curious about your take .
Thanks for hanging in there with the coverage these past two seasons .
Great job as always !
— @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me start off by providing you with some data : • Kershaw is 11-5 with a 4.44 ERA in 23 career games at Coors Field .
Good , but hardly dominant .
• Johnson was 7-5 with a 4.01 ERA in 13 career games at Coors .
OK , but not great .
• Cueto is 5-2 with a 3.29 ERA in nine career starts at Coors .
That ’ s pretty darn good .
• I ’ ll give you one more to chew on .
Hall of Famer Greg Maddux , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8-2 with a 5.19 ERA in 14 starts here .
Not exactly a picnic .
I do think the aforementioned pitchers won , in part , because they pitched for better teams .
But they are also guys who knew how to battle , altitude or no altitude .
As for the Rockies , the overall numbers tell you that yes , their pitchers are better on the road than at home , at least statistically .
But that is not always the case , and the bottom line , at least from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their starter outperforms their opponent ’ s starter .
• Anyway , consider Colorado three best starters from 2020 : • German Marquez was 1-4 with a 5.68 ERA at home vs. 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA on the road .
• Antonio Senzatela was 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA at home vs. 2-3 with a 4.62 ERA on the road .
• Kyle Freeland was 1-1 with a 4.46 ERA at home vs. 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA on the road .
• By the way , all three were hurt by @ @ @ @ @

Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
We had a number of questions — and a lot of rants and long-winded complaints – from frustrated fans regarding Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich. I’m going to limit the discussion to two.
After another atrocious season, Bridich is firmly cemented as the worst executive in baseball, and possibly in major North American sports. How many more years do you think he has before (owner Dick Monfort) realizes what the rest of us have known for years, and sends Bridich packing?
— Will, Erie
If the Rockies are going to make a switch and fire Bridich, how soon can we expect it? If not, how soon can we expect them to tell us he’s staying? Any idea on his contract?
— Blake, Denver
Will and Blake, I’m going to handle your questions together.
First of all, I do not think Monfort is going to fire Bridich. Would I be shocked if it happened? No, but I would be surprised.
As for Bridich being “the worse executive” in North American sports, I don’t think that’s true and there is no way to measure it. I think that’s hyperbole from a frustrated fan.
Anyway, here are a few reasons why I think Bridich will remain as the Rockies GM:
Monfort is very loyal and thinks of the team as his family. He likes continuity and normalcy in his operation. He doesn’t like change. I’m not saying this is always wise, but I think it’s the current reality. The Rockies went to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 2017-18, something the franchise had never done before. I believe that bought Bridich a lot of good will. My contention, however, is that the Rockies failed to capitalize on their window of talent and opportunity. We all know that is why Nolan Arenado was upset with the organization. But a lot of that rests on Monfort’s shoulders. He holds the purse strings. Despite Colorado’s poor showing over the last two seasons, the abbreviated, 60-game season bought Bridich some time, at least in Monfort’s eyes.
As for Bridich’s contract, I don’t know the money of the deal or the length of it. I don’t think anyone in the media has that information.
How’s that Rockies monument to runners left in scoring position in front of Coors coming along?
— Jeff, Elizabeth
Jeff, what were you thinking? Replace the baseball statue near Gate D at 20th and Blake? Maybe they could introduce new “RISP Hotdog” at Coors Field — all bun, plenty of mustard, but no meat.
I kid because I care.
But there is no question that lack of key hits doomed the Rockies in 2020. A handful of big hits could have turned the season around. They would have taken the pressure off and produced a few more wins. That’s all it would have taken to get the Rockies into the expanded postseason this fall.
Patrick, thanks for your coverage of this team. It had to be particularly hard this year.
Question 1: How will the reduced revenue from COVID-19 affect the Rockies (and other “have-nots”) as compared to the Dodgers (and other “haves”)?
Question 2: How do other MLB organizations view the Rockies?
— Tony Frey, Highlands Ranch
Tony, let’s start with question No. 1. The Dodgers annually lead the majors in attendance, so having no fans might hurt them more than the Rockies. But I don’t think the virus will tip baseball’s financial landscape much in either direction. More and more, baseball teams make their money through TV and internet streaming deals.
Your second question is very broad and difficult for me to answer. I think the Rockies are considered a first-class organization and I know that manager Bud Black is well-liked and well-regarded around the game.
Agents have told me that the Rockies can be difficult to deal with, but agents always have an agenda, so I take that with a grain of salt.
How much has the perceived void left by Keli McGregor’s untimely death set the Rockies back? It feels like Monfort is extremely loyal to his charges, which is to be admired, but there’s also no one in his ear that he trusts, telling him change is needed.
— Kevin M., Littleton
Kevin, McGregor died more than 10 years ago, so I don’t think we can still talk about a “void.” However, I have said for some time that I believe Monfort should hire a team president — from outside the organization — to add a fresh and different point of view. I also think it would take some duties off Monfort’s shoulders.
Hi Patrick, I read your very good analysis Sunday of what went wrong with the Rockies both this year and last and I value your insight. Your analysis of the lack of effectiveness of Bridich was spot on. I was hoping for a similar analysis as to the effectiveness of Black. It seems to me that sportswriters give him a pass. Why?
My view: Black is a gentleman, knows his X’s and O’s, knows all the clichés and is very good at stating the obvious. But there is little evidence I can see that he holds his players accountable for bad base running, missing the cut-off man or getting picked off first. At times they looked like a high school team. Black is a players’ coach to a fault and too much old school. How many times this past year did he leave a starter in until the opponent scores five or six runs, all the while his team was struggling to score? Or, not sitting Arenado or Charlie Blackmon or Story down when it was obvious they needed a break but the player didn’t want it. I think a change is needed. We need fresh ideas. Thanks.
— Bruce Dickinson, Louisville
Bruce, you’re not the first one to accuse me, and other writers, of giving Black a free pass. I think there is some validity to that charge. Black is a friendly, charismatic man and he’s good at answering questions without making waves. He does that on purpose.
Having said that, I have spoken with Black enough times off the record, and off camera, to know that he has a fiery side and I know that he’s not afraid to take players to task. Black, however, is never going to throw one of his players under the bus in public. He sees no benefit in doing so.
Believe me, when Ramiel Tapia misses a cutoff man or Ryan McMahon throws to the wrong base, they hear about it. We just don’t hear about it. Kyle Freeland has told me that Black can be pretty harsh when it’s needed.
Black was not perfect this season. I believe, given how bad some of the Rockies relievers were, that he should have pushed the envelope with his starters a little more. I wondered why he stuck with Daniel Murphy at first base as long as he did when it was apparent to me that Murphy is no longer a dynamic fielder and was hurting the team with his poor defense.
You mention that he should have sat Arenado, Blackmon and Story more often, but I would counter with this question: What were his alternatives?
Is it time for a total rebuild? Outside of Story, Tapia, Josh Fuentes, Tony Wolters, Garrett Hampson, Freeland, German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela and Jon Gray, is there anyone else in their future plans? Yes, I left off Arenado (who doesn’t want to be here), Blackmon (DH only) and David Dahl (injuries).
The most important addition should be a team president. What coaches will not be invited back? Thanks for another great year of coverage in the most difficult of situations.
— Robert Emmerling, Parker
Robert, I’ll start with the last things first. As I mentioned above, I do think the Rockies should hire a team president, though I have no idea if that will happen. As for dismissing coaches, I’m sure there will be some turnover, there almost always is. The hitting coaches, Dave Madigan and Jeff Salazar, might be under the gun given Colorado’s poor offensive production, but I’m not going to speculate on their jobs.
As far as future plans, I’m betting the Rockies will attempt to re-sign Kevin Pillar. He’s exactly the kind of player the team likes and he showed he can handle the spacious outfield at Coors. Right-handed reliever Mychal Givens will be back and is arbitration eligible.
As for Arenado, I think he’s in limbo. There are no guarantee the Rockies will trade him or even attempt to do so. He’ll make $35 million next season and you have to wonder if a team will want to pick that up, particularly since Arenado can opt out after 2021. He also has a no-trade clause in his contract.
I would imagine it would be difficult to sign Story to an extension, while keeping Arenado. Is it fair to assume the Rockies are more inclined to trade the player that’s not happy with the organization’s current state? What are the odds this happens this offseason? Are the interested teams going to be the usual suspects? (Cubs, Cardinals, Dodgers, etc.)
— Jon, Aurora
Jon, as I mentioned above, the Arenado situation is in limbo. Story, due to make $17.5 million next season, could be the more tradeable player. But, as Black likes to say, “It takes two to tango,” so predicting trades is very difficult. If the Rockies were able to pull off a decent trade for Arenado and get some quality pieces in return, I believe they would do so. That could open the door for a long-term deal for Story, who is a free agent after 2021. But does Story want to stay in Colorado or would he prefer to test the open market and have more control of his destiny? I don’t know that answer to that.
In retrospect, the Rockies were only three wins away from entering the playoffs. Why did they not exhibit a sense of urgency, as seen by using unproven players?
— Judy Frieman, Denver
Judy, I’m going to disagree with you on this. The reason the Rockies tried so many “unproven players” is because they did feel a sense of urgency. They were trying to figure out a lineup that could produce runs on a consistent basis. The proven players, such as Arenado, Story and McMahon failed to come through with runners in scoring position. Murphy slumped after a hot start, as did Blackmon. If Black had found a productive lineup, he would have stuck with it. As it happened, one of the “unproven” players who ended up having one of Colorado’s best seasons was rookie first baseman Josh Fuentes.
Hi Patrick, I know pitching at altitude has always been blamed but what are the records of someone like Clayton Kershaw, Johnny Cueto (when SF was good), Randy Johnson (with Arizona), etc., at Coors Field? Guys from other NL West teams that have pitched here a lot throughout their career. I’d be curious if it affects them or if they’re better pitchers on better teams and therefore win more at Coors Field. My hunch tells me it’s the latter. Conversely, are our “best” pitchers that much better on the road than at home? Lots of variables here but still curious about your take. Thanks for hanging in there with the coverage these past two seasons. Great job as always!
— Joe Covell, Denver
Joe, let me start off by providing you with some data:
Kershaw is 11-5 with a 4.44 ERA in 23 career games at Coors Field. Good, but hardly dominant.
Johnson was 7-5 with a 4.01 ERA in 13 career games at Coors. OK, but not great.
Cueto is 5-2 with a 3.29 ERA in nine career starts at Coors. That’s pretty darn good.
I’ll give you one more to chew on. Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, who hated pitching in Denver, was 8-2 with a 5.19 ERA in 14 starts here. Not exactly a picnic.
I do think the aforementioned pitchers won, in part, because they pitched for better teams. But they are also guys who knew how to battle, altitude or no altitude.
As for the Rockies, the overall numbers tell you that yes, their pitchers are better on the road than at home, at least statistically.
But that is not always the case, and the bottom line, at least from the Rockies’ perspective, is that their starter outperforms their opponent’s starter.
Anyway, consider Colorado three best starters from 2020:


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Broncos Journal: Expect teams to blitz until pass protection improves

Thirteen things about the Broncos ( one for each sack allowed this year ) heading into Thursday ’ s game at the New York Jets : 1 .
The Broncos didn ’ t allow a sack against Tennessee , but looking back , some of the ensuing problems make sense .
Even with the mobile Drew Lock at quarterback , he was still knocked down five times and pressured four times by the Titans ( nine total disruptions ) .
In the last two games , the Broncos have allowed 37 disruptions ( 13 sacks/17 knockdowns/seven pressures ) .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the NFL with Houston and behind only Cincinnati ( 14 ) .
2 .
So what ’ s the issue besides personnel ?
Is it physically losing the matchup or a lack of communication leading to free rushers ?
“ At least last week ( against Tampa Bay ) , there was one time when we were a little loose with our communication , but for the most part , it was good , ” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said .
“ That ’ s why it ’ s important for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the board so you ’ re not in mostly throw it mode , which is tough against any team .
Our guys are out there battling .
Each guy that ’ s out there playing … ( they ’ re ) learning a lot from each event .
I anticipate that we ’ ll be good Thursday night.
” 3 .
Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has a reputation for putting together unique pressures .
Against Indianapolis on Sunday , though , the Jets rushed at least five players on only three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a six-man rush at the goal-line ( touchdown ) and two five-man rushes on third down .
But Williams should be eager to test the Broncos ’ offensive line , which now includes veteran right tackle Demar Dotson .
4 .
Through our charting , opponents have rushed at least five players on 73 of the Broncos ’ 136 drop-backs ( 53.7 % ) .
By comparison , the Broncos ’ defense is at 22.1 % ( 29-of-131 ) .
5 .
The best way to help the pass protection is a ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t fall behind .
In Sunday ’ s first half , the Broncos rushed eight times for 26 yards ( long of nine ) .
Down 23-10 , Shurmur had to basically abandon the run game .
“ We have to get more out of the run plays early in the game , ” he said .
The Broncos ’ 66 rushes are tied for 29th-most in the league .
6 .
The Broncos ’ offense has struggled in the first quarter .
In eight possessions , they have one touchdown ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocked punt and one turnover .
Opponents have outscored the Broncos 17-7 in the first quarter and 47-20 in the first half .
7 .
The Jets are also in big trouble .
Gang Green has been routed 59-13 in the first half .
Sam Darnold had two interceptions returned for touchdowns by Indianapolis .
The Jets offense has four touchdowns in three games .
8 .
Through three weeks , 10 rookies have played for the Broncos totaling a league-high 936 snaps .
Jacksonville ( 15 rookies ) is next at 905 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 841 , Dallas ( eight ) 796 and Carolina ( nine ) 738 .
9 .
Jets coach Adam Gase was the Broncos ’ receivers coach from 2009-12 and their offensive coordinator in 2013-14.
” I feel like it ’ s been about 15 since years since I ’ ve been there , ” he told Denver reporters .
“ I know it ’ s only been six years , but those six were good years .
There were a couple of rough ( years ) , but four good ones .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We loved it there and we had a good run.
” 10 .
Le ’ Veon Bell ’ s hamstring injury has created playing time for 37-year-old running back Frank Gore , who has faced the Broncos as a member of San Francisco , Indianapolis and Buffalo ( seven games , 135 rushes , 514 yards and two touchdowns ) .
“ He ’ s obviously unique , ” Gase said .
“ The way he practices , the example he sets for other guys , his love for the game — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around.
” 11 .
Not sure why the Broncos called up cornerback Kevin Toliver from the practice squad on Sunday .
He didn ’ t play a snap on defense or special teams — Dotson was the only other Broncos player to not play a snap .
12 .
According to Spotrac , the Broncos and Jets are tied for third with 12 players on injured reserve behind San Francisco ( 14 ) and Seattle ( 13 ) .
The Broncos ’ combined cap number for their guys on IR is a league-high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 45,5447,199 ) are the only two teams with more than $ 28 million on IR .
13 .
Jurrell Casey ’ s Broncos career may consist of three games due to a torn biceps tendon .
The Broncos can create $ 12.281 million in salary cap space by releasing Casey after the season .

Thirteen things about the Broncos (one for each sack allowed this year) heading into Thursday’s game at the New York Jets:
1. The Broncos didn’t allow a sack against Tennessee, but looking back, some of the ensuing problems make sense. Even with the mobile Drew Lock at quarterback, he was still knocked down five times and pressured four times by the Titans (nine total disruptions). In the last two games, the Broncos have allowed 37 disruptions (13 sacks/17 knockdowns/seven pressures). The 13 total sacks are tied for second-most in the NFL with Houston and behind only Cincinnati (14).
2. So what’s the issue besides personnel? Is it physically losing the matchup or a lack of communication leading to free rushers? “At least last week (against Tampa Bay), there was one time when we were a little loose with our communication, but for the most part, it was good,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. “That’s why it’s important for us early in the game to put points on the board so you’re not in mostly throw it mode, which is tough against any team. Our guys are out there battling. Each guy that’s out there playing … (they’re) learning a lot from each event. I anticipate that we’ll be good Thursday night.”
3. Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has a reputation for putting together unique pressures. Against Indianapolis on Sunday, though, the Jets rushed at least five players on only three of Philip Rivers’ 28 drop-backs — a six-man rush at the goal-line (touchdown) and two five-man rushes on third down. But Williams should be eager to test the Broncos’ offensive line, which now includes veteran right tackle Demar Dotson.
4. Through our charting, opponents have rushed at least five players on 73 of the Broncos’ 136 drop-backs (53.7%). By comparison, the Broncos’ defense is at 22.1% (29-of-131).
5. The best way to help the pass protection is a) run it effectively and b) don’t fall behind. In Sunday’s first half, the Broncos rushed eight times for 26 yards (long of nine). Down 23-10, Shurmur had to basically abandon the run game. “We have to get more out of the run plays early in the game,” he said. The Broncos’ 66 rushes are tied for 29th-most in the league.
6. The Broncos’ offense has struggled in the first quarter. In eight possessions, they have one touchdown (Tennessee), five punts, one blocked punt and one turnover. Opponents have outscored the Broncos 17-7 in the first quarter and 47-20 in the first half.
7. The Jets are also in big trouble. Gang Green has been routed 59-13 in the first half. Sam Darnold had two interceptions returned for touchdowns by Indianapolis. The Jets offense has four touchdowns in three games.
8. Through three weeks, 10 rookies have played for the Broncos totaling 936 snaps. Jacksonville (15 rookies) is first at 963.
9. Jets coach Adam Gase was the Broncos’ receivers coach from 2009-12 and their offensive coordinator in 2013-14.”I feel like it’s been about 15 since years since I’ve been there,” he told Denver reporters. “I know it’s only been six years, but those six were good years. There were a couple of rough (years), but four good ones. Those memories will never leave me or family. We loved it there and we had a good run.”
10. Le’Veon Bell’s hamstring injury has created playing time for 37-year-old running back Frank Gore, who has faced the Broncos as a member of San Francisco, Indianapolis and Buffalo (seven games, 135 rushes, 514 yards and two touchdowns). “He’s obviously unique,” Gase said. “The way he practices, the example he sets for other guys, his love for the game — it’s just great to be around.”
11. Not sure why the Broncos called up cornerback Kevin Toliver from the practice squad on Sunday. He didn’t play a snap on defense or special teams — Dotson was the only other Broncos player to not play a snap.
12. According to Spotrac, the Broncos and Jets are tied for third with 12 players on injured reserve behind San Francisco (14) and Seattle (13). The Broncos’ combined cap number for their guys on IR is a league-high $57,846,005. The Broncos and 49ers ($45,5447,199) are the only two teams with more than $28 million on IR.
13. Jurrell Casey’s Broncos career may consist of three games due to a torn biceps tendon. The Broncos can create $12.281 million in salary cap space by releasing Casey after the season.


thedenverpost--2020-10-01--Kiszla: Why is John Elway paying Melvin Gordon $8 million to be average, under-utilized running back

Kiszla: Why is John Elway paying Melvin Gordon $8 million to be average, under-utilized running back?

Eight million American dollars is way too much to pay for an average NFL running back .
Melvin Gordon must start earning his keep for the Broncos to maintain any sliver of hope in this already miserable season .
You want to remind me again why football operations director John Elway insulted Phillip Lindsay by refusing to reward a homegrown back with a richly deserved raise , giving the money instead to Gordon ?
Denver is on the road , playing the gosh-awful New York Jets , with quarterback Brett Rypien making his first NFL start and No .
1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee injury .
It ’ s your time to step up , Mr. Gordon .
“ We have to use the runs to help us get in the end zone .
We have to do a better job of running the ball throughout the game , especially early in the game , in my opinion , ” Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said .
Why would Elway pay Gordon the big , bell-cow bucks if Denver wasn ’ t going to ride him ?
The Broncos rank 29th out of 32 league teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and 30th in rushing attempts .
At 15.0 points per game , Denver is off to a slower early season start offensively than when either Case Keenum ( 20.3 points through three games in 2018 ) or Joe Flacco ( 15.3 through three games in 2019 ) at the controls as quarterback .
“ We ’ re not where we need to be , ” Denver guard Graham Glasgow said after a loss at Pittsburgh .
“ The reality of the situaiton is we are under-performing and under-achieving.
” Gordon has done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winless team .
He has failed to compensate for the absence of injured starting quarterback Drew Lock .
With 174 rushing yards , Gordon currently ranks 19th among league running backs .
Not awful .
But average is not what this banged-up , sputtering offense needs .
While touted as a dangerous passing target out of the backfield , Gordon ’ s one receiving touchdown for the Broncos was offset by a fumble after a catch against Tennessee .
That costly turnover set up the Titans for a 23-yard TD drive in what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We were told Gordon could gain the tough yards in situations where Lindsay is too small to push the pile .
But in the most crticially inept set of four downs by Denver ’ s offense to this point in 2020 , Gordon ’ s inability to punch the ball in from a single yard out contributed to a red-zone failure and embarrassing turnover on downs against Tennessee .
Here ’ s hoping Lindsay , listed as quesitonable to play against the Jets as he continues to recover from a foot injury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ juice to Denver , at least in small doses , during this Thursday night tilt .
At $ 8 million annually , Gordon is the 10th-highest paid back in the league .
He ’ s hasn ’ t been as efficient as Leonard Fournette , who signed a one-year , $ 2 million contract with Tampa Bay after being waived by Jacksonville .
Gordon insisted there was no pressure on him before turning nearly invisible during the home loss against the Bucs .
“ I want to be the best Melvin Gordon I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , if the 26 yards Gordon gained on a scant eight carries in that 28-10 loss is his best , coach Vic Fangio and the Broncos are in a heap of trouble .
Yes , three games in a Denver uniform is an extremely small sample size to make any conclusive judgment on Gordon .
But the Chargers let him walk after watching Gordon average four yards per carry only once in five pro seasons .
If the Broncos somehow lose to the gosh-awful Jets , it will be too late for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its season .
While football players are rich and famous , we all know they aren ’ t bigger heroes than firemen or kindergarten teachers .
So I don ’ t begrudge Gordon his two-year , $ 16 million deal with the Broncos , because that ’ s what Elway was willing to pay .
If Gordon can not perform like one of league ’ s premier backs , doesn ’ t it reflect poorly on Elway ’ s plan to rebuild a Denver roster with a shaky offensive line and a thin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t run for at least 100 yards against this hapless J-E-T-S mess , maybe he should hand over the rock and take a backseat to a younger back that has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and never lost a fumble in a regular-season game since joining the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2018 .
It would be one thing to make an $ 8 million mistake on Gordon at Lindsay ’ s expense .
Stuff happens .
But it ’ s a whole different deal if the Broncos are afraid to @ @ @

Eight million American dollars is way too much to pay for an average NFL running back.
Melvin Gordon must start earning his keep for the Broncos to maintain any sliver of hope in this already miserable season.
You want to remind me again why football operations director John Elway insulted Phillip Lindsay by refusing to reward a homegrown back with a richly deserved raise, giving the money instead to Gordon?
Denver is on the road, playing the gosh-awful New York Jets, with quarterback Brett Rypien making his first NFL start and No. 1 receiver Courtland Sutton sidelined with a season-ending knee injury.
It’s your time to step up, Mr. Gordon.
“We have to use the runs to help us get in the end zone. We have to do a better job of running the ball throughout the game, especially early in the game, in my opinion,” Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said.
Why would Elway pay Gordon the big, bell-cow bucks if Denver wasn’t going to ride him?
The Broncos rank 29th out of 32 league teams in rushing yards per game (84.3) and 30th in rushing attempts. At 15.0 points per game, Denver is off to a slower early season start offensively than when either Case Keenum (20.3 points through three games in 2018) or Joe Flacco (15.3 through three games in 2019) at the controls as quarterback.
“We’re not where we need to be,” Denver guard Graham Glasgow said after a loss at Pittsburgh. “The reality of the situation is we are under-performing and under-achieving.”
Gordon has done little to make a difference for a winless team. He has failed to compensate for the absence of injured starting quarterback Drew Lock. With 174 rushing yards, Gordon currently ranks 19th among league running backs. Not awful. But average is not what this banged-up, sputtering offense needs.
While touted as a dangerous passing target out of the backfield, Gordon’s one receiving touchdown for the Broncos was offset by a fumble after a catch against Tennessee. That costly turnover set up the Titans for a 23-yard TD drive in what proved to be a two-point Denver loss.
We were told Gordon could gain the tough yards in situations where Lindsay is too small to push the pile. But in the most crticially inept set of four downs by Denver’s offense to this point in 2020, Gordon’s inability to punch the ball in from a single yard out contributed to a red-zone failure and embarrassing turnover on downs against Tennessee.
Here’s hoping Lindsay, listed as quesitonable to play against the Jets as he continues to recover from a foot injury, can provide a much-needed jolt of juice to Denver, at least in small doses, during this Thursday night tilt.
At $8 million annually, Gordon is the 10th-highest paid back in the league. He’s hasn’t been as efficient as Leonard Fournette, who signed a one-year, $2 million contract with Tampa Bay after being waived by Jacksonville.
Gordon insisted there was no pressure on him before turning nearly invisible during the home loss against the Bucs. “I want to be the best Melvin Gordon I can be,” he claimed.
Well, if the 26 yards Gordon gained on a scant eight carries in that 28-10 loss is his best, coach Vic Fangio and the Broncos are in a heap of trouble.
Yes, three games in a Denver uniform is an extremely small sample size to make any conclusive judgment on Gordon. But the Chargers let him walk after watching Gordon average four yards per carry only once in five pro seasons. If the Broncos somehow lose to the gosh-awful Jets, it will be too late for Gordon to help an 0-4 team salvage its season.
While football players are rich and famous, we all know they aren’t bigger heroes than firemen or kindergarten teachers. So I don’t begrudge Gordon his two-year, $16 million deal with the Broncos, because that’s what Elway was willing to pay.
But here’s the deal.
If Gordon cannot perform like one of league’s premier backs, doesn’t it reflect poorly on Elway’s plan to rebuild a Denver roster with a shaky offensive line and a thin interior linebacking corps?
If Gordon can’t run for at least 100 yards against this hapless J-E-T-S mess, maybe he should hand over the rock and take a backseat to a younger back that has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and never lost a fumble in a regular-season game since joining the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
It would be one thing to make an $8 million mistake on Gordon at Lindsay’s expense. Stuff happens.
But it’s a whole different deal if the Broncos are afraid to admit it.


thedenverpost--2020-10-01--Silver: NBA still hoping to open next season in arenas

LAKE BUENA VISTA , Fla. — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reiterated Wednesday that the league ’ s hope is to begin next season with teams in their home arenas and with fans in the seats , though cautioned that there are still numerous unknowns to work through before any plan can be finalized .
Silver , in his annual state-of-the-league address before Game 1 of the NBA Finals , also said the protocols that allowed the league to get through a restart in a so-called bubble at Walt Disney World — such as strict adherence to mask-wearing and social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struck “ between public health and economic necessity.
” “ It ’ s certainly our goal , ” Silver said , referring to playing in arenas .
“ But it ’ s dependent on some additional advancements .
Rapid testing may be the key here.
” The NBA was the first major sports league to shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic on March 11 , and it took more than four months to come up with the plan to restart the season at Disney .
The league restarted with 22 franchises that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers — the last two left — are nearing the three-month mark in the bubble .
League and team revenues will take a huge hit this year , partly because about 15 % of the regular season was lost to the virus , partly because the 88 games that were played at Disney before the postseason and then the entire playoff run was played without fans buying tickets , food , drink and souvenirs in arenas .
“ I don ’ t have expectations of labor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are issues on the table that have to be negotiated , ” Silver said .
“ I think while no doubt there will be issues and difficult negotiations ahead , I think we ’ ll work them out as we always have.
” The league still hasn ’ t decided when free agency will start , what the salary cap will be for next season , what the tax line will be and other key details .
All of that will have to be worked out with the National Basketball Players Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to intensify on those matters once the NBA Finals are over .
“ I think we all understand the essential parameters , ” Silver said .
Michele Roberts , the executive director of the NBPA , said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday that “ either very simple or very complicated conversations are going to be had ” to work through the two primary issues — coming to grips with the lost revenue from this season , and how to best function in a world that is going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future .
Her hope is that the NBA and NBPA figure out a deal in November , which would allow for next season to begin sometime in early 2021 .
“ We don ’ t have to be frozen paralyzed by this virus , but we don ’ t have to enact a doomsday scenario , assuming that the virus has destroyed our game in ways that will not be repaired , ” Roberts said .
“ If we can sit down like adults , I think we can get a new deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of the season .
I don ’ t have any reason to doubt that we will be able to start in 2021 and have a full season.
” The NBA ’ s hope is to play most , if not all , of next season in arenas and before at least some fans .
A bubble or bubbles could happen , though it seems close to a worst-case scenario .
“ Do I want to do it again ?
Not if I can avoid it , ” said Roberts , who spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Those are my marching orders : Not if we can avoid it .
Now , having said that , the players want to make sure we can save our season again .
”

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reiterated Wednesday that the league’s hope is to begin next season with teams in their home arenas and with fans in the seats, though cautioned that there are still numerous unknowns to work through before any plan can be finalized.
Silver, in his annual state-of-the-league address before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, also said the protocols that allowed the league to get through a restart in a so-called bubble at Walt Disney World — such as strict adherence to mask-wearing and social distancing — proved that a balance can be struck “between public health and economic necessity.”
“It’s certainly our goal,” Silver said, referring to playing in arenas. “But it’s dependent on some additional advancements. Rapid testing may be the key here.”
The NBA was the first major sports league to shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic on March 11, and it took more than four months to come up with the plan to restart the season at Disney. The league restarted with 22 franchises that came to Disney in early July, and the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers — the last two left — are nearing the three-month mark in the bubble.
League and team revenues will take a huge hit this year, partly because about 15% of the regular season was lost to the virus, partly because the 88 games that were played at Disney before the postseason and then the entire playoff run was played without fans buying tickets, food, drink and souvenirs in arenas.
“I don’t have expectations of labor issues … there’s no doubt there are issues on the table that have to be negotiated,” Silver said. “I think while no doubt there will be issues and difficult negotiations ahead, I think we’ll work them out as we always have.”
The league still hasn’t decided when free agency will start, what the salary cap will be for next season, what the tax line will be and other key details. All of that will have to be worked out with the National Basketball Players Association, and Silver said he expects talks to intensify on those matters once the NBA Finals are over.
“I think we all understand the essential parameters,” Silver said.
Michele Roberts, the executive director of the NBPA, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday that “either very simple or very complicated conversations are going to be had” to work through the two primary issues — coming to grips with the lost revenue from this season, and how to best function in a world that is going to be dealing with the coronavirus for the foreseeable future.
Her hope is that the NBA and NBPA figure out a deal in November, which would allow for next season to begin sometime in early 2021.
“We don’t have to be frozen paralyzed by this virus, but we don’t have to enact a doomsday scenario, assuming that the virus has destroyed our game in ways that will not be repaired,” Roberts said. “If we can sit down like adults, I think we can get a new deal in November and we can announce the start of the season. I don’t have any reason to doubt that we will be able to start in 2021 and have a full season.”
The NBA’s hope is to play most, if not all, of next season in arenas and before at least some fans. A bubble or bubbles could happen, though it seems close to a worst-case scenario.
“Do I want to do it again? Not if I can avoid it,” said Roberts, who spent the entire restart in the bubble. “Those are my marching orders: Not if we can avoid it. Now, having said that, the players want to make sure we can save our season again.”


thedenverpost--2020-10-01--Fans to be allowed at World Series, NLCS in Arlington, Texas

NEW YORK — Fans can take themselves out to the ball game for the first time this season during the NL Championship Series and World Series at new Globe Life Field in Arlington , Texas .
Major League Baseball said Wednesday that approximately 11,500 tickets will be available for each game .
That is about 28 % of the 40,518-capacity , retractable-roof stadium of the Texas Rangers , which opened this year adjacent to old Globe Life Park , the team ’ s open-air home from 1994 through 2019 .
“ Any time there ’ s fans in the stands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of , this is a real game and it might raise everybody ’ s play , ” said Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw , who lives in the Dallas area during the offseason .
The World Series is being played at a neutral site for the first time in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
It has not been played at one stadium since the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Browns at Sportsman ’ s Park in 1944 .
Some of the seats will be included in presales for Texas Rangers season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday , and others are set aside for MLB and players .
MLB spokesman Matt Bourne said the vast majority are expected to be sold to fans .
Tickets are priced at $ 40-250 for the NLCS and $ 75-450 for the World Series , lower than in recent years , and 10,550 seats in the regular sections of the ballpark and 950 in suites will be sold in “ pods ” of four contiguous seats .
Tickets are all digital and will be sold for individual games rather than in series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by at least 6 feet and a checkerboard pattern will be used , with alternating rows of seats in the middle or at the ends .
Unsold seats will be tied back .
No seats will be sold in the first six rows within 20 feet of the field , dugouts or bullpen .
Fans will not be allowed to the lowest level , which is reserved for MLB ’ s tier one personnel , such as players and managers .
Masks are mandatory for fans except while they are eating or drinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parking will be cashless , and the team ’ s concessionaire , Delaware North , is planning wrapped items .
The NLCS is scheduled on seven straight days from Oct. 12-18 and the World Series from Oct. 20-28 , with traditional off days between Games 2 and 3 and Games 5 and 6 , if the Series goes that far .
The Division Series , League Championship Series and World Series all will be played at neutral sites because of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ It would be an adjustment , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said .
“ Teams that get to that situation and have fans , it ’ s going to be pretty cool.
” After drawing 65.5 million fans during the 2019 regular season , MLB played the pandemic-shortened 2020 regular season entirely without fans .
For the first time since spring training was interrupted on March 12 , club employees and player families were allowed to attend first-round playoff games this week .
While Texas is allowing up to 50 % capacity at venues , MLB did not anticipate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postseason games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles or Petco Park in San Diego , where AL playoff games are scheduled .
Globe Life Field has been the site of more than 50 graduations , but the Rangers played their home games in an empty ballpark .
” I feel like a 10-year-old boy coming down the stairs Christmas morning , and they ’ ve got all of the presents wrapped up , and I can ’ t open a present , ” Rangers co-chairman Ray Davis said .
“ That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excited about having the Division Series and League Championship and World Series here in our stadium .
At least we ’ ll get a chance to show it off nationally.
” At AT & T Stadium in the same complex , a socially distanced crowd of 21,708 was 27 % of 80,000-seat capacity for the Dallas Cowboys ’ win over Atlanta in their home opener on Sept. 20 .
The roof was closed , but large glass walls at both ends were open .
The Texas Department of Health State Services reported 5,335 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , its highest total since Aug. 25 .
MLB made the decision not to sell seats for the division series .
Gates for the LCS and World Series likely will open 90 minutes to two hours before first pitch .
” I would strongly recommend to Major League Baseball and I think they would concur that we try to play as many games as we can with the roof open , ” said Rob Matwick , the Rangers ’ executive vice president of business operations .
“ I do think it would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If we had storms , rain , obviously we would play with the roof closed , and that ’ s where the masks and distancing and good hygiene practices all come into play.
” Other than 1944 , the only times the World Series was held at one site came in 1921 and 1922 , when the New York Giants and Yankees both played home games at the Polo Grounds .
Yankee Stadium opened in 1923 .
AP Sports Writers Beth Harris and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report .

NEW YORK — Fans can take themselves out to the ball game for the first time this season during the NL Championship Series and World Series at new Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Major League Baseball said Wednesday that approximately 11,500 tickets will be available for each game. That is about 28% of the 40,518-capacity, retractable-roof stadium of the Texas Rangers, which opened this year adjacent to old Globe Life Park, the team’s open-air home from 1994 through 2019.
“Any time there’s fans in the stands there’s maybe a heightened sense of, this is a real game and it might raise everybody’s play,” said Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who lives in the Dallas area during the offseason.
The World Series is being played at a neutral site for the first time in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It has not been played at one stadium since the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Browns at Sportsman’s Park in 1944.
Some of the seats will be included in presales for Texas Rangers season ticket holders on Friday and registered users on Monday, and others are set aside for MLB and players. MLB spokesman Matt Bourne said the vast majority are expected to be sold to fans.
Tickets are priced at $40-250 for the NLCS and $75-450 for the World Series, lower than in recent years, and 10,550 seats in the regular sections of the ballpark and 950 in suites will be sold in “pods” of four contiguous seats. Tickets are all digital and will be sold for individual games rather than in series strips.
Each pod will be distanced by at least 6 feet and a checkerboard pattern will be used, with alternating rows of seats in the middle or at the ends. Unsold seats will be tied back.
No seats will be sold in the first six rows within 20 feet of the field, dugouts or bullpen. Fans will not be allowed to the lowest level, which is reserved for MLB’s tier one personnel, such as players and managers.
Masks are mandatory for fans except while they are eating or drinking at their ticketed seats. Concessions and parking will be cashless, and the team’s concessionaire, Delaware North, is planning wrapped items.
The NLCS is scheduled on seven straight days from Oct. 12-18 and the World Series from Oct. 20-28, with traditional off days between Games 2 and 3 and Games 5 and 6, if the Series goes that far. The Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series all will be played at neutral sites because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It would be an adjustment, but it would be so welcomed by everyone,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Teams that get to that situation and have fans, it’s going to be pretty cool.”
After drawing 65.5 million fans during the 2019 regular season, MLB played the pandemic-shortened 2020 regular season entirely without fans. For the first time since spring training was interrupted on March 12, club employees and player families were allowed to attend first-round playoff games this week.
While Texas is allowing up to 50% capacity at venues, MLB did not anticipate having government permission for fans to attend postseason games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles or Petco Park in San Diego, where AL playoff games are scheduled.
Globe Life Field has been the site of more than 50 graduations, but the Rangers played their home games in an empty ballpark.
”I feel like a 10-year-old boy coming down the stairs Christmas morning, and they’ve got all of the presents wrapped up, and I can’t open a present,” Rangers co-chairman Ray Davis said. “That’s why, frankly, I’m excited about having the Division Series and League Championship and World Series here in our stadium. At least we’ll get a chance to show it off nationally.”
At AT&T Stadium in the same complex, a socially distanced crowd of 21,708 was 27% of 80,000-seat capacity for the Dallas Cowboys’ win over Atlanta in their home opener on Sept. 20. The roof was closed, but large glass walls at both ends were open.
The Texas Department of Health State Services reported 5,335 new coronavirus cases in the state Wednesday, its highest total since Aug. 25.
MLB made the decision not to sell seats for the division series. Gates for the LCS and World Series likely will open 90 minutes to two hours before first pitch.
”I would strongly recommend to Major League Baseball and I think they would concur that we try to play as many games as we can with the roof open,” said Rob Matwick, the Rangers’ executive vice president of business operations. “I do think it would be safer and better for air circulation. If we had storms, rain, obviously we would play with the roof closed, and that’s where the masks and distancing and good hygiene practices all come into play.”
Other than 1944, the only times the World Series was held at one site came in 1921 and 1922, when the New York Giants and Yankees both played home games at the Polo Grounds. Yankee Stadium opened in 1923.
___
AP Sports Writers Beth Harris and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.


thedenverpost--2020-10-01--Driver charged with vehicular homicide DUI for Arvada crash

A 32-year-old man has been charged with vehicular homicide DUI for a two-vehicle traffic crash in Arvada .
Alan Russell @ @ @ @ @ with child abuse causing serious injury , vehicular assault and driving without a license among @ @ @ @ @ a Jefferson County District Attorney ’ s Office news release .
On July 26 , @ @ @ @ @ Pontiac eastbound in the westbound lane of Oberon Road , according to the release .
@ @ @ @ @ Toyota 4Runner and an Arvada police officer witnesses the crash .
Griffin Korosec , 41 @ @ @ @ @ Pontiac died at the scene .
A family of four , two adults and two @ @ @ @ @ 4Runner were injured .
An arrest warrant was issued for Brazulis on Sept. 18 and @ @ @ @ @ Junction on Sept. 22 , the release said .
He is being held at the @ @ @ @ @ $ 500,000 bond .
He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday .

A 32-year-old man has been charged with vehicular homicide DUI for a two-vehicle traffic crash in Arvada.
Alan Russell Brazulis has also been charged with child abuse causing serious injury, vehicular assault and driving without a license among other charges, according to a Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office news release.
On July 26, Brazulis was driving a white Pontiac eastbound in the westbound lane of Oberon Road, according to the release. The Pontiac collided with a Toyota 4Runner and an Arvada police officer witnesses the crash.
Griffin Korosec, 41, a passenger in the Pontiac died at the scene. A family of four, two adults and two young children, in the 4Runner were injured.
An arrest warrant was issued for Brazulis on Sept. 18 and he was arrested in Grand Junction on Sept. 22, the release said. He is being held at the Jefferson County Jail on a $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Rockies’ “big three” in rotation a solid building block for 2021 season

Following his final start of the season , German Márquez was asked to assess the Rockies ’ starting rotation heading into 2021 .
He obliged with one of the best and sunniest quotes of the season .
“ I trust these guys , ” the right-hander said .
“ Next year is going to be amazing.
” That remains to be seen , but there are some valid reasons for Márquez ’ s bright optimism .
Had it not been for left-hander Kyle Freeland ’ s poor outing in the season finale at Arizona , the Rockies would have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Marquez ( 3.75 ) and Freeland ( 4.33 ) — with sub-4.00 ERAs .
Colorado ’ s 2013 team also accomplished that rare feat .
“ That ’ s a good number — under 4.00 — when you play half those games in our ballpark , ” manager Bud Black said .
“ I ’ m really proud of our guys .
They ’ ve got a lot of determination.
” Marquez ’ s ERA would have even lower had it not been for one blowup game vs. Houston .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , going 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA .
Black also points to right-hander Jon Gray — who had an up-and-down season and posted a 6.69 ERA before his year was cut short by a strained shoulder — as part of a solid rotation core for next season .
“ The three guys at the top , and if you bring Jon back healthy — we know what Jon can do — you have four guys we feel good about every night , ” Black said .
Black noted that Rockies starters logged a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he ’ s right , with their 320 1/3 inning ranking third in the majors .
There were plenty of ugly starts , to be sure , but Colorado ’ s 4.83 ERA ranked as the 10th best in franchise history .
Senzatela , Marquez ( 3.75 ) and Freeland ( 4.33 ) posted 24 quality starts , a very good number for the shortened season .
Senzatela and Freeland both rebounded from bad 2019 seasons by expanding their repertoire and concentrating on better pitch command .
For Freeland , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitch .
But the challenge for the Rockies , and all big-league teams for that matter , is establishing quality depth for a long season .
Outside of the big three , Rockies starters had a 7.23 ERA .
Right-handers Chi Chi Gonzalez ( 6.86 ) or Ryan Castellani ( 5.82 ERA ) are penciled in as the fifth starter for next season , though rookie left-hander Ryan Rolison will likely be in the mix .
Taken as a whole , Colorado ranked in the middle of the pack regarding walks allowed ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) but at the bottom for strikeouts ( 6.07 , 30th ) .
But the Rockies made up for the lack of strikeouts by inducing a lot of groundballs , an excellent strategy for surviving Coors Field .
The starters ’ 46.3 groundball percentage ranked four-most in the majors .
Freeland ’ s 51 groundball percentage shows how much he depends on getting hitters out by contact .
“ I think I love ( groundballs ) more than getting strikeouts , ” Freeland said .
“ It ’ s the old two-for-one special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from ‘ Bull Durham ’ : ‘ Strikeouts are fascist , groundballs are more democratic.
’ You get more people involved .
That ’ s always stuck with me .
I love getting double-play groundballs .
”

Following his final start of the season, German Márquez was asked to assess the Rockies’ starting rotation heading into 2021. He obliged with one of the best and sunniest quotes of the season.
“I trust these guys,” the right-hander said. “Next year is going to be amazing.”
That remains to be seen, but there are some valid reasons for Márquez’s bright optimism. Had it not been for left-hander Kyle Freeland’s poor outing in the season finale at Arizona, the Rockies would have had three starters — Antonio Senzatela (3.44), Marquez (3.75) and Freeland (4.33) — with sub-4.00 ERAs. Colorado’s 2013 team also accomplished that rare feat.
“That’s a good number — under 4.00 — when you play half those games in our ballpark,” manager Bud Black said. “I’m really proud of our guys. They’ve got a lot of determination.”
Marquez’s ERA would have even lower had it not been for one blowup game vs. Houston. He pitched remarkably well outside of Coors Field, going 3-2 with a 2.06 ERA.
Black also points to right-hander Jon Gray — who had an up-and-down season and posted a 6.69 ERA before his year was cut short by a strained shoulder — as part of a solid rotation core for next season.
“The three guys at the top, and if you bring Jon back healthy — we know what Jon can do — you have four guys we feel good about every night,” Black said.
Black noted that Rockies starters logged a lot of innings in the 60-game season, and he’s right, with their 320 1/3 inning ranking third in the majors. There were plenty of ugly starts, to be sure, but Colorado’s 4.83 ERA ranked as the 10th best in franchise history. Senzatela, Marquez (3.75) and Freeland (4.33) posted 24 quality starts, a very good number for the shortened season.
Senzatela and Freeland both rebounded from bad 2019 seasons by expanding their repertoire and concentrating on better pitch command. For Freeland, especially, the changeup became a reliable go-to pitch.
But the challenge for the Rockies, and all big-league teams for that matter, is establishing quality depth for a long season. Outside of the big three, Rockies starters had a 7.23 ERA.
Right-handers Chi Chi Gonzalez (6.86) or Ryan Castellani (5.82 ERA) are penciled in as the fifth starter for next season, though rookie left-hander Ryan Rolison will likely be in the mix.
Taken as a whole, Colorado ranked in the middle of the pack regarding walks allowed (3.5 walks per nine innings, 17th) but at the bottom for strikeouts (6.07, 30th).
But the Rockies made up for the lack of strikeouts by inducing a lot of groundballs, an excellent strategy for surviving Coors Field. The starters’ 46.3 groundball percentage ranked four-most in the majors. Freeland’s 51 groundball percentage shows how much he depends on getting hitters out by contact.
“I think I love (groundballs) more than getting strikeouts,” Freeland said. “It’s the old two-for-one special, and as the old saying goes from ‘Bull Durham’: ‘Strikeouts are fascist, groundballs are more democratic.’ You get more people involved. That’s always stuck with me. I love getting double-play groundballs.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--CSU Rams football program reports 22 positive coronavirus tests

The CSU Rams ’ football team has resumed practicing .
But 22 of those players have tested positive for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ released by the university Wednesday .
The 22 football positives were among 36 reported by @ @ @ @ @ of September , a list that includes seven from the women ’ s swimming and @ @ @ @ @ volleyball and two each from women ’ s basketball and soccer .
There were eight @ @ @ @ @ student-athletes as of Wednesday afternoon .
The Rams ’ football program is practicing while under @ @ @ @ @ university protocols regarding students , staff and coronavirus , and for accusations of abusive and @ @ @ @ @ .
A CSU spokesperson said football coach Steve Addazio , who was hired last December @ @ @ @ @ will not be fielding questions from media until after the investigation is complete .
No @ @ @ @ @ been announced .
The Rams are tentatively slated to open an abbreviated , eight-game football @ @ @ @

The CSU Rams’ football team has resumed practicing. According to a CSU release, 22 of those players have tested positive for COVID-19 since the summer, the university announced Wednesday.
The 22 football positives were among 36 reported by CSU on the last day of September, a list that includes seven from the women’s swimming and diving team, three from volleyball and two each from women’s basketball and soccer.
There were eight active COVID-19 cases among CSU student-athletes as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Rams’ football program is practicing while under investigation for alleged violations of university protocols regarding students, staff and coronavirus, and for accusations of abusive and racist language within the program.
A CSU spokesperson said football coach Steve Addazio, who was hired last December to replace Mike Bobo, will not be fielding questions from media until after the investigation is complete. No timetable for that completion has been announced.
The Rams are tentatively slated to open an abbreviated, eight-game football season Oct. 24.


thedenverpost--2020-09-30--Broncos podcast: Previewing Denver’s matchup against the New York Jets in quarterback Brett Rypien’s

Broncos podcast: Previewing Denver’s matchup against the New York Jets in quarterback Brett Rypien’s first NFL start

They are 0-3 for the second consecutive year .
They have more than $ 50 million in salary cap space @ @ @ @ @ are starting their third quarterback ( Brett Rypien ) in as many weeks .
They @ @ @ @ @ at defensive end -- he was probably fifth or sixth on the depth chart during @ @

In this edition of the 1st-and-Orange podcast sponsored by SportsBetting.com, Denver Post beat writers Kyle Newman and Ryan O’Halloran preview the Broncos’ Thursday Night Football showdown against the New York Jets.
Why did coach Vic Fangio decide to give quarterback Brett Rypien his first NFL start? With right tackle Elijah Wilkinson out for the season with a leg injury, can veteran Demar Dotson bring stability to a reeling offensive line? And what should give Broncos fans hope amid the winless start? These questions, and more, are addressed in a packed episode.
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thedenverpost--2020-09-30--DU suspends 38 swimming/diving student athletes for attending large off-campus party

The University of Denver suspended 38 men ’ s and women ’ s swimming and diving athletes for recently attending a large off-campus party , in violation of local and state health restrictions as well as university policies addressing the spread of COVID-19 .
All athletes will be forbidden to participate in team activities through the rest of the fall quarter and go through the “ Student Rights and Responsibilities ( SRR ) process for disciplinary action , which may include interim academic suspension for the fall quarter pending the outcome of the SRR process , ” the school stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members signed by chancellor Jeremy Haefner and athletics chancellor Karlton Creech .
The NCAA swimming and diving season is delayed to January because of COVID-19 , and it could be pushed back further .
DU “ is deeply committed to protecting the health and safety of this community , and Denver broadly , ” the letter stated .
As a result of the party , the university will require all 38 student-athletes to retest for the coronavirus and will be under “ location restrictions ” until negative test results are received , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings to 10 people , with all who attend required to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing .
“ We understand that what we are asking all of our students to do — to change how they socialize and connect with their peers — is difficult , ” the chancellors wrote .
“ The realities of the COVID-19 pandemic are putting significant pressure on all of us .
We also believe our students can rise to this challenge the way generations of young people have risen in the past to the unique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are proud that the vast majority of our students are meeting this challenge by following the protocols and still having a meaningful social experience in a face-to-face manner.
” DU has previously reported three outbreaks — one involving a residence hall , another with the gymnastics team and at the Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness .

The University of Denver suspended 38 men’s and women’s swimming and diving athletes for recently attending a large off-campus party, in violation of local and state health restrictions as well as university policies addressing the spread of COVID-19.
All athletes will be forbidden to participate in team activities through the rest of the fall quarter and go through the “Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) process for disciplinary action, which may include interim academic suspension for the fall quarter pending the outcome of the SRR process,” the school stated in a letter sent to DU community members signed by chancellor Jeremy Haefner and athletics chancellor Karlton Creech.
The NCAA swimming and diving season is delayed to January because of COVID-19, and it could be pushed back further.
DU “is deeply committed to protecting the health and safety of this community, and Denver broadly,” the letter stated. As a result of the party, the university will require all 38 student-athletes to retest for the coronavirus and will be under “location restrictions” until negative test results are received, “and possibly longer.”
DU has restricted gatherings to 10 people, with all who attend required to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing.
“We understand that what we are asking all of our students to do — to change how they socialize and connect with their peers — is difficult,” the chancellors wrote. “The realities of the COVID-19 pandemic are putting significant pressure on all of us. We also believe our students can rise to this challenge the way generations of young people have risen in the past to the unique challenges of their own time. Indeed, we are proud that the vast majority of our students are meeting this challenge by following the protocols and still having a meaningful social experience in a face-to-face manner.”
DU has previously reported three outbreaks — one involving a residence hall, another with the gymnastics team and at the Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness.