This one is going to be a bit different.
See, the MLB regular season is just about over, and the Colorado Rockies will once again be absent from the postseason. Not only that, but they’ve had what’s been a largely abysmal season, one that’s featured so many lopsided losses and uneven, uncompetitive games. Some will doubtless view Game 162 as a relief — a break from the monotony of near-daily L’s.
Shoot, there are probably more than a few players themselves that will be all too eager to put a stamp on this lackluster campaign.
And yet, it fills me with melancholy.
See, as bad as the team’s record is, I’m always sad to call the season over. Despite all the negativity that often surrounds this franchise, the Rockies still have their diehard supporters that love to watch them compete, and I count myself among their number. It’s not easy, no sir, but our team is ours, and it’s bittersweet once the offseason takes them away from us for another long winter offseason.
This time around, the offseason will be that much more sentimental for me on a personal level because it will mark the end of my five-year tenure as a member of Purple Row’s writing staff. I’m by no means a lifer — look at my compatriots Renee Dechert, Sam Bradfield, Adam Peterson, and Russ Oates, who have been going strong since the site’s halcyon days — but I’ve seen my name attached to over 450 bylines in my time here. It’s been a fun time.
Life obligations and other artistic pursuits no longer allow me to continue to devote the time I feel is necessary to providing the top-notch research that I believe a news site of this caliber deserves (and yes, that does include some of my more off-the-wall pieces), and I’ve thusly made the decision to give my spot up to someone that can give this community the attention that it deserves.
My leaving isn’t the point of this Rockpile though; it’s as the title suggests. I wanted to take time, in this final piece, to opine about the role that this website holds in the larger ecosystem of sports journalism.
See, I’m fairly bitter about the state of sports, in general.
Growing up, I was enraptured by the stories and angles displayed by the shows Around the Horn and Pardon the Interruption. That one-hour afternoon block on ESPN was where my love of journalism was born — the way pundits such as Michael Wilbon, Woody Paige, Kevin Blackistone, and Michael Kornheiser laid out their opinions with a beautiful marriage of statistics and interpretations was masterful. I knew I wanted to do something like that when I grew up.
Purple Row is, in my humble opinion, one of the few islands amongst an ever-expanding sea of noise that still values those concepts. You may not love everything the site puts out (as my last few articles illustrate), but everything is based in statistics and presented in such a way as to try to convince the reader to see our side. Evan, Skyler, Joelle and myself don’t always agree on certain topics, but each of us found a way to passionately lay out our perspective in a respectful, meaningful manner. If nothing else, I’m proud of that.
So why am I bitter? Well, in what I’m sure some will interpret as an “old man yells at cloud” scenario, I feel that that kind of fact-based journalism is something that’s increasingly hard to find in the world of athletics.
I want you to think of who you believe is the most popular sports pundit right now. Actually, think of the top five. Don’t name them here, but consider if they show the following behaviors.
Often make baseless claims about a player’s personal life or mental state?Use pejoratives to describe a player’s performance such as “loser,” “bum,” “head case,” or “bust?”Seemingly say something outlandish seemingly for the sole purpose of going viral with a quick social media clip?
Unfortunately, many who read this will have different people in their heads as they run through those questions, and that’s my issue. Far be it from me to name a specific member of the media — god knows they’re far more rich, popular, and relevant than I’ll ever have a hope of being — but it’s a shame that that’s seemingly the norm for the sports journalism scene today.
The average American has so many different options with which to consume their media, and sports is no different. It’s a shame, though, that so many get most of their consumption through short clips and these “hot take” talk shows that merely exist to incite strong opinion without any real journalistic integrity present. Am I saying that long-form articles such as SBN’s are exempt from these ailments? Of course not, but if nothing else, it takes a whole lot more brain power to write a 1000-word essay with that mentality, rather than hopping in front of a camera and saying “LeBron James is overrated.”
To be clear, I’m not railing against YouTube and TikTok as though they’re not legitimate sources of sports content. Creators such as Jon Bois, Kofie, JokicJoestar, and the members of Secret Base create some of my favorite video content that’s both informative and entertaining. I simply feel that the Art of the Article ™ is becoming lost as more people simply seek out whatever quick ten-second clip will get them that top trending spot on X.
We’re lucky that Colorado has so many writers that hold those truths close. The Rockies may be bad, but their coverage sure isn’t.
Patrick Saunders, Thomas Harding, Patrick Lyons, Christian Saez, Kevin Henry — you may not always agree with their opinions, but each of these people are journalists, seeking to explain, detail, and break down the facts surrounding your favorite baseball team. I hold the opinion that Denver’s baseball journalism “scene” is fantastic, and that each of these wordsmiths should be valued for their contributions to the local sports landscape.
Call me biased, but I also consider my fellow members of Purple Row’s staff to be right there with them. Every member of the team, including those that run social media and don’t necessarily write articles themselves (hi Paul!) have a way of expressing themselves with their own voice while still maintaining the values that I personally consider crucial to proper, true sports coverage.
Purple Row’s greatest asset, though — even more than the pieces themselves — is the community. This website was founded on the idea of being the premier destination for Rockies fans to chat, discuss, and — far too often — mourn the team together. Even with the team’s recent ineptitude (more so than usual), and even with the rise of social media as a destination for sports content, you’re still here. You’re still commenting every day on our Rockpiles, reacting to roster updates, and hanging out in the game threads. That’s not nothing, I promise you.
I said a bit ago that our articles try to convince you of something using facts and statistics, and most do. This is, obviously, not one of those. I’m not trying to tell you that you should stop watching TikTok, or that long-form coverage is inherently best. More than anything, I just want to extend my gratitude to you, the fans, for continuing to keep the light of legitimate, genuine journalism alive.
I hope that ESPN and the other larger sports media entities will one day move away from reactionary, hot take-based content and return to the form of journalism that I fell in love with years ago.
In the meantime, keep seeking the sports content that will not only make you feel good, but make you feel smarter. Don’t go looking for a video to prove you right; find an article or paper or video essay that will make you more knowledgeable. And of course, keep making friends along the way.
If Purple Row has been that for you, I guess we’re doing something right.
Here’s each team’s top Arizona Fall League prospect | MLB.com
I mean, whatever works, right?
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