Monfort promotion piles on poor Rockies season

The big picture: Monfort, son of Rockies owner Dick Monfort, is now serving as executive vice president and effectively replacing president and CEO Greg Feasel.

• The promotion ignited calls of nepotism after it was announced June 26.

Context: Walker Monfort in a statement said his goal is to "put our club in position to compete for a championship" — an optimistic claim for a franchise that had yet to win 20 games four months into the season.

• Among his first major announcements last week was inking a deal with Denver-based York Space Systems for a new jersey patch.

Yes, but: Most fans aren't buying that the front office shakeup will make a difference.

• "Born on third base, can Walker...find [his] way home, much less to first place in the National League West? Don't bet on it," wrote The Gazette's Mark Kiszla.
• "They need to repo the franchise, not a nepo hire," Denver Post columnist Troy Renck wrote.

What they're saying: "We're frustrated as well … this is a sport, that it's a challenge year after year, but we know we can be better," Walker Monfort told 9News in an interview.

• He added that the calls of nepotism motivate him.

State of play: Sitting in dead last in their division, the Rockies are on pace to lose 100-plus games for the third consecutive season, and on track for the most abysmal modern record in MLB history.

Worth noting: The team boasts a few bright spots, including winning a series last month and ranking 15th in the league for average attendance at Coors Field, per ESPN.

The bottom line: With little to celebrate on the field, the most dedicated Rockies fans face a long and miserable summer.