NLN EXCLUSIVE

Three weeks into the 2011 PEBA season, the Borealis are off to a quick start with a 15-3 record.  I sat down with one of the integral members of the Aurora family: Chris Rodriguez, VP of Baseball Operations and son of the former owner and PEBA commissioner John Rodriguez, Sr.  With the death of his father as Spring Training closed, the shocking revelations regarding the inheritance (or lack thereof) of the team, and subsequent sale of the team to Michael Topham and Golden Entertainment, I wanted to catch up with the architect of this franchise to get his feelings about its future and his role with the team.

RD: Chris, I want to thank you for joining me and giving of your time despite your busy schedule.

CR: (looking down at his hands, fumbling with a water bottle) Yeah, sometimes you’ve just got to make time for the little things, regardless of how unpleasant they may be.

RD: I’d like to pass on my condolences on your fathers passing.  Having worked with him over the years, he was a great man and he did great things for the league.  I’m sure we will all miss his guidance, fairness and level-headedness as the years pass.

CR: Hmmph… old man got what he deserved.  He didn’t like me; I didn’t like him.  We worked well together, we built this franchise into the powerhouse it is, but… that’s pretty much it.  I’d ask you to pardon my bluntness, but that’s the truth and I don’t need anyone’s sympathy, nor do I need to justify my feelings.

RD: Wow, that sounds like some deep-seated resentment Chris.  You father has given you, and our nation, a lot…

CR: GIVEN ME? He gave my team away!  MY TEAM to the Tophams!  He TOOK my team out of Evanston!  We had the Chicago market, the St. Louis market and the Milwaukee market.  We stood to make a killing!  He, my brother, and that dumb bimbo of a wife ruined it!

RD: Chris… now Chris, in all fairness, you are still with the team in the same capacity as before.

CR: Gee… thanks Dad.  Yes, I have the same title.  The old man got Topham to keep me on in that capacity, but the same capacity? No.  Who’s making the calls?  Who’s building the team?  A 17-year-old punk who plays tennis! He doesn’t even play baseball.

RD: Well, I’m not sure that it’s relevant that he’s a tennis player, but he has stepped in and made some astute moves.

CR: Astute? He traded away a very solid backup catcher, leaving us with an untested 26-year-old minor leaguer who’s hitting a buck-25, and a serviceable MR who’s done a great job for us in the past.  That’s a good move?  New Orleans scalped the kid.

RD: Salgardo is hitting .250 in a starter’s role and had no future with the Borealis, and Thomas has an ERA over 8 thus far, Chris.  Don’t you think the improved draft position in the 2^nd and 5^th rounds was worth it?

CR: It weakened our depth as a team.  Then he trades Jorge Coreto to Reno, and he’s hitting .329 with 3 HR.  Tell me that, with Chris Weaver’s injury, you don’t wish we had that bat!  For what?  The crapshoot that is the draft?  Reno robbed us!

RD: Chris, with the depth Aurora has in the outfield, don’t you really think that the improved status in the draft has been valuable?  It sounds like you have no intention of giving any credit where credit is due.

CR: And the coup de grâce: He signs some 17-year-old kid from
Australia to a MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT! Come on.  What are they, daycare mates?

RD: Come on Chris, really… that was Will Topham’s first move and my understanding is it was a small glitch in how PEBA contracts are doled out.  Some small box you have to check at the bottom of the contract.  From what I understand, the kid is opening at class-A to get playing time before short season-A begins and has a world of talent.  This looks like it could potentially be quite a steal.

CR: Whatever.  He’s destroying my team!

RD: Well, don’t you still hold some interest in the team?  I understand that Golden does not own 100% of the team.

CR: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

RD: I just have heard things… gee, if you’re so upset about your role, why don’t you say something?  Sit down with Mr. Topham and discuss your role with the team?  He seems a fair man.

CR: Why?  That pansy-ass, he’s just like my father.  You heard him… “Family first, it’s the ‘Golden Way’.”  Just like dad.  And what does the old man do?  Screw me.

RD: (chuckling) Well then, why don’t you challenge him to a duel?  (snickers) I don’t know… play him in a game of… I don’t know… how about… (snort) Connect Four for the team or for an improved role.  You seem pretty resentful about the whole deal.

CR: And you seem pretty chummy about the Tophams and unsympathetic to the remaining Rodriguez member of the organization.  I find your flippant manner about the team offensive.  Play that punk for the team?  Still own a piece?  Clearly I misread you, Ray, and that’s unfortunate.

RD: Chris, that’s not fair.  I think you’ve taken this a little too personal and underestimate your role with the team.  Let’s move on.  Let me ask you about the injuries to John Roach and Chris Weaver.  What are your thoughts about the stories about how they got injured?  Do you…

CR: I’m out of here.  I’m not going to sit here with you and act as if nothing’s wrong.  Clearly you do not have Aurora’s best interests in mind.  I’m not sure I can maintain the relationship I have with NLN anymore.

And with that, Chris Rodriguez stands up, angrily grabs his water bottle and storms out of the Aurora Media Office, ending our interview by slamming the door in his wake.  I must say to our faithful readers that this transcript does not do justice to the demeanor that Chris Rodriguez displayed throughout the interview.  I find him to be quite angry, sullen and spiteful.  I wonder how much longer he will last in Colorado without a serious change in attitude.  The changing of the guard in Aurora may be 100% complete sooner than anyone expected.