An Open Letter from Mark Attanasio

[SeriesFinale]

Just got this in my email...some platitudes, but I appreciate his effort. He does ignore a few elephants in the room, but it probably wasn't the forum for them anyway:

October 4, 2007

 

Dear Brewer Fans,

 

Thank you for your help in making the 2007 season a winning one in so many ways. When I left Miller Park after Sunday's final game and victory, I felt very encouraged by the direction and effort of our team. With young players in important frontline roles, we were able to go 16-12 during September in a very tight pennant race. Even having been eliminated from post-season play after the 160th game last Friday, our team played hard all weekend, staging two dramatic come-from-behind wins against a club still fighting for a playoff berth. I believe that this type of effort throughout the organization is what helped make the Brewers one of MLB's most compelling success stories this season--on the field, in the community, and on the business side.

 

Like you, I am disappointed that we did not make the playoffs after being in or tied for first place in our division for most of the season. However, we won 83 games, ending a 15-year period during which the outcome of our games at the end of the season did not much matter. I hope you take pride, as I do, in our improvement, which began before my ownership group purchased the club three years ago. As I traveled with the team, I heard people in baseball as well as the press say that they believe the Brewers are on the rise and are doing an excellent job of building a team that will be a consistent contender in the foreseeable future. While this is great to hear, we will not rest on these laurels. I assure you that a winning season is not our ultimate objective. It is only the first of a series of goals we have for our team.

 

You, the fans, set several records that are enabling us to move forward. With a franchise record 31 sellouts this season, our attendance increased by over 500,000 to almost 2.9 million as you cheered the Brewers on to the best home record in the National League (51-30). On FSN Wisconsin, the Brewers were the top-rated prime time show 40 times, and during a game against the Astros in mid-September, one in eight homes across the state was watching the team--a remarkable number in this era of 100-plus channels on cable, satellite television, and the Internet. You also helped send four members of the team to the All-Star Game in San Francisco--Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Ben Sheets, and Francisco Cordero--for the first time since 1983.

 

One hundred and sixty-two games played in 182 days is a long season, and ours was filled with many outstanding performances. There was MVP candidate Prince Fielder setting a Major League record by becoming the youngest player to hit 50 home runs in a season, eclipsing baseball legend Willie Mays; Rookie of the Year candidate Ryan Braun rewriting the rookie record books for slugging percentage while hitting the fifth most homers by a rookie in NL history, despite being called up in late May; and the Brewers setting a Major League record by starting a game with three consecutive home runs as part of our 231 homers--the most in MLB this season.

 

On behalf of everyone in the Brewers organization, please accept our deep gratitude and appreciation. Also know that we are firmly committed to doing better in all aspects--performing on the field, entertaining and serving you at Miller Park, and serving you in the community. For us, there is no off-season. We now focus on taking steps to continue to improve the club so that in the future, baseball will be played in Milwaukee in October.

 

Our heartfelt thanks for your ongoing support and loyalty. We look forward to seeing you in a few short months.

 

Go Brewers!

[bklynbrewcrew]

Nothing like a polyanna form letter to settle the masses.

[sweepscc]

It was printed on the back page of the MJS this morning. Pretty cool, even if it is half fueled by marketing.

[SeriesFinale]

Nothing like a polyanna form letter to settle the masses.

1. He's a businessman bottom line, he's got a product to sell.

 

2. He's done what I believe has been quite a good job so far, and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

3. A mass email to the fans is not really the forum to call out or defend the manager or individual players--I'd think it pretty classless if he did that.

[tomwopat]

He didn't mention Yost, this has to mean he's going to be canned.

[Brian the Automator]

Nothing like a polyanna form letter to settle the masses.

Seriously, what did you expect? Or are you just venting?

 

[Invader3K]

I thought it was a nice letter. Basically what I expected him to say, but it was nice to hear from the owner.

[Bring Back the Stein]

Some happy pablum from Attanasio or veiled scorn from Laurel Prieb? Give me Mr. Attanasio every time.

[TheBwaz]

"I would also like to let you know we will be eliminating the 10 game packs, the 20 game season ticket (you better get a 40), and raIsing prices 15%"

 

Am I being pessimistic? He is a businessman looking to maximixe profit streams...

[Invader3K]

I doubt they'll make any really drastic changes to the ticket plans. I'm sure there will be some price increases, maybe some more "marquee games", but I doubt they're going to make any severe changes.

[joepepsi]

Wow, I can't believe the anger here. Normally I am the biggest cynic around, but I found the letter sincere, upbeat, thankful, and promising better effort next year.

 

Grow up little boys. Other owners don't even bother to address their fans.

[AJAY]

Very classy letter by Mark Attanasio. I personally appreciate stuff like that.

[1992casey]

Wow, I can't believe the anger here.

 

I see one post that's over-the-top angry/cynical and one post that might be neutral. I sure wouldn't characterize the whole thread as angry.

 

Grow up little boys.

 

That's over-the-top condescension. Check out the rules about name-calling directed toward other members.

[JJHardy7]

I think it's a pretty classy move. I did like the fact that he did some baseball history in there. His product is selling well and he just wanted to thank the customers.

[TooLiveBrew]

Very classy letter by Mark Attanasio. I personally appreciate stuff like that.

 

Echoed.

[brewizard]

Maybe it is me, but I thought the tone in here was angry too. Hmm. I personally like the letter by Mark A. What is he going to do? Burn down his franchise because we're all disappointed the Brewers fell to 2nd place and missed the playoffs?

 

No way.

 

Mark A is all business, yes. From my POV, he is a dedicated owner who knows that it is good for business to communicate with the fans. He's the guy who is financially responsible for putting a winning team on the field for the first time in years. He could be a jerk if he wanted. But no. He's sensitive.

 

I really think HOW the season went down is largely to blame for so much fan anger. Yes, the Brewers were in 1st place and had a huge lead and blew it. But they won 83 games this year. The Cardinals won 83 games last year. The Brewers were good enough to contend for the division crown this year. That was Mark Attanasio's goal and responsibility. He met it in every way.

 

Now, it turned out that there was a ripple effect caused by a massive hole in our starting rotation, which obliterated our bullpen, which caused the Brewers to skid into 2nd place and ultimately stay there. Some here argue that it was Ned's fault. Others say the defense caused the starting rotation to falter, which led to the bullpen collapse. And so on and so forth.

 

Truth is, the Brewers really were 'this close' to making the playoffs. It was exciting, frustrating and ultimately heartbreaking.

 

But I'll take a season like this any time over a repeat of last year, which was just plain frustrating and heartbreaking.

 

And hey! We're not the Mets.

 

So, thank you straight back to Mark Attansio!

[BrewCrewForever]

Very classy letter by Mark Attanasio. I personally appreciate stuff like that.

I couldn't agree with you more. Mark has been nothing but class to us the fans and his team since buying the team. It is so nice to have a great owner and baseball fan like Mark A running this team. I think this letter was great and it has me very excited for next season. Thanks Mr. Attanasio. Oh and I really appreciate the two $10 food vouchers I have to use next season.

[molitor fan]

Totally agree with joe pepsi, who has been one of the best posters on this site for the last five years. And as brewcrewin2004 stated, Mark A has been nothing but class since he has purchased the club.

[dadofandrew]

If you were to build a perfect owner using molecular science, you would not be able to build a better owner. He always says and does the right thing, and talks just like he's the dairy dept. manager down at the local grocery. Anyone with a problem with Mark A is a grumpy gus who is unhappy with everything.

[billyhallfan]

I went to the Brewers game on Sep. 29th, and went early for autographs at the Phister downtown to get Padres. Anyway, Mark walked out and we had a conversation. He was very freindly and I said thanks for all he has done, and I said it was a nice season, to bad we fell a little short. And he said, ya, well, we'll do better next year. Then as he was walking away, I said, Hey Mark, you need to get us Adam Dunn.

 

He then explained that they tried to at the trade deadline, but the Reds didn't want to because they were afraid that the Brewers would re-sign Dunn and he would be in the division. He said that they offered a really big package.

 

I have had nothing but good experiences with Mark A., and I think he has done a great job.

[logan82]

I got that same E-mail. After skimming it and ascertaining that it was not to inform me that the Cubs winning the division and the Brewers missing the playoffs was just a sick joke I deleted it.

 

After reading it I echo the sentiment that Mark A. is a classy guy and is dedicated to winning. I like how he stated that the team was already on the rise before he arrived thus giving some of the credit to Melvin.

[Postseason2006]

Nothing like a polyanna form letter to settle the masses.

1. He's a businessman bottom line, he's got a product to sell.

 

2. He's done what I believe has been quite a good job so far, and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

3. A mass email to the fans is not really the forum to call out or defend the manager or individual players--I'd think it pretty classless if he did that.

I am beginning to wonder what type of businessman he is. Why would you stick with a manager that has had at best an average coach since he's been in Milwaukee for 5 years? He hasn't shown much in abilities to manage games, a bullpen, nor make smart decisions such as leaving Mench in to face Dempster or pitching Stetter instead of Shouse when he returned against Cincy.

 

Mark A made his money somehow and I am beginning to think it was on dumb luck more than intelligence.

[pretendastronaut]

I am beginning to wonder what type of businessman he is. Why would you stick with a manager that has had at best an average coach since he's been in Milwaukee for 5 years? He hasn't shown much in abilities to manage games, a bullpen, nor make smart decisions such as leaving Mench in to face Dempster or pitching Stetter instead of Shouse when he returned against Cincy.

 

Mark A made his money somehow and I am beginning to think it was on dumb luck more than intelligence.

The man manages over $150 billion in assests and you're going to say he's a bad businessman and insult his financial intelligence because he's keeping Yost around? C'mon.

[brewizard]

nor make smart decisions such as leaving Mench in to face Dempster or pitching Stetter instead of Shouse

 

The man manages over $150 billion in assests and you're going to say he's a bad businessman and insult his financial intelligence because he's keeping Yost around? C'mon.

 

 

Even Mark Attanasio's best financial guys lose money some of the time, right? The trick is to average out in the black.

 

I suppose Yost to Attanasio is like a day trader to the big boss. Some days the day trader loses money and some days he makes money. As long as he shows general improvement, and doesn't blow the entire nest egg, then why would he get fired for leaving Mench in to face Dempster?

[TooLiveBrew]

BECAUSE WE HAAAAAAYTE HIIIMMMM!!! http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/mad.gif

 

Just kidding, sorry. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/smile.gif

 

He then explained that they tried to at the trade deadline, but the Reds didn't want to because they were afraid that the Brewers would re-sign Dunn and he would be in the division. He said that they offered a really big package.

 

*shivers* (in a really bad way, and in a really, really good way!)

 

Holy moly that is crazy news. Thanks for the tidbit! 3TOv2.0! (at least we tried!)