Season wrap-up

Here's my story that ran in today's paper wrapping up the Broncos' 2008 season.

And as far as my thoughts, with the understanding that I only attended the home games:

I have no doubt of how talented this team was. Broncos GM Jose Melendez generally goes for the former-major leaguer, big-numbers players, and that was apparent on this team.

Guys like Luany Sanchez, Edgard Clemente, Santo Hernandez, Gregorio Martinez, Mickey Callaway...those are guys who are prominent players.

But, at this level, those types hardly pan out, simply because egos are always a threat to disrupt things.

It's important to remember that independent ball is a last resort for a lot of players. They'd much rather be somewhere, anywhere, else.

It's why the roster is still nowhere near finished as the start of the season approaches, because so many veterans and "on the bubble" guys wait until the last minute to come and play.

When Dan Shwam was hired as manager, yes, a veteran team made sense. He has a reputation as a player's coach because he's lenient and gives them their space.

He lets them play and treats them as adults, not as babies.

But in spite of all the veterans on this team, oddly enough, none had leadership. They were veterans by status only; they did not have the mindset and resiliency that most veterans do, or should.

So what was left was a team with players of no leadership, and Shwam desperately trying to find some answer for that.

He drove himself to the brink of exhaustion trying to find a remedy. Nothing. Nada.

And by the time he and Melendez realized that the lack of leadership and accountability were not going to go away, it was too late.

They thought the team would eventually find its way back on track, which can be assumed when you have former major leaguers in Callaway, Clemente and Ivan Reyes.

Instead, they betrayed that. And in turn, the season was lost.

The Broncos need to go younger next season. They need scrappy, hungry players who are out to prove themselves; players who look forward to the next game, not the next paycheck.

I get the sense that Shwam - he for sure - and Melendez realize that, which is the first step. They both know what needs to be done to right the course, which continues to make me believe that it's likely Shwam could return - he and Melendez see eye to eye in almost every aspect.

The Broncos were, all in all, a lifeless team - moody, distant and lacking pride and heart.

Laredoans will never relate to players like that, which can be explained why, for the second straight season, the Broncos were last in attendance.

No one wants to come see a team that would much rather be anywhere else but playing a baseball game.

I have no doubt that Shwam and Melendez are the right people to lead the Broncos. Both are incredibly intelligent when it comes to baseball, and Melendez's business sense is just as impressive as his mind for baseball.

So that's not the issue.

The problem is to start from scratch - again- and dismiss the "veteran, big numbers guy" route. For the last two years, it's proven that it does not work.

I mean, it'll get you homers by the dozen. But wins? Not so much.

The Broncos face a bright future, assuming the new stadium makes the November ballot for the city council.

There's no point in stressing or being down about this season. It's over, done, finished.

Next season starts now, and nothing can remake this club into winners like going young and getting the players here that actually want to be here and want to play.

The Broncos are a distant third in terms of fondness for local pro teams, behind the Bucks and Heat.

But baseball will always have a place here...IF done right.

The Broncos have the management people in place to do things right. Now they just have to execute that plan.