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People love winners.

That's not a myth, just reality.

Even in minor league baseball, fans want to see winners. At the very least, they want to be entertained, given the perception that the local team will play hard and fight the good fight.

Ever since the Connecticut Defenders became a San Francisco Giants affiliate in 2003, winning just hasn't been a common occurrence. The thing is, most fans are forgiving of sub .500 teams.

Except when they don't try.

In a recent article on the Giants' Web site, former Defender and current Giant Travis Denker was asked about his .184 average in 25 games with Connecticut this season. His answer should not only surprise you, but infuriate you as well, especially if you've paid hard-earned money to watch a game at Dodd Stadium.

"Being in 30-degree weather every day doesn't help," Denker said. "I really didn't feel like hitting when I was there."

You didn't feel like hitting, Travis?

Here's where it gets interesting.

Where else can you decide to not do your job and get a promotion, never mind keep your position, then with the Giants organization?

Denker's words capture the essence of the Giants' stay in Norwich.

This has been a marriage made in Hades. The fans hate it, the players hate that the fans don't come out and have a history of complaining about the ballpark and the cold, and San Francisco wants to be treated like the Pope - while all along, it's the biggest sinner.

The Giants wanted the fences moved in at the stadium, but had no desire in contributing to the estimated $60,000 cost. Rather than show a sign of good faith and commitment, the Giants wanted the Defenders and the city of Norwich to foot the bill. Last summer, San Francisco General Manager Brian Sabean told The Bulletin the fences were an issue between "the team and the city."

Way to sweet talk 'em, Sabes.

This is the same guy, when he made his only visit to Connecticut last season, he went to New Britain and not Norwich.

Then you have ungrateful types such as Denker, who rather than appreciate the opportunity to play professional baseball, decries the stadium as a graveyard where careers die. Out west, this sort of crybaby mentality is rewarded. Yet, it insults the guys here or who have played here that busted their butts.

Giants Director of Player Personnel Bobby Evans, who once oversaw the team's minor league system, believes Denker's comments were misconstrued.

"I don't think it's an accurate reflection to say he didn't try to hit," Evans said. "He tried to hit, he didn't do well. I think it's inaccurate to say he didn't try."

Evans went on to say that while weather can affect players in different ways, it would be a "huge stretch" to say cold would be a deterrent.

Agreed.

That just makes Denker's comments more asinine.

"The last time I checked, San Francisco Bay sometimes gets pretty cold, so I would say this is pretty good training for being there," Defenders General Manager Charlie Dowd said, chalking up the comments to immaturity. "If that is what you are basing your performance on, weather, when everyone else is here dealing with it, I have a problem with that."

Wise words from someone who was working in professional baseball since Denker, 22, was in diapers.

Before the season began, Defenders skipper Bien Figueroa said he didn't want to hear excuses about the ballpark, yet here they are. Maybe Denker figured because he finally made it to The Show that he had the room to talk.

Figueroa, who has been clearly frustrated with the goings on with the Defenders, gave Denker a free pass.

"We hadn't played any 80-degree games here," he said. "It's tough to hit in this park. Second, it's always cold. I never met a hitter who likes to hit in cold weather. Nobody likes to hit in cold weather, that's the way we are."

Sorry, but the cold is an excuse fans can use for not attending games. However, most people still show up for work on even the most bone-chilling of days.

History also shows part of the woes associated with the Giants' stay in Norwich has been San Francisco's unwillingness to send any of its few prominent prospects to the Eastern League.

Early in the relationship, there was no problem sending Noah Lowry and Matt Cain here, but shortly thereafter, the organization fed into the negative perception of Dodd Stadium. With the exception of a high-caliber talent such as Tim Lincecum, where are Brian Bocock and Emmanuel Burris? Why did Sabean recently tell a Bay Area radio station catching prospect Pablo Sandoval won't play here? Instead, the hot-hitting backstop can play in San Jose or skip Norwich for Triple-A Fresno?

It's the same reason players feel relieved when they are sent up or down, but out of Norwich: Because the Giants' organization perpetuates the theory that you can't hit at Dodd Stadium. In recent years, the Giants' Single-A and Triple-A affiliates have been among the most successful in the minors, whereas the Double-A team was mysteriously denied an invitation to the party.

The not-so secret was quality drafts and undrafted free agent signings. The Giants are annually ranked among the worst farm systems in the majors. That's the price you pay when you hitch the wagon to Barry Bonds, thinking his next injection leads to asexual reproduction of fully mature clones.

Just this year, three vital members of the 2007 Defenders' lineup played for the Giants: Eugenio Velez, who ironically was demoted in favor of Denker; John Bowker and Steve Holm. All three were Eastern League All-Stars a year ago.

If Dodd Stadium is such an impossible place to play, explain how, when this was a New York Yankees affiliate, it won a league title. In eight seasons with the Bombers, there were five winning seasons, four playoff appearances and two trips to the championship series. The Giants are 0-for-5.

The Yankees had players such as Alfonso Soriano, Nick Johnson and Mike Lowell calling Dodd Stadium home. They didn't outwardly complain about the park. Neither did guys like Bowker, Velez and Holm.

They all acknowledged it isn't the greatest place for hitters, but if you want to be a major leaguer, you don't get to choose which stadiums you play in.

Reality is the Player Development Contract between the Defenders and Giants comes to an end after this season and it's going to take a miracle - or a lack of desire by another organization to move its Double-A team to Connecticut - in order for this unholy union to last beyond the fall.

To be clear, folks, stop wishing for the Yankees or Red Sox or Mets. They aren't coming here. Instead, expect the Brewers or Marlins or maybe the Cubs.

And should the Giants expect Eastern Connecticut to cry when the vans are packed, they're fools. When they do leave, however, there just might be cause for celebration at Dodd Stadium once again.

Reach Joe Perez at 425-4257 or jperez@norwichbulletin.com