Believing scouting and development are strong and wins will come, the Rockies announced two-year contract extensions for general manager Dan O'Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle on Monday, hours before the 2007 season opener at Coors Field against the Diamondbacks. O'Dowd, the Rockies GM since October 1999, and Hurdle, who replaced Buddy Bell as manager April 26, 2002, were entering the final year of their deals, which had been extended before the 2006 season. Now they're covered through 2009. The Rockies' last winning season was 2000, O'Dowd's first year with Bell managing, but they enter 2007 with higher expectations. Monday's move might eliminate the contract status of two key leaders from the pressure equation, but the Rockies insist their aspirations of contending this year are the same. In addition to contract security for O'Dowd and Hurdle, the decision gives security to the front office, scouting and player development personnel that have helped the Rockies build a young lineup and a promising farm system. "Obviously, the [important] result is up here at the Major League level, but organizationally, the leadership and the organization as a whole was really what we focused on," Rockies club president Keli McGregor said. "There is a relationship, and it's been talked about, to this season. "But for us, we really felt like the course we're on organizationally, we believe in this thing from the top, and we believe in Dan and Clint."