DENVER – It’s been a tough year for three-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glover and undisputed leader of the Colorado Rockies, Carlos Gonzalez. Park-adjusted statistics, which can be especially harsh on Coors Field hitters, suggest he has been one of the worst offensive players in MLB in 2017. But his teammates won’t quit on him. Ever.
The longest-tenured player in the clubhouse, CarGo is the only member of the Rockies who has played in the postseason with a “CR” on his hat. Since then, he’s gone from the hot new prospect to the backbone of a team that took hit after hit from 2011-2016. Through it all, Gonzalez always kept a positive attitude, even at times when he was struggling both professionally and personally, and stood as a mentor for the players who have become the backbone of the team in 2017.
“I’ve been here for nine years. I pretty much know everybody,” Gonzalez said after a thrilling win over the Diamondbacks in which he blasted a 449-foot homer off of Zack Greinke. “I took these guys under my wing when they were coming up. Nolan and Blackmon and DJ. And they know that I’ve been a great player my entire career. They’re always trying to push me and keep my head up. That’s what it’s all about. When they were struggling, I was always there. So they’re doing their part now, they’re taking care of me.”
It’s fitting that these Rockies should have Gonzalez’ back after all these years that back spent carrying the team.
That job seems to naturally have fallen to Nolan Arenado whose clutch hitting has powered the Rockies to two straight dramatic victories. “When you reach that level … I’ve been there before,” said Gonzalez. “It’s just so much fun. You ride it out. You go out there and enjoy it. I told him ‘that’s an MVP thing you’re doing right now.'”
But that doesn’t mean that Gonzalez hasn’t been contributing or that he won’t still be a major factor moving forward for this squad.
Five days ago, we wrote about the palpable magic that Gonzalez still brings to the ballpark. It’s not just the mystique of the name, either, as Greinke found out. Whatever the stat line may read, even great pitchers know they can’t afford to make a mistake against someone who has made quite the living punishing mistakes. Teams are still very careful with CarGo, as we saw when he was worked around in one game and intentionally walked in another during the San Francisco series. Both of those walks ending up being important to the outcome.
He’s also clearly made an impact defensively, helping lead a Rockies team that sits well out in first place in MLB in terms of fielding percentage while still making spectacular plays on a near daily basis. Gonzalez himself has two five-star catches according to StatCast this season, and whether it be those kinds of plays with the glove or (yes still) when he is standing in the batter’s box, one thing everyone involved knows for sure is that Carlos Gonzalez won’t be afraid of the moment.
Gerardo Parra, who blessed Gonzalez’ bat with a traditional Venezuelan San Benito dance just before the home run, put it simply: “We need this guy back. If CarGo’s good, we’re good, too.”
Manager Bud Black has never waivered on his left fielder with plenty of potential star power left. “He’s going to be important for us this year,” he has said consistently.
“We’re just waiting for him to get going. Like I’ve said, I think we have a chance to be one of the best teams in the major leagues. Which … we are right now. But we have a chance to take it to another level if CarGo gets going. Everyone in the league knows CarGo. They know how good [he can be] and how hot he can get. We need him and if he does it our lineup is going to be changing for sure.”
Can you imagine?
The Colorado Rockies are in first place and playing arguably the best baseball they have in their 24-year history and they are doing it largely without the offensive contributions of one of the most talented hitters who’s ever pulled on purple pinstripes.
Still at just 31-years-old, still clearly showing grace and athleticism in the outfield, and still with the unwavering support of every single member of the clubhouse, Gonzalez has plenty of time to remind everyone out the just who in the hell he is.
“It’s not like my team is in first place and I’m in last place,” Gonzalez says. And he’s right. Because they wouldn’t be there without him.
