When he hits it, everyone knows it. Carlos Gonzalez hits the ball just a little bit harder than everyone else.
On Friday night in Washington D.C., the Colorado Rockies stole a victory from the Washington Nationals in the 8th inning when CarGo took a Drew Storen fastball deep over the right field fence and off of the back wall of the bullpen for a grand slam, giving the Rockies a 5-4 lead that they were able to hold on to.
It was a classic Carlos Gonzalez home run. The crack of the bat is simply different from CarGo. When he gets a hold of a pitch like he did on Friday night there is little doubt about the result. It is the type of ball that keeps a broadcaster on the edge of their seat because the ball leaves the park so fast that they better be on point with their home run call.
The victory for the Rockies was an encouraging one for the future. This is a team in dead-last place with little to play for. Their star shortstop was traded away almost two weeks ago, signifying the white flag being raised. All signs point to the Rockies conceding their season and hoping for better next year. In year’s past, that is exactly what the team did. They went through the motions for the final couple of months and hoped for better the next year.
While the talent on the team might be in as bad of shape as it has been in several years, there is something different about this team. Even with the possibility of finishing the season with one of the three worst records in all of baseball, the Rockies haven’t quit. Even if the front office rightfully acknowledged that the 2015 season won’t end with any cheering in Denver, the players on the field haven’t quit.
With Troy Tulowitzki traded, many fans rooted for the entire band-aid to be ripped off and the club to start fresh. That meant dealing CarGo and trying to get a prospect or two for him, as well as salary relief that might be able to be used on a free agent, or even signing one of the players in the clubhouse that might consider staying long-term if the money was right. However, CarGo has a message for those who think the Rockies should have dealt him.
The message is clear, when Carlos Gonzalez is healthy, he is one of the best players in baseball. When his timing is right, he hits a ball as hard as anyone and he is able to make quick work of even the best pitchers in the National League. The sweet swing that he possesses is one that will make opposing managers quiver when he comes to the plate in RBI situations.
It is easy to forget the meteoric rise that Gonzalez had. When the Rockies called him up in 2009 he was very raw. However, as the season went along, he found his groove. In the playoffs that year he came into his own, drilling a clutch home run deep into the right field seats in game three. The home run would have been the deciding factor had the Phillies not rallied late to win the game. The home run through the 29-degree air was impressive, and gave Rockies fans plenty of reason to be excited.
Injuries can’t be an excuse, but for CarGo, they came frequently, and in extremely odd situations. He never had routine, typical baseball injuries. The type of stuff that ailed his body were things that came out of nowhere. After weeks of misdiagnoses, it was discovered that he had a tumor in his finger that was causing pain. His knee was hurt beyond typical knee pain that took a scope to fix and he has dealt with odd cases of wrist injuries.
Those ailments kept him on the bench long enough for fans to forget exactly what they have in CarGo. This isn’t a guy who was the Robin to Tulo’s Batman. This is a guy who possesses equal power to his former shortstop teammate, but better speed and a skill set in the outfield that is matched by very few. His power, while discounted nationally because of the Coors Field factor, is real. Those who watch him know the difference in the sound off of his bat. He may hit more home runs at home, but his power would play anywhere.
CarGo may have not been in the spotlight because of injuries, and often because it was possessed by the other big star that formerly played for the Rockies. However, his leadership style might start to make an impact on a team that lost their biggest impact player. While Tulo was a leader in the demands that he made towards winning, CarGo plays the game with grace and a sense of ease. He might sometimes even act like winning isn’t all that important to him. Some might criticize that attitude, but it may actually help the young players kick back and relax a little more. If they can watch CarGo play with a smile on his face and keep the atmosphere lacking in pressure, the Rockies might have some room to relax and simply get back to basics.
Rockies fans might want to get as much for Carlos Gonzalez as they can, but the reality is, the Rockies are going to get the most value out of CarGo if he stays in a Rockies uniform.
