Monday night, Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez was hit by a pitch from Rockies reliever Jose Mesa, almost setting off a bench-clearing brawl. Tuesday, Gonzalez produced a theory about the ongoing bad blood between the Rockies and Diamondbacks.
“It seems like we always have something come up with them,” he said. “It’s weird, because we play these guys a hundred times and we see them a thousand times, because of spring training. It’s almost like playing cousins and friends.”
Gonzalez also had an explanation for the lack of fisticuffs Monday night.
“I was standing on first talking to (Todd) Helton when everybody runs out on the field,” he said. “But the relievers have to go around the corner and make a left turn, and they show up 3 minutes later with pulled hammies.”
GREENER PASTURES: With the possibility looming that the New York Mets will trade for outfielder Shawn Green, Arizona manager Bob Melvin sat Green down for the second straight game, giving him some time to clear his head. Green, who would have to waive a no-trade clause for the deal to happen, said going to the National League East-leading Mets is tempting. “Obviously that’s a big perk, but the most important thing is my family, so I would have to discuss it with them,” he said.
The Diamondbacks have treated Rockies right-hander Aaron Cook (8-10, 3.87 ERA) harshly. In four starts against them this season, Cook is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA. However, when Cook’s sinkerball is on, as it was last week when he induced 12 groundball outs from the Chicago Cubs, he can beat any team. The Rockies face Livan Hernandez (9-9, 5.30), the newest Diamondbacks starter. In his Arizona debut, the former Washington Nationals right-hander lost to Florida but pitched decently, allowing four runs on 10 hits in eight innings. He made his only start against the Rockies this season on June 15, pitching for the Nationals. Hernandez gave up six runs on eight hits and walked five in 6 2/3 innings as Colorado cruised to an 8-1 victory.
