President Woodrow Wilson once said, “All things come to he who waits — provided he knows what he is waiting for.”
Rockies manager Jim Tracy is still waiting for outfielder Carlos Gonzalez to start hitting, but he’s absolutely certain the 23-year-old will do so.
“When you look at Carlos Gonzalez, you are looking at a guy who has the opportunity to be a complete player,” Tracy said before Saturday night’s game. “When you have a throwing arm like he’s got, the offensive capability that he has and the speed, that’s special. The bat is the last thing to come.”
It hasn’t come yet. Gonzalez is hitting .205, including 4-for-21 (.190) on the current homestand.
Although Seth Smith (hitting .295) started in left field Saturday and it’s likely that Ryan Spilborghs (a .340 career hitter in July) will make a start today, Tracy made it clear he believes Gonzalez will blossom into a special talent.
Asked if he had lost any faith in Gonzalez, Tracy said: “None. We have to continue to develop his talent. If you pull a plug on a guy like that, you are nowhere. You do not quit on a player like that.”
Bullpen shuffle.
As expected, left-handed reliever Alan Embree had surgery Saturday to repair his broken right leg.
A vicious line drive broke Embree’s tibia during Friday night’s game. Tracy said a rod was inserted into Embree’s lower leg. According to Tracy, Embree should be able to put weight on the leg in a few days.
Taking Embree’s place on the Rockies’ roster was righthanded reliever Matt Belisle, who was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Belisle was initially called up April 10, but was designated for assignment May 25. He was 1-1 with an 8.31 ERA in 14 games in his first stint.
Morales update.
With Embree out, the Rockies will rely on former starter Franklin Morales.
“I’m comfortable out of the bullpen, but it’s different, because I know I have to be ready when that phone rings,” Morales said. “It’s different than getting ready as a starter.”
In three relief appearances, Morales has handled traffic well and emerged unscathed.
Still, the Rockies aren’t going to push Morales too hard or too soon in his new role.
“This is completely new to him and I think we have to treat this a little bit with kid gloves,” Tracy said. “When we get deeper into July or August, then we might try to start giving him a little bit more, but not just yet. I’m not ready to do that.”
Footnote.
After hitting a double in Friday’s game, Smith was batting .480 as a pinch hitter — the best mark in the majors.
