SAN DIEGO — Looking to apply jumper cables to the lineup’s dead battery, Rockies manager Jim Tracy on Monday night shifted Carlos Gonzalez to the top of order and back to center field, his natural position.
This move is an indictment of the offense that entered Monday hitting .243 and had scored more than three runs just 11 times since May 1. In spring training, Tracy pledged to keep Gonzalez in left field — to preserve his legs — and bat him third. But with the Rockies unable to shake a six-week funk and Dexter Fowler headed to the disabled list, a drastic move was required. Center field is not a temporary shift, Tracy said, but hitting at the top of the order might be.
“I don’t have a problem with it. I have had success at leadoff in the past,” Gonzalez said. “This game is crazy. Maybe this will help me. It wasn’t like I was getting a lot of opportunities to hit with men on base hitting third anyway.
“And center field is my natural position. I won a Gold Glove last year and I am pretty sure I can get another one wherever I play. I want to do what’s best for the team. It will be a little more work, running, but I am totally fine with it.”
Fowler’s injury and Eric Young Jr.’s defensive shortcomings accelerated a move that was first discussed internally a week ago. Fowler is expected to land on the DL with the Rockies promoting Charlie Blackmon, who has been a slugging corner outfielder in Triple-A.
Gonzalez met with Tracy before Monday’s game to discuss the changes. He embraced them but told Tracy his preference is to return to the three hole now occupied by Todd Helton.
“I told him that’s what I want too,” Tracy said. “I don’t know how it’s going to turn out. All I know is that when he came here in 2009, that’s where I had him hit and he started to figure things out.”
Part of the motivation is to help Gonzalez regain strike-zone discipline. He’s a .294 hitter from the top spot compared with a .315 average in the three hole. Separating Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki also creates a new dynamic. When they are hot, they create unmatched havoc in the National League. But their streaky nature has paralyzed the Colorado lineup at times this season.
Monday’s move frees Gonzalez to steal more bases and potentially creates more fastballs for Tulowitzki, who will be hitting behind Helton, a veteran notorious for grinding out at-bats.
“We’ve had some ups and downs this year obviously. Me and Tulo have both been hitting around .250 and I don’t think that’s going to continue,” Gonzalez said. “I need to do my best to create more situations for Helton and Tulo to knock me in. We know we have to turn this around.”
