This was the fear when Carlos Gonzalez swung awkwardly at a fastball July 21, straining ligaments in his right wrist. He was always going to be back, but would there be any meaningful games left?
The answer, it appears, is no.
The Rockies are 4-7 since Gonzalez went on the disabled list, and that doesn’t count the games he missed while trying to nurse the injury before the all-star break.
After another successful round of batting practice Tuesday before the Rockies played the Phillies, Gonzalez begins a three-game rehab assignment tonight at Triple-A Colorado Springs and should rejoin the Rockies on Saturday.
“I feel great. No problems at all,” Gonzalez said. “I am looking forward to getting back out there. It’s hard when you can’t help your team.”
Gonzalez will play seven innings tonight for the Sky Sox then nine innings in back- to-back games. The wrist issue could not have come at a worse time for Gonzalez. He originally suffered the injury July 3, slamming into the center-field wall on a spectacular catch. He had hit .349 with a .397 on-base percentage in June.
After a miserable April, Gonzalez is batting .289 with 15 home runs and 56 RBIs.
No easy Street.
For a reliever who has converted 28-of-31 save opportunities, Huston Street inspires a lot of angst. The reason: Both his successes and failures have been dramatic. He leads all relievers with 10 home runs allowed, including John Mayberry Jr.’s two-run shot Monday night.
“Huston left a slider up, and those pitches get hit,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “If he throws his right pitch, there is a chance he gets the guy out.”
Footnotes.
Indians manager Manny Acta said Tuesday he believed Ubaldo Jimenez’s mediocre season was the result of a groin-hip flexor injury. For the record, Jimenez iced his leg only once in spring training, and that was before the Cactus League games began. . . . Esmil Rogers will occupy Jimenez’s vacated slot in the Rockies’ rotation for now. Rogers pitched well in relief of Jimenez on Saturday after Jimenez’s awkward one-inning appearance against the Padres in San Diego.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
