News: Longtime Rockies outfielder and fan favorite Carlos Gonzalez, who signed with the Indians before the season, was designated for assignment May 22 and officially released four days later. Any team could take another flier on him, but it appears Gonzalez’s career might be over.
Views: Can we start the countdown to retiring Gonzalez’ No. 5 at Coors Field?
True, it wasn’t quite a storybook ending for the electric ballplayer who spent a decade in LoDo. Gonzalez, who hit .276 with 16 homers last year following his ninth consecutive opening day start for Colorado, posted a .210 average with a 28.2 percent strikeout rate in 30 games in 2019 before being DFA’d by Cleveland.
Gonzalez was one of the truly great Rockies in franchise history, and though he’s certainly not the greatest — Todd Helton, Larry Walker, and Nolan Arenado are up on that pedestal — he might very well be the coolest to ever don purple pinstripes. He had an unmatched baseball swag, combining looseness and serious clubhouse leadership with the backward-hat, batting practice demeanor of Ken Griffey Jr.
In his prime, “CarGo” was a five-tool player who could make the opposition pay in every possible way. After coming over from the Athletics in the high-profile Matt Holliday trade in 2008, Gonzalez lived up to the hype and quickly made Holliday — an iconic Rockie in his own right who previously donned No. 5 for Colorado — a distant memory.
In 2010, Gonzalez won the National League batting title with a .336 average while also earning the first of three Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers. It was that year, on July 31, when the outfielder gave Colorado its first serious taste of what the “little pony” could do when he capped a cycle against the Cubs with a dramatic walk-off homer.
It was one sweet swing after another from there for the three-time all-star, whom Colorado elected not to re-sign this past offseason in favor of talented younger options in the outfield in David Dahl and Raimel Tapia.
As of now, first baseman Todd Helton — who spent his entire 17-year career with Colorado — is the only Rockies player to have his number retired. His No. 17 is posted above the bullpens in right-center. Larry Walker’s No. 33 could (and should) join him eventually.
So, too, should Gonzalez’s No. 5.
Gonzalez played seven fewer seasons than Helton, but he’s similar to the Toddfather in the fact that Gonzalez is essentially a lifetime Rockie. Besides partial seasons as a rookie in Oakland in 2008 and as a hanging-on vet with Cleveland this year, Gonzalez played 92 percent of his career with Colorado. Throughout those 1,247 games and as a critical member of three playoff teams, he embodied the true essence of the franchise.
Carlos Gonzalez’ franchise ranks
Games Played — 1,247 (2nd)
Runs scored — 769 (3rd)
Hits –– 1,330 (3rd)
Total bases — 2,366 (3rd)
Doubles — 277 (3rd)
Homers — 227 (4th)
RBIs — 749 (4th)
Stolen bases — 118 (4th)
Career WAR — 23.5 (5th)
Slugging — .516 (10th)
— , The Denver Post
What’s on Tap
- Arizona Diamondbacks, 1:10 p.m. Thursday, ATTRM
- Toronto Blue Jays, 6:40 p.m. Friday, ATTRM
- Toronto Blue Jays, 7:10 p.m. Saturday, ATTRM
- Toronto Blue Jays, 1:10 p.m. Sunday, ATTRM
Must-Read
Longtime Rockies trainer Keith Dugger is the heart and soul of franchise
“Doogie was out there in seconds. It was almost like Doogie was out there before Nicasio even hit the ground,” Spilborghs recalled. “You hear about those guys who are the first to run into a burning house? That was Doogie. He saved Nicasio’s life.” Read more…
Rockies Mailbag: Starting rotation struggles, catching now a strength, Jeff Bridich’s shot at beat writers
Jeff Bridich: “The reality is–and this is going to sound petty and bad—if you just objectively look at the people who are evaluating us every day, you know they’ve never come close to doing this job and all the work that goes into it. And most of them, probably 99 percent of them, they’ve never even led anything in their lives.” Read more…
Kiszla: In baseball city built on homers, Trevor Story destined to be biggest Blake Street Bomber of ’em all
Bold prediction: Rockies shortstop will one day pass Todd Helton as the franchise’s HR king. Read more…
Quick Hits
+ Newman: Tony Wolters should be the Rockies’ everyday catcher — he has surprised us all
+ Rockies closer Wade Davis has resumed throwing, believes he’ll “be back pretty soon”
+ All-star balloting opens for MLB fans, with a new “primary round” wrinkle
+ Rockies podcast: Brendan Rodgers on his first couple weeks in the big leagues and more
+ Kyle Freeland doing intensive study of 2018 video to correct his season, plus more Rockies news and injury updates
+ Rockies’ Nolan Arenado named NL Player of the Week
+ Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon lands on IL with lingering calf injury
+ Kiszla: Why Rockies danced with urgency of September on Memorial Day
+Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team?Ask Patrick Saunders here.
+Want to chat about the Rockies?
By The Numbers
100
WATCH: Trevor Story hammers 100th home run, fastest shortstop in MLB history to that mark
It took Story 448 games to accomplish the history feat. The previous mark was set by Alex Rodriguez who hammered his first 100 dingers 470 games. Read more…
Parting Shot
Saunders vs. Kiszla: Whatap wrong with Rockies ace Kyle Freeland, and whatap the fix?
If lefty doesn’t get his act together, can Colorado stay in the playoff hunt? Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at jbailey@denverpost.comortweet me .
