Thursday Rockpile: Carlos Gonzalez vs. Matt Holliday
by Rox Girl on Aug 13, 2009 8:38 AM MDT
in Rockpile
Email
PrintSince July 24th (the day Holliday was traded to St. Louis):
Carlos Gonzalez: .421/.477/.816, 2 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 5 BB, 8 R, 6 RBI
Matt Holliday: .486/.519/.800, 8 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 7 BB, 14 R, 17 RBI
Okay, obviously Holliday wins, he's been playing more and has been incredible for the Cards since the trade, but really, who would have guessed that Gonzalez would be providing nearly as much production to the Rockies?
Alright, sorry for this being so short:
Ubaldo, CarGo power Rockies - The Denver Post
Barmes proves he can deliver hits other than home runs - The Denver Post
whew, that's a relief, I was afraid it was something medical...
Hawpe confident he'll start hitting -
I love how the team has their slumps timed pretty well right now. Barmes and Hawpe go cold, Tulowitzki and Gonzalez heat up. This has been very helpful keeping the Rockies on a long run of success. Still, this week has seen the team's playoff odds hover around the 55%-60% range, while the Braves have been rebuilding their case with a big week against the Dodgers and Nationals. It would be nice if the Rockies could put together another five or six game winning streak to give a little separation from the pack.
43 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
From what I've seen out of CarGo lately (and assuming it isn't a massive fluke)...
he’ll provide, by himself, more than enough value for the Rockies to compensate for them trading Holliday—and yes, that’s without Street and Smith.
Eschew Obfuscation!
it sure is beginning to look that way. Added to Street's performance, the trade is looking more and more like
one of DOD’s better swaps.
"I've had pretty good success with Stan Musial by throwing him my best pitch and backing up third." - Carl Erskine
Depends on what "it" is, I guess
His overall 2009 numbers are now pretty close to the MLE’s from his Colorado Springs stint. Now, even that performance was well above what he’s done in the past. But it’s not such a high level of performance to think that with development, this is the type of overall performance one could expect on a regular basis. And there’s still some room to grow.
He’s certainly been an exciting player.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
This is where we need the classic evaluation
and the statistical evaluation.
Get an eye test of what Gonzalez is doing well, and then the numbers to see if he’s just hot, or actually improving.
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 13, 2009 9:53 AM MDT up reply actions
Problem is, it's difficult to tell
A “better approach at the plate,” a “slow bat,” “a more upright stance” and so forth could easily be consistent with what can otherwise show up as normal statistical variation.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
It seems he has calmed down
He has gotten at least one hit in every start over the last month. I think he was afraid if he didn’t make a huge splash he would get sent back. While i don’t think he will ever be more than a 12-14 HR guy he can fill the 2 hole and hit 300-310 with 30 doubles and steal 20 bases and play great defense.
I wonder what his ceiling is
It might be surprisingly high. He’s been a lauded prospect despite so-so stats, and even when he was struggling we could see why. He’s been talked about as having power potential—enough to be thought of as a good corner OF. He hit an opposite field job last night, and his previous HR to right was an absolute laser.
For now though, I like that he’s hitting well enough overall to stay in the lineup as a corner OF. He’s fun to watch.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Saw the video of his HR last night
…and he really reached to get to the pitch, and it still went out opposite field. Impressive.
"If you're going to be stupid, you'd better be tough."
i see him as much more than a 2 hitter
he’s 23 – his power numbers will keep growing…
he’s a 5 or a 3 even – kid has MASSIVE upside..
of course, i am such a sucker for good athletes…
by RockyMtnCat on Aug 13, 2009 11:11 AM MDT up reply actions
His line drive rate is crazy high
like 28% or something – not too sure that’s sustainable and I don’t think his minor league numbers contained really high LD rates.
He has always put up high BABIPs however.
I think what’s most odd is that he’s so far put up awesome D in centerfield (whereas in the minors his CF D wasn’t anything too special), and his D in LF has been meh…
The Rockies need some oldschool purple/white striped high socks. The team’s problem is it’s lack of swagger. I feel strongly that these socks will provide the swagger necessary to tap the potential that are the Rockies.
It's been meh in that it hasn't been as valuable...
but you already knew that.
Eschew Obfuscation!
by Jeff Aberle on Aug 13, 2009 11:22 AM MDT up reply actions
Yo
using your commish powers, can you give me all the good players so I can win the fantasy league? I’ll buy you ice cream.
The Rockies need some oldschool purple/white striped high socks. The team’s problem is it’s lack of swagger. I feel strongly that these socks will provide the swagger necessary to tap the potential that are the Rockies.
From a purely "old school" perspective
Now that he’s not swinging at every junk ball in the dirt, I just flat like watching this kid play. I’m still suspicious that he will ever be the kind of player that Holliday is, but no matter. He could be great, and he’s obviously already been a legitimate impact player for us. While its probably just coincidence that the team rose from the dead as soon as he joined it, sometimes you don’t need a scientific explanation to appreciate something.
yes a nice win streak
of atleast 6 games soon would be beautiful…lets win the series today and take atleast 4 of the next 6 before going home for the big 7 game home stand…a 5-2 there would be beautiful…which would put us at 73-55 after all that.
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
"TuLoRocks2008 had the most comments I've seen in any game thread this year (322)...Can such a feat be eclipsed?" ..... Bring it on!!
CarGon has 46 PA July 24th - Aug 12th
So I am absolutely not surprised there’s a 46 PA stretch where he’s matched Holliday’s rate stats.
:P
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
this is a key observation if we're to compare the two
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 13, 2009 9:54 AM MDT up reply actions
well, sure, but that's not the point, is it?
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Try finding any player at that pace
Yes, sample size and all of that, but what CarGo has done since the Break is still impressive in any context.
I guess I'll repeat--that's not the point, is it?
Rox Girl made her point somewhat tongue in cheek. As did I with my initial response, signified by the emoticon.
Now the thread appears to be growing serious as people read more into it.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Barmes
If he gets hot along with Tulo, Helton and Cargo, then we will be eating a lot of tacos over the next couple of weeks!
Yo Quiero Taco Bell!
DLR innings total
I just noticed that DLR’s innings pitched total is at 130.0, which matches his total for each of the previous 2 years (which is also his professional career high).
He’ll obviously zoom far past that, which is a significant, if unexciting measure of his success this season (staying in a rotation all season).
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
heck
Every guy in the rotation has a chance to set a career high in innings, iirc
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 13, 2009 10:16 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Definitely
DLR should pass his by 50-60. If Jimenez doesn’t set a new career MLB high , something bad will have happened.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
Cook would need to go some
he’s on 139.2 now, his career high was 212 in ‘06, if we say he has nine starts left (injury permitting), he’d need to average eight innings a start pretty much.
by djmbluemoon on Aug 13, 2009 10:37 AM MDT up reply actions
cook was the only guy i was unsure about
No computer. Eh. The other four should
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 13, 2009 10:48 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Last season
he also threw 22 innings for the Royals AAA team so his innings total was 152. This is good news for anyone worried about the Verducci effect.
The Rockies need some oldschool purple/white striped high socks. The team’s problem is it’s lack of swagger. I feel strongly that these socks will provide the swagger necessary to tap the potential that are the Rockies.
Ah thanks, missed that.
I dunno if I’d be too worried about the Verducci effect since DLR is older.
Leave Dexter alone! You're lucky he even performs for you!
My thought exactly.
Were he 24 I’d be far more apprehensive
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 13, 2009 4:17 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
There was the undeniable Clutch Factor that Holliday brought
not sure CarGo – or anyone is really bringing that yet.
Holliday did carry a solid wpa
Seth Smith status: Finally Getting Playing time
Mike McCoy status: FREE MIKE MCCOY
by Andrew Martin on Aug 13, 2009 4:19 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
I liked the Hawpe article
He seems to have the perfect mindset and attitude- frustrated but not overly worried about his stats. I’m fully confident he’ll get the bat going again. And watch out when he does!
just eyeballing CarGo
(his minor league numbers pretty much take care of the mathematical case), he’s got a really really high ceiling.
Will he ever be the offensive player Holliday was?? hmmm – probably not so much power, but he’s going to continue to improve his power numbers.
then you add in the defense – he’s a plus plus plus outfielder – miles ahead of anything Holliday could ever do
and his speed on the basepaths… i’d love to see a race between CarGo and Dexter – those two just eat up the outfield…
I’m pretty close to putting CarGo on the pedestal next to Tulo – nahh, a great defensive short stop who hits like Tulo? hard to match that.
line up is posted on Denver Post
Fowler is back batting 1st…barmes 2nd cargo 8th? hmm…helton 3rd tulo 4th Atkins in there battin 5th spilly 6th yorvy 7th
we seem to have gotten over that HURDLE
"TuLoRocks2008 had the most comments I've seen in any game thread this year (322)...Can such a feat be eclipsed?" ..... Bring it on!!
makes it so only six of the first seven hitters bat rh
Against the lefty maholm
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 13, 2009 11:57 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Pretty cool
SI ran a column today on the worst contracts in baseball and did not mention Helton. I approve.
Still think Zito's is worse
The Rockies need some oldschool purple/white striped high socks. The team’s problem is it’s lack of swagger. I feel strongly that these socks will provide the swagger necessary to tap the potential that are the Rockies.
helton doesnt deserve to be on anybody's bad contract list
He signed in a climate of very pricey contracts (think ARod) while still young after several improving seasons to the elite level. In addition, the rockies were nearing arms to be a very competitive team. I recall helton actually getting criticized for taking too little money. Injuries and the humidor have tempered his numbers and playing time, and his salary is certainly a heavy weight on the payroll, but he is still a solid first baseman. The contract was more than defensible at the time of the inking, which is far more than you can say towards the contracts of wells, Matthews jr, Silva and zito
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Aug 13, 2009 4:08 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Purple Row
Related FanShots on Purple Row
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Pitcher Clayton Richard gets key pinch single in 13th after coming in 0 for 16
- Livan Hernandez welcomes ball boy to the bigs with shower of sunflower seeds (VIDEO)
- Man beaten by four others in Dodger Stadium parking lot
- Lance Berkman’s knee injury creates a lot of questions for Cards but also his career
- Next generation: Scott Van Slyke, son of Andy Van Slyke, hits first career homer
