Sunday Rockpile: Power up top from Carlos Gonzalez and others pushing Rockies in 2009

by Rox Girl on Sep 20, 2009 8:59 AM MDT in Rockpile

Carlos Gonzalez's lead-off home run last night was his second this month against the Diamondbacks, duplicating the accomplishment he had off of Doug Davis on September 5th. While lead-off first inning HR's are a great way to get a game off on the right foot, having power from the lead-off position at all, regardless when in the game it comes, is a luxury the Rockies haven't had for several seasons until 2009. And by several seasons, I mean at least as far back as 1993, as that's where my records for the Rockies are cut off due to a flood or something.., oh wait...

Yep, the 17 jacks by Rockies leadoff hitters this season is a franchise record, the old record was shared by the 1998 and 1999 teams when Neifi Perez was the primary lead-off hitter. Gonzalez has a chance to break Perez's single season team record of 8 HR's by a #1 hitter, especially considering all six of CarGo's homers in that slot this year have come since August 18. Why it's taken the Rockies this long to realize that you can have hitters who steal bases and get on base a lot and hit HR's from the #1 slot in the batting order is probably a question best left unpondered by Rockies fans or it might lead you to drink, but better late than never, I guess.

Just for a kick, here's a stroll back through the Rockies players to hit HR's while batting leadoff through this decade. And indeed, we really did have a manager that thought it a good idea to give Eddy Garabito more PA's than anybody else one game:

2009: 17

Carlos Gonzalez 6
Dexter Fowler 4
Ryan Spilborghs 3
Seth Smith 3
Eric Young Jr. 1

2008: 9

Clint Barmes 5
Spilborghs 2
Smith 1
Willy Taveras 1

2007: 5

Taveras 2
Spilborghs 2
Cory Sullivan 1

2006: 7

Jamey Carroll 4
Kazuo Matsui 2
Sullivan 1

2005: 9

Barmes 5
Aaron Miles 1
Luis A. Gonzalez 1
Eddy Garabito 1
Sullivan 1

2004: 11

Miles 6
L.A. Gonzalez 4
Jorge Piedra 1

2003: 11

Ronnie Belliard 7
Juan Uribe 4

2002: 1

Juan Pierre 1

2001: 4

Pierre 2
Mark Little 1
Todd Walker 1

Links after the jump:

The Denver Post

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Comments

I meant to add more links but was already starting late.

Too much grog during Drink Like a Pirate Day yesterday.

by Rox Girl on Sep 20, 2009 9:11 AM MDT reply actions

Anyway, other links/news... I might just add them as comments here.

Let’s start with the one pointed out by nkrause in this FanShot that Sammy the Bull is getting called up for long relief duty. In a way it would be nice if the Rockies could go on a mini-run and the Dodgers do the same in the next few days so everything with the playoffs is pretty much already decided by the time we are finishing our next homestand. That way we could get some rookies like Deduno some MLB level experience. Of course, it would also be nice if we could win the division for once.

by Rox Girl on Sep 20, 2009 9:17 AM MDT up reply actions

Mmmm.

Grog.

Posting 65 comments/day since June '07.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 20, 2009 10:16 AM MDT up reply actions

Nice job, RG.

Just who in the hell is/was Mark Little? I remember most nobodies from this team’s past, but Mark Little surely is not one of them.

Leave it to Buddy Bell to bat that guy leadoff :/

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Sep 20, 2009 11:26 AM MDT up reply actions

i remember little

He was #19 and we either traded him to or received him from the mets. Maybe jay payton? He was pretty uninspiring but had surprising success with us for a short time iirc

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 20, 2009 11:42 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Yep...part of the Jay Payton/John Thomson trade

I didn’t realize he had a 111 OPS+ and .378 OBP that year.

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 20, 2009 12:38 PM MDT up reply actions

I remember Little as a terrific defensive center fielder...

just checked his stats and he hit .341 (.896 OPS) in 51 games for the 2001 Rockies.

by alex colfax on Sep 20, 2009 12:40 PM MDT up reply actions

I remember him,

or at least playing against him, and I wasn’t even a Rockies fan.

Posting 65 comments/day since June '07.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 21, 2009 2:24 AM MDT up reply actions

That's pretty crazy, given he only had 20 AB's against Arizona with the Rockies

and just three singles. He did play for the D-Backs in 02 though…for 15 games.

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Sep 21, 2009 11:51 AM MDT up reply actions

Really?

Hmmm…. that asplains it, then. I definitely remember the name.

Posting 65 comments/day since June '07.

by DbacksSkins on Sep 21, 2009 5:32 PM MDT up reply actions

I miss having the Rockies on TV

Gameday just doesn’t compare to being able to watch everyday.

Carlos Gonzalez is a sexy man

by Squeaky on Sep 20, 2009 9:23 AM MDT reply actions

This team is looking good

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.

by Resolution on Sep 20, 2009 10:17 AM MDT reply actions

Time machine

not sure you could have convinced me in 2003 that Belliard and Uribe would play key roles in whether or not the Rox made the playoffs in 2009. Funny how things go.

by Teekalong on Sep 20, 2009 10:20 AM MDT reply actions

lol yea crazy

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!!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Sep 20, 2009 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions

Hey holly96...

…if you’re here, I just wanted to know that I am feeling your pain today.

What an awful, awful day yesterday. I’m glad the Rox were able to salvage it.

Just an average guy with exceptional hair. Nothing more, nothing less.

by Bryan Kilpatrick on Sep 20, 2009 11:25 AM MDT reply actions

Heh.

Yep, me and ddavis539 were in the same boat yesterday. Luckily the Rockies won to not make it a total loss.

by holly96 on Sep 20, 2009 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions

i was at my game watch last night, was upset when then turned the rox off

for the football game.

turned out to be 100% correct too lol

- luckily, i got the espn text update that giambino hit the three run HR right as they turned the rox off, so i wasn’t too worried…

by RockyMtnCat on Sep 20, 2009 1:03 PM MDT up reply actions

so far so good today

5-0 reds in the 6th…please hold the lead today….4-1 phils in the 5th with Lee pitching

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!!

by TuLoRocks2008 on Sep 20, 2009 12:57 PM MDT reply actions

good work, keep lidge out of there...*

xxxxxxxx

by RockyMtnCat on Sep 20, 2009 1:01 PM MDT up reply actions

Interesting RG

I have learned alot from the mods and members here. I think I have finally become a
Rockies addict. It’s like I have to have my “fix” everyday now. Optimistically, I want to purchase 1st round playoff tix. Right field box 108 not far from the bull pen. Never sat in that area, but wanted to get seats very close to the field for my nephew without spending a fortune.

Any feedback on those seats?

by GoodOleBoyCo on Sep 20, 2009 1:22 PM MDT reply actions

Much as I like Andre Ethier

I don’t see how you pick him over Matt Kemp.

Mike McCoy Status: FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Seth Smith Status: Bludgeoning Baseballs
Chris Iannetta Status: OH MY GOD GET SOME HITS YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOK LIKE AN ASS

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by Andrew Martin on Sep 20, 2009 2:06 PM MDT reply actions