Colorado Rockies mainstay Carlos Gonzalez doesn't have any feelings about being stuck on a last-place team, other than he's simply glad to be playing the game after a mentally and physically trying 2014 season that carried into this year. Gonzalez spoke about a game he was removed from in spring training due to an issue with his knee in an interview with Danny Knobler, who contributed a special to The Denver Post:
"I was really scared ... I went to the clubhouse, and I was crying like a baby." An examination showed that it was only scar tissue breaking, but Gonzalez said it was still months before his knee felt strong. "I wasn't ready. Now my strength is coming back."
As good as former star teammate Troy Tulowitzki has been for Toronto (more on that below), Gonzalez has been even better for the Rockies. After his two-run homer on Monday, CarGo is hitting .303/.333/.818 with five home runs this month after posting a .386/.438/.841 line with 11 homers last month (and, for good measure, a .280/.317/.548 line with six jacks in June).
The Rockies are in a win-win situation for Gonzalez, who could remain with the club and be a contributor if they believe they can contend in 2017, the final year of the star outfielder's deal. And, with the way he's playing, they may be able to work out a trade centered around pitching -- something the Rockies always need more of, even with the performance of their top prospect last night.
Links
Rockies' Jon Gray impresses in 2nd MLB start | MLB.com
Speaking of Gray, Thomas Harding has quotes from the man himself, as well as manager Walt Weiss, on the dominant performance of the rookie hurler against the first-place Mets on Monday.
Perpetually Looping Video: Jon Gray’s Life-Affirming Fastball | FanGraphs Baseball
The GIF included in this short Carson Cistulli post is required watching -- over and over and over again.
It seems Cistulli, and noted baseball writer Howard Megdal, put to bed any theories about Gray's fastball being flat:
How impressive is Jon Gray's sink? My nephew, sitting in 400s at Citi, asked why Rockies took out the guy with the great sinker.
— Howard Megdal (@howardmegdal) August 11, 2015
Hochman: Troy Tulowitzki quick to make impact with Toronto
The Jays are 11-0 with Tulowitzki in the lineup. Fellow former Rockie LaTroy Hawkins, as well as Colorado manager Walt Weiss, aren't surprised that Tulo continues to play at a high level now that he's on a winning team. Tulowitzki owns an .847 OPS in 53 plate appearances since the trade.
Rockies still have faith in Tyler Matzek | MLB.com
Matzek has returned to Triple-A, and although he isn't pitching in games yet, that could happen soon writes Harding.
Blogpile
Jon Gray shows why he could turn the Colorado Rockies around in a hurry
Gray's dominant effort notwithstanding, BSN Denver's David Martin believes the Rockies would have done the rookie hurler more of a developmental favor by leaving him in the game to pitch through any potential fatigue than they did limiting his workload.
Colorado Rockies Reliever Christian Friedrich Is Fading Down The Stretch - Rox Pile
Friedrich's current struggles mirror that of Tommy Kahnle, who went through a dead-arm period at a similar point in the season last year, writes Bobby DeMuro. That's not to say that they're similar pitchers, but it could shed some light on Friedrich's rough patch and provide hope on the other side.