Purple Row Rockies Madness: No. 2 Carlos González vs. No. 3 Matt Holliday

Due to the cancellation of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, Purple Row is hosting our own Rockies Madness Tournament this year. We selected the 36 best players in Rockies history in order to figure out who the best player is in franchise history. We sorted them into four regions in order to force the most interesting matchups: Infielders, Outfielders, Mile High (for relievers and starting pitchers who began their career before the humidor), and Humidor (for starters who began their career after the humidor). All stats are from Baseball-Reference.

Today is the Sweet 16 in the Outfielder Region: No. 2 Carlos González vs. No. 3 Matt Holliday

Carlos González, Outfielder

2009-2018

Awards

• 3rd place NL MVP (2010)
• 3x Gold Glove (2010, 2012, 2013)
• 2x Silver Slugger (2010, 2015)
• 3x All-Star (2012, 2013, 2016)

Notes

• In 2010, which was his first full season in the majors, CarGo won the NL batting crown with a .336 average. He beat runner up Joey Votto (.324) and finished the year with 34 homers, 26 stolen bases, and 117 RBI, even though he was leadoff hitter in 44 games.

• On July 31, 2010, CarGo hit a walk-off homer to complete the cycle and to beat the Cubs 6-5. (Side note: He was sick that day and not even supposed to play, but agreed to manager Jim Tracy’s pleas to play anyway. His walkoff flew 462 feet to the third deck in right field.)

• Managers, TV and radio commentators, fans, and other players often credit González for having the “sweetest swing” in baseball. Growing up in Venezuela, CarGo would unscrew handles from brooms and use them as makeshift bats. The practice paid off as David Ortiz praised CarGo’s swing this way: “Every time I see him do what he does, it gives me goose bumps. This guy has the sweetest, most beautiful swing from a left-hander. What a sexy swing.”

• CarGo finished his career with the Rockies with the second most games played (1,247), third in runs (769), hits (1,330), and doubles (277), and fourth in RBI (749), homers (227), and stolen bases (118).

Matt Holliday, Outfield

2004-2008, 2018

Awards

• 5th place NL Rookie of the Year (2004)
• 3x All-Star (2006, 2007, 2008)
• 3x Silver Slugger (2006, 2007, 2008)
• 2nd place NL MVP (2007)

Notes

• Holliday won the 2007 NL batting title with a .340 average. He also led the league in hits (216), doubles (50), RBI (137), and total bases (386). He also smashed 36 homers, scored 120 runs, and walked 63 times.

• Holliday is responsible for the most famous slide in Rockies history when he tagged on a Jamey Carroll lineout to right field in the 13^th inning, scoring the winning run in the 2007 Wild Card tie-breaker game against the Padres.

• After going recording five hits, driving in four runs, scoring three runs, hitting two homers, and slashing .333/.412/.733, Holliday was named the 2007 NLCS MVP in helping the Rockies sweep the Diamondbacks and punch their ticket to the World Series.

• Hailing from a baseball family, Holliday’s dad, Tom, was on the coaching staff for the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team (various positions from 1978-1996, then manager from 1997-2003). Tom is now the manager of the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod League. Matt’s brother, Josh, is now the manager of Oklahoma State and Matt is a volunteer assistant coach for the Cowboys.

Interesting Note

On November 10, 2008, the Rockies traded Matt Holliday to the Oakland A’s for Carlos González, Huston Street, and Greg Smith.

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