Start talking about it, because Carlos Gonzalez is going to make another run at sweeping some postseason awards and earning his first All-Star selection. The four-game series against the Houston Astros and last night’s game against L.A. has been an offensive outburst that was sorely needed, especially at home. CarGo led the way with four back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs in consecutive ABs, tying a major league record before getting the intentional walk by Bud Norris to avoid the record books.
Gonzalez’ stat line reads like a sure-fire All-Star selection: .335 AVG, 14 HR, 45 RBI, .649 SLG. Yeah, that stat line is that good. His numbers are NL-leading in RBI and slugging, and only second to Texas Rangers’ Josh Hamilton in all of baseball. CarGo’s bat is the Excalibur that can deliver this team to victory and more. Don’t get me wrong, Troy Tulowitzki is no slouch, but he is once again hampered by a slow start – though his bat was trending upwards – and is now on a 15-day DL stint for a left groin strain that has been bothering him since the second game of the season.
This is the kind of offensive fire power that Colorado has to rely on if the starting rotation cannot pull itself together. Granted, this series sweep was very empowering to the guys in the clubhouse, but they need to ride that momentum as far as they can. The Dodgers are suffering without “beastmode” Matt Kemp after he went back on the DL after immediately reinjuring himself. The Rockies must not, at all costs, bring back Tulo until his muscle is right. The last thing they need is for Tulo to go Kemp and hit the DL again.
Colorado must strike while the iron is hot. CarGo is eating up pitchers, and the rest of the lineup isn’t too far behind him. The Houston series saw numerous home run and RBI contributions from pretty much anyone who could swing the bat who wasn’t a pitcher.
This series against the Dodgers is crucial to gaining more ground in the standings, as both teams have been on a streak – Colorado winning five and LA losing five. The problem for the Rockies is they have a steep uphill climb, having to pass San Francisco and Arizona just to get into second place.
May was a bad month for Colorado – other than the last week – and now is the time to get right, while the bats are hot.
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