The force was with the Rockies on Saturday night at Coors Field, though it wasn’t channeled through Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi or Chewbacca.
CarGo was in the house.
Carlos Gonzalez, one of the most popular players in franchise history, is on hand this weekend as part of the Rockies’ season-long 30th-anniversary celebration.
“It’s amazing to be back,” Gonzalez said before the Rockies hosted Oakland. “It’s special, the way I was embraced by this city and these fans.”
Gonzalez played for the Rockies from 2009-18, was a three-time All-Star, and was the 2010 National League batting champion when he hit .336 with 34 homers and finished third in the MVP voting. CarGo, along with catcher Chris Iannetta, are the only two players to be members of three Rockies playoff teams. Iannetta played for the 2007, ’09 and ’18 clubs, while Gonzalez played for the 2009, ’17 and ’18 playoff teams.
“That was the best baseball and the most fun,” he said. “That’s what you play for. You want to be on the big stage and on national TV and playing meaningful games.
“To be able to do it three times was great, but I wish I was able to do more. But being part of three playoff teams makes me proud.”
Bud Black, who competed against Gonzalez as the manager of the Padres, and then managed Gonzalez with the Rockies in 2017-18, called CarGo a special player.
“A talented player who could beat you in any way and help you win in any way,” Black said. “He was an all-around, tremendous player. And the thing that I came to appreciate, probably as much as anything, was that he was a really good teammate — for everybody. CarGo was the guy everybody rallied around.”
Gonzalez said that came naturally to him.
“That’s something you don’t ask for,” he said. “I just always enjoyed being around (the ballpark), getting here early, being around my teammates, going to work and being around the cage and making jokes. Spilly (outfielder Ryan Spilborghs) mentioned that to me today.
“As soon as guys walked into the clubhouse, everybody would say, ‘Where’s CarGo? Where’s CarGo?’ I mean, I couldn’t even be sick for one day because I would be in the treatment room trying to get treatment and they’d all be like, ‘Where’s CarGo?’
“So I feel happy and blessed that I got along with not only my teammates but all of the people in the organization. I was just trying to be a good human being.”
Gonzalez and his family split their time between Miami and Los Angeles. He and his wife, Indonesia, have three children: their son, Santiago, and twin daughters, Carlota and Genova.
At 37, Gonzalez looks like he could still play right field.
“Two innings,” he said, flashing his easy smile.
Blackmon update. Veteran right fielder/designated hitter Charlie Blackmon took batting practice with the team for the first time since going on the injured list June 10 with a fractured right hand.
Blackmon, 37, plans to continue taking BP with the team for a couple of days to make sure his hand doesn’t swell up. Then he and the club will decide on a rehab assignment.
Blackmon was slashing .265/.347/.422 with five homers, two triples and 14 doubles before going on the IL.
B-Rod update. Second baseman Brendan Rodgers, returning from surgery to repair his left shoulder, is moving closer to rejoining the big-league club. Friday night, in his ninth minor league rehab game, he went 2 for 4 with a home run for Triple-A Albuquerque.
Sunday’s pitching matchup
A’s RHP Luis Medina (3-7, 5.50 ERA) at Rockies LHP Ty Blach (0-0, 5.51)
1:10 p.m. Sunday, Coors Field
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Blach will make his second start of the season in what figures to be another bullpen game for Colorado. He was sharp when he pitched three scoreless innings as the opener last Sunday in Miami. The Regis Jesuit native also pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings July 1 vs. Detroit. Blach went 3-1 with a 4.40 ERA in 11 games (five starts) at Triple-A Albuquerque earlier this season. Medina has been pitching much better of late, going 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA and .207 batting average against over his last six games. In his first eight starts, he was 1-6 with a 7.55 ERA and a .288 average against. He’s allowed just two home runs in his last nine games (42 2/3 innings) after serving up 10 homers in his first five games (27 2/3 innings). He’s never faced the Rockies.
Pitching probables
Monday: Padres RHP Seth Lugo (4-5, 3.62) at Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (8-8, 5.83), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
Tuesday: Padres TBA at Rockies RHP Peter Lambert (2-1, 4.76), 6:40 p.m., ATTRM
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