Some CarGo Thoughts & Links

The buzz around Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is at an all-time high this week. Some of the buzz is good, while another portion has been dismissive and/or doubting.

We begin with Joe Posnanski of Sports Illustrated (CarGo Home, CarGo On Road)

It's a lengthy read. Among the things discussed: His lack of walks, maturity, home/road splits, and a logical look at how Coors Field affects Rockies hitters when they go on the road.

He concludes...

This is not to say that CarGo’s season isn’t bizarrely inflated by Coors Field. It is inflated, no question. But I think it’s a bit more complicated than that. He’s have an amazing offensive season, an absolutely amazing season, and in my mind it should not be written off because he’s destroying the ball at Coors Field.

Rob Neyer questions whether or not CarGo would deserve the MVP honor. (The meaning of CarGo's home/road splits)

But would he deserve it?


Umm, maybe. Even with so few walks, depending on which defensive metrics you trust (or don't), Gonzalez might be the second- or third-most valuable player in the National League ... or he might be the eighth- or ninth-most valuable. I think it's safe to suggest that if he does win the Triple Crown, he'll have finished the season on a tear, moving him up a spot or two on whichever list your prefer.

Personally, I don't trust anything as flimsy as defensive metrics. But whatever. I know how good an outfielder he is. Unfortunately, stat nerds who don't watch the Rockies don't know how good he is. They're too busy determining his range with math equations that have nothing to do with anything.

Our final link today is a case of stat geekdom gone too far.

I present to you... (Fungoes -- Holliday for MVP?)

As soon as I saw this headline in my Twitter feed yesterday I knew clicking it would lead me to a bunch of charts, graphs and nonsense. It's just another case of a sabermetrician manipulating the numbers to make it say whatever he wants it to say.

We expect that Votto, Cargo and Pujols will share the bulk of MVP votes, primarily because of their pursuit of the Triple Crown. But Matt Holliday makes a strong case that individual stats, combined with context, matter. Just ask the Cardinals.

I'll pass on asking the Cardinals. And reading your blog again.

Rock Solid Recap: Future Ace & MVP Carry The Night

Jhoulys Chacin took another step towards superstardom with what should have been six innings of shutout baseball against one of the NL's top offenses. The only thing standing in the way of shutout baseball was a brain cramp by Melvin Mora that extended Cincinnati's 4th inning.

Oh well... a win is a win is a win!

Rockies 4, Reds 3

Chacin's stuff is for real.

You know what else is for real? His courage. I love that he has absolutely no fear of attacking hitters like Ryan Howard and Joey Votto. None. Take your best shot at me because I'm taking my best shot at you.

That's not always the smartest approach for a pitcher against hitters of their elite status, but when your stuff can back up your guts, you have a combination that is tough to beat. I love this kid.

Carlos Gonzalez now leads the league in two of the triple crown categories (BA & RBI) after hitting a 3-run first inning homer.

You know, I don't really care what his numbers look like on the road (though they have been MUCH better lately), I just know that without Carlos Gonzalez, the Rockies wouldn't have a heartbeat right now. He is the heartbeat, and his overall numbers are putting him in a position to make baseball history.

If the MVP vote were today, I honestly don't know how you give it to anyone else. Offensive numbers aside, he's also a candidate for 30 steals and plays some of the best outfield in all of baseball. No one can match his value right now. At least not in the NL.

Honorable Mentions: Eric Young (2 hits), Dexter Fowler (2 hits), Miguel Olivo (3 hits), Matt Belisle (Hold), Rafael Betancourt (Hold) & Huston Street (Save).

Congratulations: To Trevor Hoffman on his 600th career save. What an amazing feat by kid that was drafted as a shortstop. Think about that.  And then think about how lucky we are that this wasn't 601.

Welcome Back: Paul Phillips and Jay Payton.

Two veterans that have done all that was asked of them in AAA. They have handled themselves like professionals and they definitely deserve the honor.

It's a shame Taylor Buchholz was DFAed to make room for Phillips though. I'm not sure I understand the thinking behind why Buchholz was the one to go. Perhaps it'll be explained soon.

Tomorrow

Aaron Cook vs Bronson Arroyo

Cook shut the Reds out for 7 innings back in July. Earlier in that same series Arroyo threw seven innings of two run baseball.

I gotta be honest folks... I don't see either of them fairing nearly that well on Wednesday night. I hope I'm wrong about Cook, but I think we're in for a long game.

Lineup Card: Rockies vs Reds

You know how you can tell when a rotation is rounding into form?  When any one of four guys can go to the mound and you feel great about your team's chances of winning.  

The Rockies have their four -- Ubaldo, Hammel, De La Rosa, and now they have added Jhoulys Chacin.  

Who knows... maybe Aaron Cook has found his confidence (and "health") and can serve as a really really good 5th starter.  

Rockies Lineup (73-64)

1. 2B  Young
2. CF  Fowler
3. LF  Gonzalez
4. SS  Tulowitzki
5. 1B  Helton
6. 3B  Mora
7. RF  Smith
8. C    Olivo
9. P    Chacin

Apparently Chacin is more "comfortable" with Miguel Olivo, too.  

Reds Lineup (79-58)

1. 2B  Phillips
2. SS  Cabrera
3. 1B  Votto
4. 3B  Rolen
5. LF  Gomes
6. C    Hernandez
7. CF  Stubbs
8. RF  Heisey
9. P    Cueto

Reds get a couple regulars back in there in Orlando Cabrera and Scott Rolen.  The recently red hot Jay Bruce remains out with a rib injury.  We know all about those with Brad Hawpe and Dexter Fowler.    Wish Jay the best... starting Friday.  

Thanks to Mark Sheldon for providing the Reds lineup.  

Rock Solid Recap: Ubaldo Becomes THE Man

In life, turning 18 signifies the transition from childhood to adulthood.

In the case of Ubaldo Jimenez, winning 18 signifies the transition from being A man to being THE man among men in Colorado Rockies baseball history. He now stands alone as the single season franchise leader in wins, and stands a good chance of extending that record to 20.

Amazing.

Congratulations to Ubaldo on his fantastic accomplishment, on his record-breaking season, on his incredible poise and maturity, and above all, on just being a quality person. They just don't make athletes this special with such unassuming attitudes anymore, so we really must treasure his rare mix of talent and modesty.

Rockies 10, Reds 5

-- Ubaldo wasn't at his absolute best today, but he still pitched like an ace in my opinion. When aces don't have their best stuff, they find ways to survive, give their team innings, and give their team a chance to win. Ubaldo accomplished all three.

For that type of effort to be rewarded with his record-breaking 18th victory... to me, there's no better way to write the script. It's the type of outing that highlights how much he has grown as a pitcher.  That's what it's all about.

Feel safe to assume he's right back in the Cy Young race.

-- Of course Ubaldo needed a little help to notch that big win. Help came in the form of Troy Tulowitzki. Troy has shortened his swing recently to compensate for lingering pain in his wrist. The results of that shortened swing? Pretty damn good.

Troy showed immense power hitting two bombs to straight away center over the weekend in San Diego. He followed that up with a game-typing triple (highlight) and go ahead home run (highlight) this afternoon.

Hold on to that swing!  And maybe teach Ian Stewart how to use it as well.

Just a suggestion.

-- Carlos Gonzalez with three more hits today. Two doubles (highlight). Two RBI. What else is new?

-- Table setters Eric Young and Dexter Fowler each recorded two base hits. Each singled off of phenom Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the 6th inning, providing the insurance runs needed for the victory. Those two at-bats simply can't be overlooked (highlight & highlight).

-- The bullpen (Esmil Rogers, Matt Reynolds annnnnd Franklin Morales... yes, that Franklin Morales) allowed one run on two hits over the final three innings.  Solid.

-- I have to say this about Jim Tracy. Once that calendar turns to September and he has options to work with, he seems to manage a better, more relaxed game. What gets him into trouble is overmanaging a game in May and June like it's September. That tends to wear his bullpen down quicker.

Tomorrow

Jhoulys Chacin vs Johnny Cueto

Can't stop now. Must. Keep. Winning.

Rock Solid Recap: Stick & Move

Three games after taking an overhand right on the chin from Philadelphia, the Rockies are still standing looking no worse for the wear.

How. I don't honestly know. Don't really care either, just happy to see them finally fight back on the road and show some of that resilience that has made them unbeatable at home.

The Padres, on the other hand, are clearly reeling right now. You can see the frustration in their faces. You can see the pressure they're feeling in their feeble attempts to create emotion and scoring opportunities. It's a team that is searching for answers and hearing crickets in response.

That's the good news.

The bad news... San Diego has lost 10 in row... and the Rockies still need to be five games better than them over the next three weeks to force a tiebreaker. That may not seem like much, but the fact remains it has only been accomplished one time in the past 15 years.

So my best advice is still try to not to get too caught up in the big picture. It's better looking than it was even just 24 hours ago, but it's still not pretty. Just hope the Rockies can keep sticking and moving and avoiding that next punch in the mouth.

Rockies 4, Padres 2

-- Jorge De La Rosa was a battler today. He didn't have great stuff or great command, but he got outs when he needed. Often times two outs at a time.

Unfortunately that also applied when he was batting.

But the bottom line is he hung tough and picked up a W.

-- It's amazing how much the lineup has stabilized since the release of Brad Hawpe and the placement of Ian Stewart on the DL. Melvin Mora has stepped in to a regular role and provided the Rockies with excellent defense and a consistent, often clutch, approach at the plate.

Today it was more clutch (highlight) than consistent, but I'll take that sort of 1-for-5 every day of the week.

-- Carlos Gonzalez (3 hits, 2 steals), Troy Tulowitzki (bomb), Ryan Spilborghs (happy birthday, 2 hits) and Miguel Olivo (2 hits), also provided solid production in a hard fought win.

-- Huston Street is locked in. Bunt single aside, he breezed through three dangerous left-handed hitters en route to save #15.

Tomorrow

The Reds are coming to town and still have a lot to play for. A division title, better position in the playoffs, and maybe above all that, keeping a playoff build Rockies team from making another crazy run.

I'm expecting a four game bloodbath that could closely resemble that Phillies one game mini-series we saw on Thursday.

Ubaldo Jimenez vs Aaron Harang