Colorado Rockies 2015 Crystal Ball: Carlos Gonzalez

May 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) hits a double in the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

As the season gets underway, RoxPile.com is making some fun (but completely unqualified!) predictions about how members of the Colorado Rockies will fare this summer. In this edition: Carlos Gonzalez.

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Carlos Gonzalez is nothing if not streaky, and the Colorado Rockies absorb both the good and the bad when he’s on the field (which, admittedly, isn’t as much as it should be). Either way, he can turn from an ice-cold 1-for-30 slide to a red-hot 15-for-30 stint from one week to the next.

And considering he’s won Gold Gloves and a batting title, there’s no question CarGo is a quality player – when he’s healthy. But therein lies the issue: can he stay healthy all year and be productive, or will the Rockies only see him for part of the summer before another injury derailment?

What The Numbers Say

FanGraphs lists various projection systems, which you can learn more about here.

Nobody at any projection system has any faith in CarGo staying healthy for more than 110 games this year. They’re probably right. Hell, do we even have faith that this is the year for him to put it all together and actually be on the field for 145+ games?

Other than that, what do his projections even matter number-wise? If he’s going to hypothetically miss 50-70 games against this season, just burn the whole damn thing to the ground, amirite?!

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Best-Case Scenario

CarGo’s best-case scenario is another batting title and another Gold Glove, right? I mean, we know he’s capable of those things when he’s on the field, so wouldn’t an average over .300, 30+ home runs, 100 RBIs, and maybe most importantly 150+ games played be the best-case scenario for CarGo in Denver this summer?

Let’s hope for CarGo to become the very player we thought he was back in 2010 when he won the batting title, because his presence as a powerful force in the lineup will greatly help the club overcome its lack of pitching depth and a difficult NL West.

Worst-Case Scenario

Injuries, man.

And in the words of Forrest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that.

Crystal Ball

I don’t know how to feel about CarGo. This is a tough one because he’s so damn good, but he’s also really, really streaky, and it also seems like he’s off the field more than Tulo. CarGo has played 761 games in seven years before this season (an average of 108.7 per year, but remember, that includes early career time split with AAA, and not necessarily injuries).

Tulo has played 961 games in nine seasons before this year (an average of 106.7 games per season). So, it’s really close.

It’s not just about the games played, though; it’s about the production. And for whatever reason, I feel like I can’t trust CarGo’s production this season. Surely, I’m influenced by the bad slump he’s currently going through, and that is no doubt affecting my perspective. Nevertheless, just, ugh. I have a bad feeling about his future in Denver.

Apologies for the lack of specificity on CarGo where I’ve been so specific on so many other players, I just… I don’t know. Something feels off. Am I wrong?

Give us your predictions!

Comment below, find us on Facebook, or tweet us @RoxPileFS and let us know. You can also use the hashtag #RoxCrystalBall.

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