Colorado Rockies: Carlos Gonzalez may move down in the batting order

Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies enters Thursday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field batting .188 for the season. Still trying to snap out of a season-long funk, Gonzalez could be moved down in the lineup, Colorado manager Bud Black acknowledged on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters before the Rockies took the second of a three-game series from the defending World Champion Chicago Cubs, Black acknowledged that Gonzalez could be moved down “one or two spots” in the lineup.

"“That could happen. That potentially could happen,” Black told Rox Pile and other reporters on Wednesday. “But that would probably be one or two spots at the most. It could be one or two spots. Then you think about grouping a bunch of right-hander hitters together and then maybe there’s a lefty in there. You think about the bullpen component against you and how certain matchups might not be favorable for you.“If you look at the bottom of the lineup that we’ve had, you’re not going to move those guys ahead of him.”"

So far this season, Gonzalez has only batted in the third or fourth spot in the lineup. In the cleanup position, CarGo is hitting .174. Additionally, he’s hitting .111 this season with runners in scoring position.

In 24 at-bats in the month of May, Gonzalez is hitting just .083. He hasn’t had more than one hit in a game since an April 28 game at Arizona.

Here’s a potential lineup with CarGo shifting down as far as sixth…

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Charlie Blackmon CF

DJ LeMahieu 2B

Nolan Arenado 3B

Ian Desmond LF

Mark Reynolds 1B

Carlos Gonzalez RF

Trevor Story SS

Dustin Garneau/Ryan Hanigan C

Pitcher

The problem with this lineup is that both CarGo and Story (hitting just .180 this season) are in slumps, so you’d be pairing two struggling Rockies together.

It’s more logical that CarGo could bat fifth. Take a look at this possibility…

Charlie Blackmon CF

DJ LeMahieu 2B

Nolan Arenado 3B

Mark Reynolds 1B

Carlos Gonzalez RF

Ian Desmond LF

Trevor Story SS

Dustin Garneau/Ryan Hanigan C

Pitcher

Not only does this push the red-hot Reynolds into the meat of the order, but Desmond between CarGo and Story gives some consistency at the plate (given the duo’s current struggles). By the way, Reynolds is batting .259 in the cleanup spot this season in 27 at-bats.

Next: Examining the 3 options to deal with CarGo's slump

There’s even a thought out there right now on PurpleRow.com that Blackmon and LeMahieu could improve the Colorado lineup by switching places at the top of the order. You can read that argument here.