The puzzling story of Carlos Gonzalez: bad start or future trend?

DENVER, CO – JUNE 20: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies hits a solo home run in the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on June 20, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Carlos Gonzalez has struggled for the whole 2017 season. Is this just a bad start to the season or could this be the start of a future trend?

Carlos Gonzalez has had an, uncharacteristically, awful 2017 season. He has only played in 72 of the Rockies’ 88 games and he only has a slash line of .217/.297/.337 slash line (batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage). He also has only had six homers, 22 RBIs, an OPS+ of 57, and a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of -1.0.

Injuries

He just recently returned from the disabled list after a shoulder injury as we discussed a few days ago. With the way he has been performing in 2017 and he hasn’t done much since his return, one must wonder whether if he is still injured. If he is still injured and has been playing hurt all season long, then it would be much more understandable. In the four games since his return from the DL, he has gotten only two hits in 14 ABs (a .143 average), zero extra-base hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.

High Mark of the Season

After the Rockies game against the Phillies in Philadelphia on May 26, even after a slow start to the season, Gonzalez looked like that he was picking up the pace and coming out of his funk. He ended the game with a .256 average, .323 on-base percentage, and a .393 slugging percentage. However, since then, in 26 games, he only has 15 hits, five extra base hits (three doubles and two homers), six RBIs, a slash line of .158/.257/.253. Even more alarming is his BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play) in that span is .158 (.300 is considered average).

Gonzalez’s thoughts on the season

Yesterday, the Denver Post had an article in which Gonzalez was called his season a “nightmare.” Gonzalez and Rockies’ manager Bud Black were both interviewed and both said that they have absolutely no idea why he has not played well. Also, for Gonzalez, this is the worst possible time to have a bad season as this is his walk year since this is the final year of his 7 year, 80 million dollar extension before the 2011 season.

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Analysis

Gonzalez did perform poorly in 2014 when he was injured but even with that season, he only played in 70 games and his home runs and RBIs were nearly doubled of what they are this season. If Gonzalez keeps performing like he has in 2017, his playing time will be reduced and the Rockies’ might even acquire another outfielder (especially if David Dahl is out for an extended period of time). Also, the Rockies would probably move on from him or if they don’t, just give him a one year contract to see if he can turn his play around but at this point, Gonzalez’s career with the Rockies is at a cross roads.

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