Buying into Colorado Rockies’ OF Carlos Gonzalez?: Keeper league dilemma
Submitted by Imaginary Diamond Blog
What do we make of Colorado Rockies’ outfielder Carlos Gonzalez in 2010? He’s a pedigree player who put it all together at the end of last season, but he’s got a short resume of Major League production and would require something of a stretch to keep over other, more qualified candidates.
But, oh my, the short resume is a good one.
Once Gonzalez got his footing after his mid-season callup in 2009, he showed big-time flashes of fantasy brilliance. Gonzalez has power, he’s got speed, and he sure looks to have the “it” factor that separates good from average and great from good. And of course, the icing on the cake is Coors Field, which is among Major League Baseball’s most hitter-friendly parks.
There’s a lot to like in Gonzalez, but all the positives are based on tools and limited statistics. The fundamental question to ask yourself is, do I believe that Gonzalez took a permanent leap forward in the second half of last season? Or do I believe that his previous Major League struggles are more indicative of his future?
Denver Post columnist Patrick Saunders is on the Gonzalez bandwagon
. Says Saunders:
“Gonzalez hit .320 with a .608 slugging percentage in the second half of the season. He hit 11 homers in his final 44 games after hitting a grand total of six homers in his first 130 big- league games. I don’t think it was an aberration.
CarGo can hit leadoff or second. He can hit triples and steal bases. I can even envision him hitting third at some point in his career.”
Saunders hints at what fantasy owners should really note: Gonzalez is a dynamic player with a diverse skill set. Gonzalez, 24, is young and has a rare enough power-speed combo to make him a worthwhile risk. If push comes to shove, believe that Gonzalez is the real deal and do what it takes to protect his place on your roster.
