The small group of players from the 1995 Rockies stopped long enough to “ooh” behind the batting cage at Coors Field during pregame practice Saturday.
Carlos Gonzalez, as if showing off, blasted a ball to the second row of the third deck, about four seats shy of the party deck in right field. It was a monster hit.
If Gonzalez — who broke out of an 0-for-12 slump with two hits Friday, including a double to left — is not hitting home runs, it’s not worrying his manager.
“He’s gone through a tough stretch,” Walt Weiss said, “but so what? It gets more recognition because it’s early.”
Gonzalez was hitting .197 in 61 at-bats before Saturday’s game. His double Friday was a liner pushed down the left-field line.
“Those are good signs. He came out early and worked on some things. It’s nice when you get instant results,” Weiss said. “He’s a great slugger. But he’s won a batting title too. It’s not like he’s an all-or-nothing guy. If you win a batting title, you’re not a one-dimensional hitter.”
Full coverage. Nolan Arenado’s highlight show at third base caught the eye of longtime Giants broadcaster Jon Miller.
“They had the shift on and it turns out he can cover the whole left side by himself,” Miller said of a groundout by San Francisco’s Gregor Blanco on Friday, when the Rockies had three infielders on the other side.
“He could be one of the all-time greats someday,” Miller said of Arenado.
Utility energy. Utility infielder Rafael Ynoa, who doubled in the Rockies’ wins Thursday and Friday, has picked up the pinch-hitting slack left by Wilin Rosario. Rosario was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque last week.
“I try to prepare early and be ready for different situations,” said Ynoa, 4-for-15 entering Saturday. “My mind has to be strong too.”
The Rockies are without a power pinch-hitting bat with Rosario gone. But his call-up will depend on the pitching situation.
“It’ll be the state of our bullpen,” Weiss said. “That can change day to day. The design of the bullpen, the design of the roster — it’s on trial every day.”
Parity on parade. Giants manager Bruce Bochy expects the National League West to be a dogfight. The Rockies swept the Giants, then got swept by the Dodgers. The Giants, in turn, swept the Dodgers.
“That’s the way it’ll be all year,” Bochy said. “You’re going to see us beating up on each other. … I don’t see one team dominating this division.”
Foot soldier. Corey Dickerson continues to play with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He is wearing a shoe insert to help with the inflammation.
Looking ahead
Giants’ Tim Lincecum (1-1, 2.00 ERA) at Rockies’ Tyler Matzek (1-0, 2.40), 2:10 p.m. Sunday, ROOT; 850 AM
Sunday’s series finale at Coors Field is a pitching rematch from April 15 at San Francisco. In that game Matzek gave up a first- inning RBI single to Angel Pagan, then kept the Giants scoreless through the next five. He led the Rockies to a 4-2 victory and a series sweep. Matzek’s lingering issue, though, is control. He has 10 strikeouts in three starts this year. But he also has walked 10 batters.
Monday: Rockies’ Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 6.85 ERA) at Diamondbacks’ Chase Anderson (0-0, 3.00), 7:40 p.m., ROOT
Tuesday: Rockies’ Jordan Lyles (2-1, 2.92) at Diamondbacks’ Archie Bradley (2-0, 1.45), 7:40 p.m., ROOT
Wednesday: Rockies’ Eddie Butler (2-1, 3.27) at Diamondbacks’ Josh Collmenter (1-3, 3.65), 7:40 p.m., ROOT
Nick Groke, The Denver Post
