D-backs Arrive Without Felipe Lopez
The Rockies won’t see second baseman Felipe Lopez in their three-game series with the Diamondbacks that opens Monday at Coors Field.
The Diamondbacks on Sunday traded Lopez to the Brewers, who expect Lopez to solidify their situation at second base offensively and defensively and fill a void caused by the mid-May loss of Rickie Weeks.
In return for Lopez, the Diamondbacks, who are 14 games below .500, 19 games behind and in a full-fledged sale mode, received two minor leaguers _ outfielder Cole Gillespie, who is playing at Triple-A and right-handed relief pitcher Roque Mercedes, 22, who was in the high Class A Florida State League and could move to Double-A when he joins the Arizona organization.
Lopez, 29, a switch-hitter who signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Arizona last December and can be a free agent at the end of the season, hit .301 with six homers and 25 RBI in 85 games for the Diamondbacks with a .364 on-base percentage.
He’s 10-for-33 (.303) against the Rockies this season with two homers, both on Opening Day, five RBI, five walks and a .395 on-base percentage. It wasn’t like Lopez’s performance against the Rockies this season was an aberration. He came into this year with a lifetime .290 (31-for-107) average with four homers and 10 RBI against the Rockies.
Lopez was informed of the trade after Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Cardinals in St. Louis.
“(the d-backs) are in a full fledged sale mode” – that line says it all. The Rox need to take advantage of this mode and pin AZ’s ears back this series.
If this Rockies team can evolve into and accept a take no prisoners persona, then us fans will love the balance of this season. I’d love to see the Rox kick ‘em while they are down, not just with the Snakes, but any team that they play.
I just hope “good Jorge” shows up tonight…I’ll be there cheering!
I will be realistic and just hope for a series win, but would be very nice to DLR to get the team off to a good start. He was off when came out of the bullpen last time out. Hope he has his good mojo going tonight.
Is Seth Smith supplanting CarGo in left now? How good will he be off the bench? Might just be more of the moves where double switches happen the rest of the way. Seems like with a bench of Atkins, Spilly and Smith (if CarGo starts) that is up there as one of the best in the business in my humble opinion.
We haven’t really seen “Bad Jorge” since may. 1 loss since the start of June if I recall correctly.
He’ll have some innings where he struggles, but he’s got good stuff.