Jose Lopez returns….with Florida
Infielder Jose Lopez, whom the Colorado Rockies released earlier this season, will be at Coors Field today with the Florida after beginning his second tour this season with the Marlins on Sunday.
In 12 games in June with the Marlins, Lopez, 27, hit .107 (3-for-28) with one double. Lopez then played 32 games at Triple-A New Orleans where he hit .400 (50-for-125) with nine homers and 30 RBI along with a .430 on-base percentage and a .688 slugging percentage.
The Marlins, who have lost nine of their past 10 games, did some roster shuffling over the weekend and purchased Lopez’s contract. He pinch hit in the eighth Sunday in a 5-2 loss to the Giants and stayed in the game at second base.
The Rockies designated Lopez for assignment on May 27 and ended up releasing him after he hit .208 (26-for-125) with four doubles, two homers and eight RBI in 38 games. Lopez was the Opening Day second baseman for the Rockies. He began his career with them by going 7-for-29 with two homers and seven RBI in eight games but subsequently went 19-for-96 (.198) with four doubles and one RBI, which came on April 25. Lopez also played poorly on defense at second base and third base.
The Rockies traded minor league pitcher Chaz Roe to the Seattle Mariners for Lopez on Dec. 2, taking on his $3.6 million contract and thinking he would replace Clint Barmes at second base. That didn’t happen when Jonathan Herrera, who had played well in spring training, took over the position in mid-April. Lopez was given a chance to play third base in the wake of Ian Stewart‘s struggles but also failed to find a niche there.
Will Lopez go all Brad Hawpe on us tonite and go 4 for 5 while hitting the game winning homer before cooling off again after leaving town and playing against real majoe league teams? know what I mean?
I cant really blame jose lopez, i think the problem to all rockies players in general its the manager, other than tulo and helton, nobody else has a defined role, its ellis our second basemen or a platoon player?? its ianneta our catcher or is he just holding the job for someone else?? its cargo our center right or left fielder?? smith evidently is platooning at right.. wait left field?? how about spilly?? he is our 4th or 5th outfielder, whats the job of EY2??? wiggy superutiity or is that herrera?? who is what in this team???? and cant forget about alfonso our new cleanup hitter….. are the rockies a baseball team??? im really confused!!!!
I think Lopez was scapegoated for the team’s initial collapse. He probably would have turned it around and had a fair season. I don’t really blame him.
Kikin, since you mentioned Smith platooning,
Smith is hitting .293 against RHP and .246 against LHP.
Cargo is hitting .303 against RHP and .240 against LHP.
I’m not suggesting Smith is as valuable as CarGo, but Jim Tracy please explain to me why Smith has been shelved against LHP all year.
LOL Good points kikin.
Alfonso in the cleanup makes me laugh. Chris Iannetta has 12 homeruns and is lucky to get out of the 8th slot. Alfonso gets 1 home run and suddenly he is Mike Piazza.
Although a disaster (Lopez) we got exactly what we paid for here, Jose Lopez was rated one of the worst players in the AL in 2010, and all we gave up was a AAA pitcher that will never make the MLB anyway.
Hated this deal because it accomplished nothing (no defense and no offense) and I said so here at the time!
It’s 2:54pm and Jim Tracy still hasn’t been fired. What’s the hold up? I don’t have all night to wait for him to be dismissed haha. I don’t have that knd of patience.
Alfredo Amezaga also returns… with Florida.
Great point, Miketober. They make Smith seem like he hits .150 against lefties (no offense Ian Stewart). I actually have confidence in Smith every time he’s up, which is much more than I can say for half the team. I love having him in our lineup. But no, we got to get EY in the lineup. Terrible!