Padre Killer – Carlos Gonzalez

At the start of each series, we at Chicken Friars will zero in on an opposing player known to be a “Padre Killer.” No matter the day, time or place, this player is known to be a one-man wrecking crew when it comes to playing against the San Diego Padres.

In this column, I will analyze that player’s statistics against the Friars and try to offer some insight into how not to let that player beat our beloved team.

The Padres are one of the hottest teams in baseball. Having won three consecutive games and five of their last 10, the Padres are showing they are capable of playing winning baseball. Trying to end the Padres’ winning streak will be the division rival Colorado Rockies.

Colorado Rockies All-Star first baseman Todd Helton was featured as a Padre Killer the last time these two teams met. While Helton is the Padre Killer of all Padre Killers, he certainly couldn’t beat up on the Padres without any help.

Carlos Gonzalez, the Rockies’ outfielder, is also a Padre Killer. Although the 26-year-old Venezuelan hasn’t knocked out the Padres as much as his teammate Helton has Gonzalez has delivered some powerful blows.

Here is how the Rockies’ $80 million man stacks up against the Friars:

Luckily for the Padres this three-game series is being played at Petco Park, a site where Gonzalez has struggled a bit. In 24 career games played at Petco Park, Gonzalez has a .242 batting average with two home runs and 10 RBI. His Gold Glove winning defense remains solid.

Being that Gonzalez has struggled at Petco, I would challenge him with hard stuff in and soft stuff away. I would use Petco Park to my advantage by having Gonzalez hit fly balls to the large outfield.