Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez could both be out for the season
By Hayden Kane
The Colorado Rockies attach their hope each and every season to the possibilities for their team if star players Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez can just stay healthy.
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Unfortunately things never seem to work out that way, and 2014 is no exception. Tulowitzki has played 91 of the team’s 119 games and is currently on the disabled list with a hip issue. Gonzalez has played 70 games and is on the DL with knee tendinitis and a sprained ankle.
Both Tulowitzki and Gonzalez could be out for the season. According to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post:
"There are just 43 games left in the Rockies’ season. There is a chance that Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, the team’s biggest stars, won’t play in any of them.Rockies manager Walt Weiss has made it clear that he would like both players to return and finish the season strong, but there are no guarantees that will happen."
The two players were sent to meet with specialists on Wednesday to determine their prospects for playing again this season. Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports the following:
"Tulowitkzi hasn’t played since July 19 because of a strained left hip flexor. But the club suspects there could be an issue with the labrum in the hip and has sent him to visit orthopedic surgeon Dr. Marc Philippon…Gonzalez has dealt with chronic tendinitis in his left knee, and was placed on the DL Sunday. He will discuss healing procedures with Dr. Thomas Hackett, who is versed in various procedures for such knee injuries."
Tulowitzki and Gonzalez both still have hope to play this season depending on the recommended courses of treatment. But the larger issue remains: can the Rockies continue to hitch their wagon to these guys? Can they afford to continue to build a team around the big ugly “if” that is the health of Tulowitzki and Gonzalez?
Considering their big league-worst 46-73 record at the moment and the trade rumors that will swirl this off-season, that will be no easy question for them to answer.