Juan Gonzalez might have had his first and last at-bat with the Indians Tuesday. Predictably, he re-yanked his hamstring running to first base on the first ball he put into play in his first at-bat of the season.
He's almost certainly going back on the disabled list, and now I'd appreciate it if the Indians front office would quit trying to sell Gonzalez as "the cavalry" who is going to give this offense the power bat it so desperate needs.
Gonzalez is washed up. I don't think he could even be a DH without injuring himself, and in Cleveland, that's not his first job. He was supposed to be this team's everyday right fielder.
He has as much of a chance to hold down that right field spot as another Fielder. Cecil, I'm thinking.
The siren song of Gonzalez's once-potent bat has already cost the Indians Ryan Ludwick, whom they had to designate for assignment to open a roster spot. Now, the Indians will have to promote an outfielder from Buffalo to fill the void until Coco Crisp comes back.
Please, Mark Shapiro, just release Gonzalez. Holding onto Gonzalez is starting to feel like someone who still has a crush on a high school sweetheart, even though she's moved away and gotten married. It's over. His career is over. Even the magic of Jacobs Field, which revived Gonzo in 2001 after a frustrating stint in Detroit, probably can't save him now.
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