Sox Scoops 40.56: "Gonzalez goes for 20"
Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2019 9:57 am
By Mike Talley
Black Sox Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Black Sox third baseman Luis Gonzáles will try to match the longest hitting streak of his career in the May 5 game against the Vancouver Mounties.
Going into the contest, Gonzalez has hit in 19 straight games, dating back to April 12. If he extends the streak to 20, he’ll equal his best-ever streak, which he achieved last season when the team was playing as the Huntsville Phantoms. Last season's streak ended on June 15 when he went 0-4 against the Wichita Aviators.
Luis Gonzáles
The 10-year BBA veteran declined comment for this story, saying he doesn’t discuss streaks while he’s in the middle of one.
But Sox hitting coach Valentino Mercati said Gonzalez is a fanatic about following the same routine during a streak.
“He’s a bit on the superstitious side – but that’s not unusual,” Mercati said. “I don’t know many baseball players who aren’t.”
During this streak, Gonzalez has made it a habit to wash only under the fourth showerhead in the shower room, whether at home or on the road.
“Somehow, he determined that’s what he did when the streak started, and hasn’t varied since then,” Mercati said. “If someone’s using it, he’ll wait until it’s free. One day, the guys made a point of lining up to use his showerhead and kept him standing there for like 30 minutes.
“Then he went out and went 2 for 4, so he was trying to convince guys to do it again. He’s a little insane when it comes to streaks.”
And rightly so.
The current streak has helped Gonzalez recover from a slow start at the plate. On April 11, the day before the streak began, Gonzalez was batting an anemic .167. Going into Saturday’s contest, he’s slashing .299/.341/.444 and re-established himself as one of the critical bats in the Black Sox lineup.
“If he’s gonna keep hitting like that, he can shower wherever he damn well wants,” said Sox Manager Bret Richards. “That’s how we like our hitters, anyway: prolific and shower fresh!”
Black Sox Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Black Sox third baseman Luis Gonzáles will try to match the longest hitting streak of his career in the May 5 game against the Vancouver Mounties.
Going into the contest, Gonzalez has hit in 19 straight games, dating back to April 12. If he extends the streak to 20, he’ll equal his best-ever streak, which he achieved last season when the team was playing as the Huntsville Phantoms. Last season's streak ended on June 15 when he went 0-4 against the Wichita Aviators.
Luis Gonzáles
But Sox hitting coach Valentino Mercati said Gonzalez is a fanatic about following the same routine during a streak.
“He’s a bit on the superstitious side – but that’s not unusual,” Mercati said. “I don’t know many baseball players who aren’t.”
During this streak, Gonzalez has made it a habit to wash only under the fourth showerhead in the shower room, whether at home or on the road.
“Somehow, he determined that’s what he did when the streak started, and hasn’t varied since then,” Mercati said. “If someone’s using it, he’ll wait until it’s free. One day, the guys made a point of lining up to use his showerhead and kept him standing there for like 30 minutes.
“Then he went out and went 2 for 4, so he was trying to convince guys to do it again. He’s a little insane when it comes to streaks.”
And rightly so.
The current streak has helped Gonzalez recover from a slow start at the plate. On April 11, the day before the streak began, Gonzalez was batting an anemic .167. Going into Saturday’s contest, he’s slashing .299/.341/.444 and re-established himself as one of the critical bats in the Black Sox lineup.
“If he’s gonna keep hitting like that, he can shower wherever he damn well wants,” said Sox Manager Bret Richards. “That’s how we like our hitters, anyway: prolific and shower fresh!”