If you want the answer as to why Daniel Gonzalez has played in 89 straight games as shortstop for the UNM baseball team, just ask head coach Ray Birmingham.
“Gonzalez can play shortstop,” Birmingham said about the senior. “Gonzalez is the best shortstop in this league.”
Inasmuch, Gonzalez is the Iron Man of Lobo baseball. But don’t mistake that to mean that Gonzalez’s body doesn’t take a beating. It does.
Gonzalez said the wear and tear of playing every day has been difficult to deal with at times.
“It’s rough — going through so many games,” Gonzalez said. “But this time around I have a little bit more experience because I know what I have to do. I know I have to be in the weight room, and I know not to take too many cuts and ground balls in practice. You know, now I can relax. That is pretty much how I see it now. I guess I could say I have more experience, and I am smarter this time around.”
Most impressive is that Gonzalez, despite the rough-and-tumble nature of baseball, is there for the Lobos day in and day out. For that reason, Birmingham said he isn’t shy about calling Gonzalez the best shortstop in the conference.
Gonzalez said that Birmingham acknowledging his play is a confidence booster.
“If coach keeps saying that about me, I am going to prove him right,” Gonzalez said. “But with me being the shortstop, I take pride in defense. I take a whole bunch of ground balls all the time, and I try to put myself in any situation I can. That way, when I get to the game, it’s much easier for me to do it.”
Gonzalez has the defensive part down, and Birmingham said if he improves his at-bats, he has major-league talent.
“I think if he hits a little bit better, I think he would be a no-brain draft pick,” Birmingham said. “He is very good defensively, and I will miss him.”
For the last two seasons, Gonzalez has been at the bottom of UNM’s batting order.
Even so, Gonzalez doesn’t let it bother him. Instead, he said, it serves as motivation to continue to improve every day.
“Our whole lineup is stacked anyway,” Gonzalez said. “I am going to hit as many times as the first batter. If he hits six times, I am going to end up hitting five times. So it doesn’t really matter, and I don’t see anything wrong with it, because I am still going to get a chance to hit.”
Gonzalez said his train of thought has changed during his UNM career. It’s amazing how much change can occur in a year, he said.
“Last year, I was not thinking like I am right now,” he said. “I am like, ‘I have to do this, because I am about to leave.’ I am thinking about the game and the little things more than I did last year. That’s what’s making us better, and it’s what’s making me better.”
So what is there left for the senior to accomplish after having such an illustrious career at UNM?
“(A) conference title would be real good,” Gonzalez said. “We would really like that, but going to Omaha and winning that — that would be twice, no, three times as good and would make my career here that much better.”
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Nonetheless, Gonzalez has had a career worth remembering.
