"There was no show. I was ready to hit in case they needed me," said Gonzalez, who took batting practice Saturday and hoped to be available to pinch-hit. "But they didn't want to take a chance. Buddy decided to go with [Pat] Valaika.
"It's always hard staying off the field. It doesn't matter if you're doing well or not. I tell myself I'm going to be there when they need me, and I'm sure I'm going to help the club."
Gonzalez, 31, entered Saturday hitting .200 (20-for-100) with two homers, six RBIs and 24 strikeouts. But concern on his part and that of Black is tempered by Gonzalez's track record.