Something is amiss in the grand warehouse in downtown
Phoenix, and we’re not talking unbalanced pH in the swimming pool. Perennial
MVP candidate and America’s first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt, is in the midst of
his worst season of his career. His locked-in eye, plate discipline and smooth
swing have been locked up in some attic room at Chase Field and poor Goldy
looks like a terrified lost child at the dish with each passing at-bat.
Nonetheless, the Arizona Diamondbacks have managed to
soldier on behind stellar pitching and AJ Pollock’s superstar rise. But when
you combine Goldy’s disappearing act with injuries to Jake Lamb and Steven
Souza, Jr., the Diamondback’s punch and run production has been MIA, especially
over the past two weeks.
Goldschmidt has long been a wonder. Few hitters across the
league showed the control and discipline of Goldy. That discipline may be what
makes him a tad bland to fans outside of the Grand Canyon State, but
Diamondbacks fans are more than understanding and appreciative of the gift they
have. Goldschmidt is one of those 5-tool guys. Hits for average – check. Hits
for power – check. Good speed – check. Amazing glove – check. Good arm – well,
he plays first, so who knows, but you can replace that with clubhouse leader,
so check.
His defense and leadership are still superlative.
Goldschmidt never makes a mistake in the field, like ever. There’s a whole bunch
of defensive and sabermetric ratings I could reference, but I have no idea what
any of those things mean. I do know that in seven seasons as the starting first
baseman, he has committed a total of 33 errors and has won five gold gloves.
That’s good, right?
Some point out to how Goldy turns the batter behind him into
an instant all-star. AJ Pollock this year, JD Martinez last year, some guy who
didn’t have initials for his first name the year before that, and so on and so
forth. NL pitchers would do everything in their power to avoid Goldy like the
swine flu. He has been at the top for walks and intentional walks since he
arrived.
Until this year. Just a smidge over a month in and Goldschmidt can’t strike out enough. In 155 games played last season, Goldy struck out 147 times. In his entire career he’s only had one season where he struck out more than the games he played.Saying something mean about Paul Goldschmidt is about as hard as you'd think. pic.twitter.com/TK3bTKXnuk— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 20, 2017
Through 36 games this year he’s struck out 46 times. Yuck.
When he is making contact, it’s usually of the infield
dribbler or infield pop-up variety. Until last night, he had not driven in a
run in 21 at-bats. He’s hitting a ghastly .227. He’s a horror movie of a
hitter, a zombie in the batter’s box. He’s swinging at pitches in the dirt and
pitchers know it. He’s become a liability as the number three hitter.
So, what do you do with this guy right now? Sit him down to
figure things out? You lose that Gold Glove. Move him down the lineup? Perhaps,
especially considering how hot Pollock and Daniel Descalso have been. Somehow,
Goldy needs a shock to the system to get back on track.
Ultimately, the Paul Goldschmidt AND the Diamondbacks have
to hope he can find his swing again soon, even if he has to look for it, and
perhaps some bats, in the cellar.
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